A Summer Romance (14 page)

“I can’t,” Lacey cried as yet another
contraction had her folding down over her belly and crying out in
pain.

Maggie rubbed her back and reminded her to
breathe until the spasm had passed.

“Okay, now put your arms around my neck.”
Maggie’s tone left no room for argument. Lacey did as she was told.
“Hold on tight, don’t let me go,” Maggie told her as she wrapped
her arms around the woman’s waist. “Now on three. One. Two. Three.”
Maggie heaved, pulling Lacey to her feet. As soon as she was
upright Maggie felt a rush of fluid hit her feet.

“Oh God!” Lacey cried, as her knees began to
buckle.

“Oh no you don’t,” Maggie said, holding her
up. “It was just your water breaking. Lacey, I need you to help me.
This baby is coming. We need to get you into the back seat.”

“It can’t come. Not now.” Lacey shook her
head in denial.

“Whether you like it or not, this baby is
coming. Arguing with me won’t change that fact. Now I need you to
take a step.”

“Here, let me help,” Aaron spoke up,
appearing beside the women. He wrapped his arm around Lacey,
supporting most of her weight as he helped Maggie maneuver her
around to the backseat.

“Where’s Courtney?” Lacey asked
frantically.

“She’s fine,” Aaron assured her. “She’s
right back there in my truck.” Lacey stared into Aaron’s eyes with
a look of sheer panic on her face.

“I won’t let anything happen to her.” he
promised “You just let Maggie help you.” Lacey nodded as Maggie
helped her to recline back onto the rear seat.

“You should go check on Courtney.” Maggie
told Aaron as she adjusted Lacey onto the seat. He nodded and
jogged back to his truck.

“What’s happening to my Mama?” Courtney was
sobbing again. Aaron climbed into the truck and tucked the little
girl under his arm.

“By the looks of it she’s having a baby,”
Aaron answered honestly.

“Why is she crying?” Courtney cried as she
snuggled into his side. He stroked her head just like he used to do
for his little sister when she was upset.

“Well, sweetie, it hurts to have a baby.” He
didn’t know how to answer her questions without being honest. “But
you know what?”

“What?” she looked up at him with big,
scared eyes.

“It’s worth it. Because this part will only
last a little while and then she’ll have a beautiful baby just like
you and your brothers.”

“Did it hurt like this when she had me?”
Although the child had stopped crying again her lower lip still
trembled.

“A little. But I bet she forgot all about
that the moment she saw your beautiful, big brown eyes.” Aaron
poked the tip of her nose and elicited a small smile from the
girl.

“She’s gonna be okay?” Courtney asked
again.

“I promise.” Aaron hugged her and kissed the
top of her head. “I’m gonna go check on her, okay? See if they need
any help. I’ll be right back. Can you be a big girl for a few
minutes and wait here?”

Courtney nodded and Aaron opened the door to
the truck. “Here take this,” he told her, handing her a flashlight
that was under the seat. “If you need me just turn it on and wave
it around in the air. I’ll see it and come right back,” He
promised. The little girl nodded hugging the flashlight to her
chest.

He jogged back over to the car and found
Maggie on her knees knelt down in front of the back seat. Lacey was
laid back on the seat with a blanket draped over her raised knees.
Maggie’s hands were beneath the blanket.

“You’re doing great!” Maggie encouraged. “I
can feel the head. Take another deep breath and push.”

“Push?!” Aaron exclaimed. “Shouldn’t she
wait for the paramedics?”

“There isn’t time,” Maggie responded calmly,
only briefly glancing up at Aaron and then turning back to Lacey.
“Good, now push,” Maggie instructed.

Lacey cried out as she bore down. Aaron
shifted anxiously, wanting to be back at the truck with Courtney.
He felt much more capable of soothing a crying child then dealing
with this.

“One more, Lacey. I can feel the shoulders.
Push!” Maggie demanded.

Lacey screamed as she gave every last ounce
of energy she had. And then, just as the sound of her cry was dying
away, Aaron heard the distinct shrill cry of a newborn baby.

“You did it,” Maggie said, lifting the
bloody infant from under the blanket and laying him on his mother’s
stomach.

“I need something to tie off the umbilical
cord. A zip tie, shoe lace, anything.” she instructed, looking up
at Aaron.

He nodded numbly, still staring at the
squirming little baby. Even though it was covered in blood and
slime and God knows what else, it was still the most beautiful
thing he’d ever seen.

“Aaron, now,” Maggie said. He jumped at the
command and then nodded, running back to the truck to find what she
needed.

“Is Mama okay?” Courtney asked as soon as he
opened the door.

“Yeah, she’s great. The baby’s here. I need…
I need your shoelace,” Aaron said, feeling a bit lightheaded.
Courtney pulled off her shoe and handed it to him, confusion all
over her face.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” she asked as he
pulled the lace from the shoe.

“I don’t know” Aaron realized. “I’ll go ask.
Be right back,” he said as he turned and ran back to the car.

He handed the shoelace to Maggie as soon as
he reached her side. Lacey was now propped up and looking much
better than she had a few minutes earlier. Her hair was plastered
to her face with sweat but at least the color had returned. The
baby was wrapped in a blanket in its mother’s arms.

“Courtney wants to know if it’s a girl or a
boy,” Aaron said dazedly.

“A boy,” Lacey said, smiling up at him.

Just then the sounds of sirens filled the
air as the ambulance arrived. Maggie stepped aside and briefly
spoke with one of the paramedics while the others attended to
mother and baby. As they loaded Lacey into the ambulance Aaron
spoke up.

“Wait. Courtney needs to see that you’re
okay before they take you away,” he told them as he turned and ran
for the truck, returning shortly with the little girl in his arms.
She clung to him, frightened by all the lights and sirens.

“See, what’d I tell ya. Your mama is just
fine and look at your new baby brother,” Aaron said, holding the
little girl out so she could gaze down at the baby.

“Does it hurt, Mama?” Courtney asked.

“Not anymore, baby.” Lacey promised. “Will
you be okay to stay with Maggie until Daddy comes to get you?”

“I want to stay with Aaron,” The little girl
insisted, hugging tightly to his neck. Lacey looked up into Aaron’s
face, but this time all he saw was gratitude.

“That’s fine, baby. Just be a good girl.”
Lacey smiled as they pushed the gurney into the ambulance. They
stood on the road watching as it pulled away, Courtney still held
firmly in Aaron’s arms.

“How did you know what to do?” Aaron asked
Maggie.

“I learned how to deliver a baby when I was
in medical school,” she answered.

Maggie could feel the exhaustion sinking in
as they walked through the doors of the hospital. As soon as the
ambulance had pulled away Maggie called Andi and asked her to get
ahold of Travis Buchannan to let him know what happened. Andi had
then called her back with instructions on where they could take
Courtney.

After dropping Courtney off with her
grandmother, Maggie went home to change out of her ruined dress and
clean up. The warm water of the shower had relaxed away the last of
her adrenaline rush and she’d wanted nothing more than to climb
into bed and collapse. But she needed to check on Lacey and make
sure she was okay.

Aaron insisted on driving her to the
hospital. He told her that she looked like she was going to fall
asleep at any minute and he didn’t want her going alone. He hadn’t
yet questioned her about medical school and Maggie was grateful
that Aaron was leaving it alone for the time being. She was just
too exhausted to have that conversation right now.

They gave Lacey’s name to the front desk
receptionist who directed them to the appropriate floor. As the
elevator ascended Maggie leaned her head against Aaron’s shoulder
and he wrapped his arm around her partially supporting her weight.
He’d been right. She could easily fall asleep on her feet. She was
glad he was with her despite the awkward silence that was between
them.

When the elevator doors opened Maggie was
surprised to find a crowd gathered in the hallway in front of them.
Nearly all of Sweetwater was crowded into the narrow hospital
corridor despite the late hour. Andi must’ve called everyone she
knew.

As they approached the crowd people turned
to look at them. Most of the faces Maggie was beginning to
recognize including Ms. Brandy from the antique store. She was the
first to approach.

“The whole town’s buzzin’ about you
delivering Lacey’s baby,” Ms. Brandy told her excitedly.

“How is Lacey?” Maggie asked.

“Travis is in with her now,” she said. “I
hear you were quite the hero as well,” Ms. Brandy said, turning to
Aaron. Maggie didn’t miss the look of surprise that crossed his
face.

“Maggie did everything,” he insisted
humbly.

“That’s not how little Miss Courtney tells
it,” Ms. Brandy told him smiling.

“Aaron!” Courtney’s little voice rang down
the hall. They turned to see the little girl pulling away from her
grandmother who was seated on the plastic chairs along the wall.
Her arms were already full with Courtney’s two brothers so she was
able to slip out of her grasp easily. She ran through the crowd,
weaving through the bodies with a big smile on her face. When she
reached Aaron she literally jumped into his arms.

“Hey, Kiddo, you doing okay?” he asked as he
picked her up and hugged her. Maggie realized that every eye was
suddenly on them.

“I’ve got another brother!” she told
him.

“I know,” Aaron said, still only paying
attention to the child and not yet acknowledging the audience that
was hanging on their every word.

Just then the door of the hospital room
opened and Travis Buchannan stepped out. Almost simultaneously
every head in the room turned to him.

“Lacey is doing great and resting
comfortably.” Travis addressed the crowd, but his eyes were on
Aaron and his daughter. “And my son is a perfectly healthy 6 lbs 7
oz. Even though he was a few weeks early the doctors say he is
doing great.”

There was a collective sigh and murmurs of
relief and excitement throughout the crowd. Travis began crossing
the room, walking straight for Aaron and Maggie. The murmurs died
down as people watched with rapt attention. Aaron slowly lowered
Courtney down to the floor despite her protests.

Maggie had never seen Travis Buchannan
before. He was a broad and intimidating man. She looked to Aaron
who stood stoically at her side holding eye contact with the man
who was quickly approaching them. Maggie prepared to come to
Aaron’s defense if Travis had any harsh words for him.

Travis stopped just in front of Aaron and
his expression betrayed nothing of his emotion. At that moment the
room had fallen so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Travis
extended his hand as a smile broke out across his face.

“Courtney hasn’t stopped talking about you
all night,” Travis said as he shook Aaron’s hand. “Thank you for
making sure my daughter was okay through this.”

“It was the least I could do.” Aaron nodded
and then looked down at the little girl who was beaming up at him.
As soon as his hand was free again Courtney slipped her little hand
into his.

Travis turned to Maggie next and without a
word pulled her into his arms in a crushing embrace. “I owe you
everything for what you did for my wife tonight,” he told her. “I
can’t thank you enough.”

“I’m just glad she’s alright,” Maggie said,
smiling with relief.

“She’d like to see you,” Travis said. “Both
of you.”

Maggie and Aaron followed Travis to the
room, sending Courtney back over to her grandmother who smiled at
them kindly from her chair. They found Lacey propped up on the
hospital bed with a sleeping baby wrapped in her arms. She smiled
up at them as soon as they entered.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” she whispered, looking
down at her sleeping baby. They stepped up to the side of the bed
to gaze down at the tiny infant.

“He’s perfect,” Maggie responded softly.

“Thanks to you.” Lacey smiled up at her.

“You did the hardest part,” Maggie
insisted.

“We were talking about names,” Travis spoke
up, stepping up beside his wife.

“We’d like to name him Aaron,” Lacey said,
looking over to Aaron.

“I don’t know what to say,” Aaron replied.
Maggie smiled over at him reaching out to take his hand. “I’m
honored.”

“I was wrong about you,” Lacey told him
earnestly. Aaron was speechless. Maggie could see him trying to
swallow back tears as he bowed his head modestly.

“Of course we considered naming him Maggie,”
Travis joked, lightening the mood.

“I think Aaron is much more fitting.” Maggie
smiled over at him.

“That’s what Lacey said.” He shrugged as he
lifted a bottle of water to take a drink.

“Maybe the next one will be a girl,” Lacey
said lightly, causing Travis to choke on his water as quiet
laughter filled the room.

“We’ll leave you two to figure that out,”
Maggie said. “In the meantime, try to get some sleep,” she advised
Lacy, who looked completely exhausted.

“Yes, Dr. Maggie,” Lacey said with a sleepy
smile.

~∞~

Lacey’s parting words hung heavy in the air
on the silent drive home. Maggie knew she needed to have this
conversation with Aaron, she just wasn’t ready for it. Aaron had
shared so much about his past with her and she had told him very
little about herself. She tried to reason with herself that she
hadn’t intentionally kept anything from him, but she knew it wasn’t
true. She knew that to share with him her past meant to include him
in the decision about her future. She also knew that after the time
they’d spent together he deserved to be included.