Clouds (26 page)

T
ell me about this author you’re going to meet in Glenbrooke,” Shelly said.

Meredith yawned and stretched her arms. “Her name is Jessica Buchanan. She’s never published anything before, but she sent in some samples of her writing, and I think she has some great ideas. She said she liked our books, and that’s why she contacted us.”

“Isn’t it kind of risky to put all this effort into someone who hasn’t been published before?”

“Not if I know what I’m doing. Part of my job is to discover and develop new talent. I have to take some risks. She went to Oxford and was an English teacher at the high school in Glenbrooke. Those are pretty good foundational credits in my book.”

Shelly pulled into a rest area about ten miles from Glenbrooke and shook her head. “It would seem to me that
creativity has to count more than degrees when it comes to children’s books.”

“And that’s what I’m trying to find,” Meredith said with a bit of irritation in her voice, “creative people with whom I can work.”

“Don’t take what I’m saying wrong. I just could never do your job is all.”

“Sorry,” Meredith said. “I’m a little nervous.”

“It’ll be fine,” Shelly comforted her.

Meredith took over at the wheel again. Shelly had nibbled away nearly all the snacks in their bag, leaving only the carrot sticks and two Kudos bars for Meredith. That seemed to suit her fine.

“Is she expecting you at a certain time?”

“No. I told Jessica I was driving down with my sister, and she said they had a guest room in which we could stay. The plan is for us to talk business tomorrow. I wanted to get here early so we could scout around. Maybe find a couple of antique stores.”

“Sounds good,” Shelly said. “Do you think Jessica would be offended if we stayed at a hotel instead of her guest room?”

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Well, what if she lives in a real dive? I’ve been offered the hospitality of many well-meaning people over the years, and I personally prefer hotel rooms.”

“You live in hotel rooms.”

“Not anymore. But I’m used to them. They’re familiar.”

“Let’s do this,” Meredith said. “We’ll roll into Glenbrooke, find her address, and decide if we want to stay there or not.”

“Just by the outside,” Shelly added. “None of this going inside and then saying we want to leave. It’s rude.”

“Okay. So we drive by and give it a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down.
I’ll let Jessica know I’ve arrived, either by ringing the doorbell or by calling her after we’ve checked into the local motel.”

“Right,” Shelly agreed. “Then you and I go ‘tiquing, and you have your meeting with her tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“And none too soon,” Shelly said. “Did you see that sign? Two miles to Glenbrooke.”

The road began to twist and turn uphill as they covered the last few miles into Glenbrooke. Houses appeared here and there, tucked behind thick overgrowth and giant cedar trees.

“Cute place,” Shelly said as Meredith entered the main part of town and slowed her car way down. “That looks like a promising lunch spot, The Wall Flower. And an antique store only three doors down. Good choice of authors, Meri.”

“We don’t know that. This could be the biggest mistake of my career.”

“Or the best move. You don’t know.”

“These directions are kind of strange. Can you figure this out?”

Shelly coached her sister through the center of town and past charming houses lined in a row with primroses growing in their window flower boxes. The directions took them up Madison Hill to a breathtaking Victorian mansion. A wide porch with a swing fronted the home, and a loop of smoke tousled itself out of the chimney to disappear into the blue sky.

The two sisters looked at each other.

“I think it’s a thumbs-up,” Meredith said.

“I think we must have the wrong address,” Shelly smarted off. “Your author didn’t mention to you that she lived like a princess, did she?”

“No. Jessica seemed normal on the phone.”

“Maybe it’s her parents’ house.”

“No, she said she was married.” Meredith pulled the keys from the ignition and gave herself a quick look in the rearview mirror, fluffing up her hair before going in. “I should have stopped to put on some makeup,” she said.

“You look mah-velous, dah-ling,” Shelly teased. “Come on. I can’t wait to meet this woman.”

They got out and immediately heard the barking of dogs. Two golden retrievers stood at the top of the stairs, guarding the front door.

“Do you think we should get back in the car?” Meredith said. “What if they come after us?”

“These guys look friendly,” Shelly said, addressing the dogs with her calming voice. “You’re just two big fur balls, aren’t you?”

They stopped barking. With tongues out and tails wagging, they responded to Shelly’s calming words.

“Piece of cake,” Shelly said, thrusting her hands into the pockets of her suede jacket. “Man, it’s cold out here.”

The front door opened, and a delicate-looking woman with shoulder-length, honey blond hair stepped out onto the porch. She was very pregnant.

“Hi. Are you Jessica?” Meredith said cautiously as she and Shelly started up the steps.

Shelly guessed that Jessica hadn’t mentioned to Meredith that she was expecting, otherwise Meredith wouldn’t have seemed so shocked.

“Yes?” Jessica was obviously surprised to see them as well. The dogs laid down, huddling close to Jessica’s feet as if they were trained to protect her.

“I’m sorry to drop in like this. I know we should have called. I’m Meredith Graham from G. H. Terrison Publishing. This is my sister, Shelly. We arrived a little early. I wanted to
make sure I had the right place.”

“Yes, yes, welcome,” Jessica said, her expression brightening.

Shelly noticed that Jessica had a slight scar on her upper lip that curled up when she smiled. “Please come in. I’m hosting a little Valentine luncheon. I’d love it if you two could join us.”

Another car, with a woman driver, came up the driveway.

“Oh, good, Lauren’s here. I asked her to come early and help me set up,” Jessica said.

A slim woman with short, light blond hair stepped out of the car and waved to the three of them on the porch. As soon as her car door slammed shut, the dogs rose and began to bark again.

“It’s okay; it’s only Lauren,” Jessica said.

The dogs took off down the steps and joyfully greeted Lauren, jumping up on her long, floral shirt.

“Cut it out, you guys. They smell the cat hair,” she called out to Jessica, who was clapping her hands to get the retrievers to return.

They charged back up the stairs in their eagerness to obey. As the brutes slammed their broad sides against Jessica’s legs, Shelly watched Jessica wobble and reach for the doorjamb to balance herself.

“Hi,” Lauren said, coming up the stairs. “I’m Lauren.”

“I’m Meredith.”

“I’m Shelly.”

“Nice to meet you,” the blue-eyed woman said, extending a hand. “It’s cold today, isn’t it?”

“Yes, we were noticing the same thing,” Shelly said. She turned to look at their hostess, as a hint that they were ready to go in. Jessica stood frozen in place, her hand still clutching the doorjamb. Her face had gone pale, and her eyes were wide.

“Jess?” Lauren said, immediately reaching for her arm. “Are you okay?”

“I think my water just broke.”

No one said a word. Shelly had been through training in flight school and was the first to go into action. “Are you in any pain?” Shelly asked.

“No.”

“Okay, then let’s do this: Meredith and I will help you down the stairs nice and slow. Lauren, would you mind grabbing a jacket for Jessica? We’re going to take you to the hospital. Is that okay with you?”

Jessica nodded.

Lauren rushed into the house.

“Kyle!” Jessica said as Meredith and Shelly offered an arm to steady her. She didn’t seem weak, only dazed. “I need to go call Kyle.”

“I’ll get ahold of him,” Lauren said, handing Jessica’s coat to Meredith when they were halfway down the stairs. “I’ll tell him to meet you at the hospital.” Lauren turned, but when she took the top stair, she tripped and fell with a wail on her way down.

The dogs started to bark.

“You okay?” Shelly asked over her shoulder.

“I think so.”

“I’m okay,” Jessica said, walking slowly and holding her belly with her hand. Shelly let go of Jessica’s arm and said, “Why don’t you put her in the backseat, Meri. I’ll check on Lauren.”

Shelly took the steps carefully. They were slick, and she could see how Lauren stumbled. Lauren was still sitting down. She had a pained expression on her face.

“I twisted my ankle,” she said. “I feel ridiculous.”

Shelly carefully touched Lauren’s ankle and tried to bend her
foot up. She remembered a passenger on a trip to San Diego a few years ago who had tripped entering the plane and had said it was nothing when, in fact, his ankle was broken. By the time the plane had landed, he couldn’t put any weight on it.

“Why don’t you come to the hospital with us? We can call Jessica’s husband with the cell phone.”

A sudden, sharp cry came from the backseat of Meredith’s Explorer.

“When is Jessica due?” Shelly asked, offering Lauren her shoulder and helping her walk slowly down the stairs.

“Not for three more weeks. Ouch.”

“Try not to put any weight on it, if you can help it. Why don’t you sit in the front seat? I’ll ride in the back with Jessica. That way you can direct Meredith to the hospital.”

Lauren was barely in the front seat when Jessica released another cry. This time she tried to stifle it.

“It’s okay,” Shelly said, getting into the backseat and draping Jessica’s coat over her in her propped-up position. “You can scream if you want. Just don’t panic.”

Jessica tried to laugh, but it came out in a cough. She began to draw deep breaths in through her nose and exhale through her mouth. Meredith pulled around the circular drive and headed down the road at a fast clip.

“I’ll try not to hit any bumps,” Meredith said. “Which way to the hospital?”

“Turn right at the first stop sign,” Lauren said. “When you pass the fire station, turn left. It’s not far.”

“Do you want to call anyone?” Meredith said. “My cell phone is right here.”

“Oh, good.” Lauren reached for it and punched in some numbers. “Kenton? Hi. Get Kyle. We’re on the way to the hospital. Jessica’s water broke.… No, she’s okay.… Yeah, I’ll see you there.”

Shelly reached over and took Jessica’s hand when she could tell by Jessica’s expression that another contraction was coming over her. The contractions seemed close together. Jessica’s fragile, long fingers wrapped around Shelly’s, and as a wave of pain rose within her, Jessica squeezed Shelly’s hand with more ferocity than Shelly would have guessed possible for a woman of Jessica’s stature.

“My back,” Jessica moaned as the contraction diminished.

Meredith had already laid a blanket over the seat for Jessica. Shelly took the other car blanket from the storage space behind them and rolled it up like a long pillow. “Let’s try this,” she suggested.

Perspiration began to gleam across Jessica’s forehead. Her coloring went pale again. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Do you want me to pull over?” Meredith asked.

“No, keep going,” Shelly urged. She was immune to the sight and sound of people’s air sickness. She reached for the large plastic bag that had held their carrot sticks earlier that morning. “Use this, if you need to. I’ll crack the window for a little air.”

Meredith seemed to hit every bump in the road. Rolling her window down an inch, Lauren looked as if she might get sick as well. Shelly reached for a box of tissues on the floor of the back seat, ready for Jessica to vomit. But she didn’t. She kept her chin up and kept breathing.

“Do we still have some bottled water up there, Meri?”

“No, I drank it all.”

“That’s okay,” Jessica said. Her eyes were closed, and her jaw seemed to be clenching. “Here comes another one.” Her breathing deepened. Shelly reached for her hand, and again Jessica gripped it like there was no tomorrow.

“We’re here!” Meredith announced.

“Go around this side to the emergency entrance,” Lauren suggested.

Meri drove over the bump into the parking lot so fast that both Shelly and Jessica let out a cry.

“Sorry!”

“There’s Kyle and Kenton,” Lauren said. “Honk your horn so they’ll see us.”

Jessica took a deep breath. Shelly patted Jessica’s moist face with a tissue. “You’re doing great,” Shelly said calmly. “We’re at the hospital now. Are you ready to move?”

Jessica squinted her eyes and nodded her head. Her mascara had smeared and ran in tiny rivulets down her flushed cheeks.

Shelly quickly dabbed the dark streaks away. With her most tender smile, she said, “It won’t be long before you’re holding that little miracle in your arms.”

With a weak smile, Jessica said, “Thank you.”

A dark-haired man had rushed to the car and was opening the back door before the car came to a complete stop. Another man with the same strong, defined jaw and broad shoulders hurried toward them with a wheelchair.

“It’s okay, honey, it’s okay, just breathe. That’s it. Nice steady breaths,” the first man said, taking Jessica into his arms and slowly helping her from the car. “Where’s that wheelchair? Kenton, get over here! Breathe deep, Jess. How far apart are the contractions? You’re going to be okay. Breathe, now. Slow, even breaths. Quicker. I mean, slower. It’s okay, Jess. You’re going to be okay.”

“Kyle, relax!” Jessica said, lowering herself into the wheelchair. “I’m fine. Now take me in there, and let’s go have a baby.”

Chapter Twenty-Six