For Nick (34 page)

“Yes. I placed a basket of sunflowers on her grave, her favorite.”

“Are you okay?

“I am now.”

He was her strength. He knew it and he loved it. Their loss had brought them together, not apart. There was now a palpable bond between them that seemed unbreakable. Her eyes were a little swollen and he knew she’d had a good cry. But she seemed to be content now. It would take time for her to adjust to life without Nick.

“Hey, see that couch over there?” she asked with a sparkle in her eye.

Zach looked into the living room. “Yeah,” he said, confused as to her meaning.

“It’s brand new and quite comfortable…almost as big as a bed. Two can fit on it perfectly. How much do you want this job?”

He caught on and played along with her. “Are you offering me
the
job?”

“I’m offering you
a
job.”

“We’ve already been through this, Mrs. Drake.”

“How ‘bout it baby, you and me, right now. The Barnes’ aren’t home. We can take our time.”

“I’m warning you, keep that massive belly between us or I just might get my pepper spray.”

Andie could hardly keep a straight face. “C’mon, we have to consummate at least once.”

“Judging by your belly, I’d say you either ate a watermelon or we’ve already consummated.”

“Are you turning me down?”

“No, I just have a few questions first.”

“Shoot.”

“What about intimacy?”

“It’s not part of the deal. I won’t pressure you, I promise,” Andie said as she hugged him suggestively, her actions belying her words.

“Good thing. I’m not that kind of a man,” Zach said as he smothered her face in kisses.

“Really? My belly says differently.”

“Please don’t take it personally. You’re an extremely attractive woman, but this is not something I’m comfortable doing, I mean, my grandfather arranged this marriage and the Barnes’ could come home at any moment. How weird is that?”

“We’ll just have to make it as comfortable as possible for both of us. It’s all up to you. You would be the one to initiate…
it
. No pressure. And I love your grandfather and his
fortuitous
abilities of discernment. Besides, I gave the Barnes’ the night off.”

“On second thought, the couch looks amazing…” he said as he kissed her passionately. They laughed at their light banter as their lips held each other’s. “I can’t believe you remember all that.”

“I remember everything about you, Zach…everything.”

“Are you all ready to go?” Zach mumbled, anxious to get on the road, especially after their amorous exchange.

“What? After I just propositioned you, that’s all you have to say?” Andie answered, amused.

“No worries, I’ll take a rain check. Tonight. That’s a promise. I just wanna get there. It’ll be better than the couch, I swear.”

“I’m all packed. Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.” He was taking her out to dinner and then to an extravagant hotel for the weekend. No occasion. Just because.

Suddenly, a strange look landed on Andie’s face…

Andie gasped. “Oh…I think my water just broke.”

“What! Are you sure?”

Since there was a puddle of water forming beneath her, she figured it was safe to assume so. “I think so.”

Zach’s eyes widened unnaturally as he took a step backward. He said nothing for about thirty seconds.

“Zach?” He seemed as if he was frozen.

“What?”

“Are you okay?” Shouldn’t he be asking her that question?

“Yeah.”

He still didn’t move. “Zach?” she said again.

“We have to go,” he said as he walked into the living room and then back out again.”We have to go right now. Where’s your…you know…box of stuff?”

All at once, Zach was acting strangely, as if he was suddenly so nervous he couldn’t think straight. He was scaring her.
Box of stuff? Did he mean her suitcase?
“My hospital bag is packed, remember? It’s in my closet,” she told him calmly.

Without another word, Zach ran up the stairs, then came back down empty handed. “What was I getting again?”

“My bag.”

“Oh yeah. Andie’s bag, that’s it,” he mumbled. “Are you okay?”

The first contraction ripped through her belly and she doubled over, panting through it. It was so much stronger than she’d remembered. It was all coming back to her very quickly—a pain she’d rather not recall. Andie knew she couldn’t stand for too much longer. The look of terror on Zach’s face kept her calm. “Yes. Just hurry.”

This time Zach came back down the stairs with the correct bag in hand. “I’ll call the…building…you know, it’s tall with lots of windows,” Zach said anxiously.

“Hospital,” Andie coaxed.

“Yeah, that’s it. Thanks.” He began to pace the room as he stared at his cell phone as if he’d never seen it before. A blank mask covered his face and he’d turned pale, a sickly ‘white as a sheet’ shade. Andie knew he was beginning to lose his cool. In spite of his unending strength at Nick’s side, anything medical turned him into, in his words, ‘a whimpering fool.’ Andie was quickly realizing he wasn’t kidding. She also realized that she hadn’t really believed him, assuming he was exaggerating his fear of hospitals. After all, he’d endured Nick’s ordeal with surprising resolve. Where was that strength now?

“Zach, speed dial one.”

“Oh yeah. Thanks, sweetheart.” He stared at his phone. “One?”

Andie held up one finger. “One. It looks like this.”

“Oh yeah.” His finger shook as he pressed the one and Andie knew she was in trouble. “Hello, this is…uh…uh…”

“Zachary Drake,” Andie provided.

“…yes, that’s it…” he said as if she’d just answered the all encompassing question that explained the universe. “This is Zach, and we just lost our water,” he finished, pleased with himself.

Andie concentrated on breathing evenly. She’d experienced a constant dull ache in her back all day. She simply hadn’t equated it with early labor. She guessed the nurse on the other end of the line was familiar with useless husbands because she seemed to know what Zach meant. He turned his head sharply, studying her with an intense gaze. Andie concentrated on breathing in and out deeply as she rubbed the taut skin covering her stomach. Another contraction was coming on. “Yes,” he said decisively. “She has pain. I think lots of it.”

Andie prayed her husband would return any minute now. She needed him. This wasn’t Zach.

“Her name? Yes, it’s…uh…uh…” He looked at her blankly.

“Andrea Drake.”

“Andie, that’s it. Her name is Andie.”

It was going to be a long night.

Zach rushed her to the car. He couldn’t remember the way to the hospital and Andie had to tell him when to turn, when to brake, and when to use his turn signal. It was completely unnerving. He retrieved a wheelchair and took her on
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
as he raced her up to Labor and Delivery. Andie began to wonder if she and the baby would survive.

Upon arrival, he announced to the nurse, “We lost our water and my wife has lots of pain.”

“You must be Mrs. Drake,” the nurse commented knowingly.

They took her to her room as Zach informed them, “It’s a baby, you know.”

The nurses kindly indulged him. “A baby? Is that why you’re here?”

In his current state, their sarcasm was completely lost on Zach.

“Yep. A baby,” he said proudly. “Me and her’s.”

It was five long hours later that Andie held her new son in her arms. Zach had passed out when he was born, falling to the floor in a dead faint. Half the room had attended to him instead of her, but at least he’d been there. He was now sitting in the chair next to her bed lightly dozing. It was two AM by then. The color was back in his cheeks and he looked as if he was back to his normal self. He awoke a few minutes later and leaned forward in his chair to gaze upon their new baby.

“Welcome back,” she said to him.

He took a deep breath. “I’m so sorry, Andie.”

“It’s okay. I quite enjoy the comic relief while I’m having ‘lots of pain.’ ” She suppressed a smile. “You weren’t kidding. I had no idea.”

“I tried to warn you. I had my appendix out as a kid and I threw up every time I saw the stitches on my abdomen. They finally bandaged the incision so I couldn’t see it. It didn’t help. I knew it was there.” He held his head in his hands for a moment. “Somehow Nick was different. I don’t know why.” He ran his hand through his hair and a few strays landed on his forehead, making him look charming. “You’re not mad at me?”

Her smile died and they observed each other in all seriousness. “I’m not mad. I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you.” He wrapped his arms around Andie and their son. “Can I hold him?”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine now. Did…did you already do it?”

“Yes.” Andie handed him their baby boy and he took him into his strong arms. He closed his eyes, held him close, and said, “Hi Nick.” They exchanged a bittersweet smile and Zach wiped away a tear on Andie’s cheek. He studied the new life in his hands as if in awe.

“Zane seems to like you, Dad.”

Zach smiled. “Are we going to call him Zane?”

“Zach and Zane, my real life alliterations. I like it, do you?”

“Yes, I love it.” Zach leaned forward and kissed Andie several times. “He’s so beautiful, Andie.”

“Is this where you planned on taking me tonight? A tall building with lots of windows?”

Zach chuckled softly. “This isn’t what I had in mind. But there’s no place else I’d rather be.”

“Me either,” Andie smiled. “
Fainting father
.”

Zach grinned. “
Most memorable moment
.”

“
Absolutely amazing aftermath
…”

EPILOGUE

Andie sat at her desk writing thank you notes for all of the lovely shower gifts her friends had bestowed upon her. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was time. The baby was due in one week. She was more than ready. Her belly was huge and she felt as though she was about to pop at any moment. The heart hanging down from her prized bracelet bounced against the wood of the desk as she wrote. She never took the pearl bracelet off. Besides the N pinky ring, she loved it more than any other thing Zach had ever given her. As if the beauty of the pearls weren’t enough, the heart was engraved with the words,
I want heeerrr.
Every time she looked upon it, it reminded her of Zach growling in her ear as he uttered his favorite phrase.

Playful screams from the backyard made her eyes wander to the wall of windows. Her perfect view of the…
contraption
Zach had built made working at her desk easy. She could finish any necessary paperwork and still keep a watchful eye on the children.

Zach had said he was going to build a swing set. But the monster in their backyard was hardly that. It was a huge monstrosity of a thing that took up the view from every window that faced the back of the house. It had swings, seesaws, slides, rope-swings, tire-swings, poles, forts, and climbing bars. The kids loved it though and it certainly kept them occupied on hot, sunny afternoons.

She dated her next note—June thirtieth—and her thoughts took her back to that day, the day she’d married Zach. It seemed so long ago now, but in reality, it had only been eight years. Eight wonderful years. Today was their anniversary and they were going out on a date for some much needed alone time. Zach was due home any minute and she was ready to go.

Still, her thoughts lingered on that day in the courthouse, the way Zach had looked in his pinstripe suit, the way he’d kissed her, softly and slowly, the way he’d held his lips to hers for much longer than necessary. She sighed. Marrying Zach was the best thing she’d ever done in her life. Even if they did have a rocky first year, it had all worked out in the end. She remembered the utter despair of those days: the worry over Nick, the uncertainty of the future, the anxious nights and fret-filled days. Zach had come to her rescue in every way. She loved him now with the same powerful intensity she’d felt back then, only now it was so much deeper, so much more solid, so firm. She was sure of him, certain of their love and commitment for one another. It was the best thing in the world. It was the only thing that had saved her from her grief over Nick. Without Zach, she had no idea what would have happened to her or Nick, or even Charles for that matter.