Four Kicks - Stephanie Brother Page 0,7
please!”
While she mops at her body with a towel and then heads toward the restroom in the back corner, I tap the first name in her favorites list.
Adam answers immediately. “What’s up, Maddy Muffin?”
Typically, I’d tease him about the sappy nicknames he gives his woman but now is not the time. “Adam, it’s Lacy. Maddy –”
“Lacy, what’s going on? Is Maddy okay?” His voice changes in an instant from playful to deadly serious.
“Maddy’s fine, but her water broke.”
“What? The baby’s not supposed to come for two more weeks.” He sounds panicky at first but quickly regains control. “Okay, where are you?”
“We’re at the bakery. It just happened a moment ago.”
“We’ll be right there.” He ends the connection before I have a chance to respond.
“They’re on their way. Are you okay?” I call out to my friend. Memories of the night she found out she was pregnant rush back. Things got real in an instant when she got the results of her pregnancy test, but this is taking real to a whole new level. She’s about to bring another human into the world.
“I’m fine. I think I’m fine. I just wasn’t expecting this. Not yet, anyway.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Could you grab a few towels from the shelf? It seems like I’m going to need them. I’m like a leaky faucet. This wasn’t how I imagined this would be.”
“But everything feels okay? Are you having contractions?”
“No. I don’t think so. Things feel different, though.”
“Okay, the guys will be here soon.” I set a stack of towels on the counter near the back door and use one to blot the water on the floor. “Should I call your mom?”
“I’ll call her on the way.”
Adam bursts in then, eyes wide, looking slightly out of breath. He’s at Maddy’s side instantly. “Are you okay?”
She puts a hand on his chest. “I’m fine.”
Josh comes in next, echoing Adam’s concerns before he explains that Jake and Matt have gone home to get her overnight bag and will meet them at the hospital.
“Can I come, too?” I ask on impulse.
Maddy rubs her belly and smiles. “I would love to have you there, but I’m afraid we’re already going to have a hard time telling the hospital this baby has four daddies.”
I hadn’t thought of that. Hospital rules, and all that. “Okay.” I look to Adam and Josh. “One of you, text me with updates, please.”
Josh smiles. He usually has a laid-back, unruffled vibe, but I can almost see the nervous excitement flowing through him. “We will, Lacy. Thank you for helping her.
“Of course.”
I follow them all through the back door, Adam takes Maddy’s keys from her to lock up, and a moment later their truck peels out of the lot, leaving me standing alone.
5
Restlessness
It’s the next afternoon when I go to the hospital in Whitman to meet little Amelia Harding. She arrived in the wee hours of the morning, beautiful and healthy. Josh sent a picture and I’m already in love.
Jake and Josh are in the room with Maddy when I arrive. I give her a long hug before looking around for the baby.
“The nurse has her. She should be back soon,” Maddy explains, looking tired but happy.
“We’ll go check on her,” Jake says, leaving me alone with my friend.
“How are you feeling?”
“Tired. Really tired.”
“That’s going to be your new normal, from what I hear.”
“I know.” She sinks back into the pillows propped up behind her. The smile on her face is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. My friend has changed. She’s brought life into the world. She’s a mom.
“How have your guys been doing?”
“Good. Great.” Maddy sighs contentedly. “I think they all cried a little when Amelia arrived. We all did. It was a really special moment.”
My heart nearly bursts both with happiness and with longing.
“Knock, knock.” The door opens and a dark-haired nurse enters with her back to us, pulling a bassinet on wheels behind her. “We’re back.” She positions the cart by Maddy’s side and I finally meet my friend’s daughter.
“Oh, she’s so precious, Maddy!” My eyes fill with tears as I inspect Amelia’s fuzzy little head, tiny nose, and eyelashes so pale and delicate that I can hardly stand it.
“She’s awake. Would you like to hold her?” the nurse asks Maddy.
When Maddy nods, the woman picks up the tiny, swaddled bundle and places her in the new mother’s arms. The Harding brothers – all four of them are here now – circle around the bed, completing the picture of familial bliss. I can