A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers #5) - Jamie McGuire Page 0,90
left. People who’d passed in and out of my life for different reasons, at different times. All people who’d made a mark on my life, and who I’d carry with me into eternity.
Diane walked into the living room, holding Thomas’ hand, her belly full with our next two children. Her eyes flashed with excitement. “Do you smell that, Tommy?”
“It’s yucky,” he said, wrinkling his nose.
I stood up from my recliner and walked across the room in my socks, bending over to grab Thomas. “Yucky? What do you mean yucky?” I growled, tickling him. He arched his back, cackling and kicking to get away. “Daddy worked all weekend on the paint and carpet!” I finally let him loose. I thought he’d run away, and I was prepared to chase him, but instead, he hugged my leg. I patted his back as Diane took in a deep breath through her nose.
Diane shook her head, looking at my hard work in awe. “You’re amazing, Mr. Maddox.”
“New icebox, new couch … now new carpet and paint? We’ll have a whole new house about the time we’re ready to sell.”
Diane playfully jabbed her elbow into my side. “We’re never selling this house.”
Thomas made a show of waving his chubby little hand in front of his nose. “’Cause it’s stinky.”
“No, it’s wonderful. That’s the smell of new paint and carpet, and Daddy”—she paused as I leaned over her belly to peck her lips—“even put all the furniture back while we were at the grocery store.”
“Oh!” I said, heading to the driveway with a start. I popped the trunk and loaded my arms with brown paper sacks and brought them into the house. As I walked into the kitchen, I blew away the leafy celery stems that were poking out the top and tickling my face. Diane giggled at my funny faces as I set the groceries on the counter. She dipped her hands into the sacks to unload the fresh vegetables. “Two more,” I said jogging back to the car. I lifted the remaining sacks, slammed the trunk shut, and walked back in, whistling. I was glad the carpet and paint were finished, and we could enjoy my last night before work. I’d just celebrated my second anniversary at Eakins PD. We didn’t get many Sunday nights together, and now, we could relax in our practically new living room.
I walked through the mouth of the hall into the kitchen, frozen mid-step. Thomas and Diane were staring at the puddle on the linoleum, stunned.
For half a second, I worried about broken glass, but then I recognized that her water had broken. The doctor had to break her water during Thomas’s delivery, so I was surprised to see her standing there in her bare feet, wiggling her toes and grossed out by the liquid on the floor. She hadn’t even complained of any contractions.
She grunted, and her knees bent. She reached for the icebox to steady herself. “Jim?” she said, her voice shrill.
“Okay. Babies are coming. Don’t panic. Going to get the bag, and I’ll be right back.” I sprinted up the stairs, and just as I hooked my hand around the strap, I heard Diane moan. I bounded down the stairs three at a time, nearly breaking my ankle as I landed at the bottom.
“Oh!” Diane shrieked, holding out her free hand.
Thomas was sopping up the water with a towel.
“Good job, son. You ready to meet your new little sisters or brothers?”
Thomas grinned wide as I picked him up in one arm. I supported Diane’s weight, holding her to my side with my free arms, and dipped my head so she could hook her elbow behind my neck. I walked sideways out to the car, helping Diane in. Thomas stood up in the center of the bench seat, stroking his mom’s hair while she breathed.
“Shit! The keys!”
“The dining table,” she said, her voice low and controlled. She began her Lamaze, and I turned on my heels, sprinting into the house, swiping the keys, and then returning to the car. I slid in behind the wheel of our green 1970 Chevelle, and I yanked the gear into reverse. I stretched my arm across the top of the bench seat behind Thomas and Diane, and I turned around watching behind me as I stomped on the gas.
Diane caught Thomas when he jerked forward as I braked and stared at me with wide eyes. “Get us there in one piece, Daddy,” she said.