Bed of Roses Page 0,84

stay with Pete. I'm okay, really. Haven't had anything in the last ten minutes."

"Nearly twelve now," the bride told her and held up the stopwatch.

"Maggie, I'm so sorry."

"Stop saying that." The bride gave her friend a shoulder rub. "Everything's going to be fine."

"You should finish getting your hair and your makeup. You should - "

"It can wait. Everything can just wait."

"Actually, it's a good idea," Parker said in a tone that managed to be brisk, businesslike, and cheerful all at once. "If you're not comfortable here, Jeannie, we can move you to my room. It's quieter."

"No, I'm fine here, really. And I'd like to watch. I think he's gone back to sleep." She patted the mound of her belly. "Honestly. Jan's in worse shape than I am."

"I'm an idiot." The attendant with the pale green complexion closed her eyes. "Maggie, just shoot me."

"I'm going to have some tea and toast sent up. It should help. Meanwhile, Emma and Mac are here to help out. I'll be back in two minutes. Any more contractions," Parker said quietly to Emma, "beep me."

"Believe it. Come on, Maggie, let's make you gorgeous." She drew Maggie to her feet, passed her to the hairdresser. With the stopwatch in hand, Emma settled down by the expectant mother. "So, Jeannie, it's a boy?"

"Yes, our first. I've got another four weeks. I had a checkup Thursday. Everything's fine. We're fine. How's my mother?"

It took Emma a moment to remember Jeannie was the groom's sister. "She's fine. Excited and emotional, of course, but - "

"She's a wreck." Jeannie laughed. "One look at Pete in his tux and she dissolved. We heard the wails in here."

"Which, of course, set my mother off," Maggie said from the salon chair. "Then they're at each other like pit bulls. Jan's tossing it in the bathroom and Shannon's curled in a ball."

"Better now." Shannon, a little brunette currently sipping what looked like ginger ale, waved from her own chair.

"Chrissy's good, so she took the kids outside for just a bit. She should be back by now."

Judging things were under control in this area, Emma glanced at Maggie. "Looks like we've cleared the fifteen-minute mark on baby. If Shannon's up to it, she can take over the timer, and I can go find Chrissy and the kids. Bridesmaid, flower girl, ring bearer?"

"Please. Thanks so much. This is all just crazy."

"We've had crazier." She gave the stopwatch to Shannon, took one more look at Jeannie. The color was back in her cheeks. If anything, she looked serene. "Mac, you've got the fort?"

"No problem. Hey, let's take some pictures!"

"You're a cruel woman," Jan muttered.

Emma dashed out. She spotted the MOG on the terrace, sobbing into a tissue while her husband patted her shoulder and said, "Come on, Edie. For God's sake."

She detoured and headed for the main stairs. Parker was already charging back up. "Status?"

"I think we're down to yellow status. No more contractions, one hangover well on the mend, the other - hard to tell. The bride's in hair, and I'm off to round up the last attendant and the kids."

"In the kitchen having cookies and milk. If you could take the FG and RB, send the BA up. Mrs. G's putting tea and toast together. I want to check on the groom, and let the expectant daddy know everything's okay."

"On my way. The MOG's on the terrace, wildly weeping."

Parker set her jaw. "I'll deal with her."

"Good luck." Emma hurried down, swung toward the kitchen just as Jack came in from the direction of the Grand Hall.

"Please tell me there's not a woman delivering a baby upstairs."

"That crisis, it seems, has passed."

"Well, thank you, Jesus."

"POB?"

"Huh?"

"Parents of Bride?"

"Carter's got them. It seems he teaches a nephew. And the mom's repairing her makeup or something."

"Good. I've got to get the last BA, send her up and take over with the FG and RB."

His brow furrowed, then he gave up on the code. "Whatever you say."

Pausing, Emma considered him. "You're pretty good with kids, as I recall."

"I'm okay. They're just short."

"If you can take the RB - the boy, he's five - and entertain him for about fifteen minutes, it would help. You can deliver him to the Groom's Suite as soon as we get the all clear. I'll take the girl up, help get her dressed." She glanced at her beeper with some trepidation when it signaled. Then blew out a breath.

"Yellow and holding. Good."

"Don't these kids have parents?" he asked as he followed her toward the kitchen.

"Yes,