Getting Lucky (35 page)

TJ looked from Dan’s slumped back to Hope. Hope was chewing her bottom lip.

“Hope?” he asked. He inclined his head toward Dan.

“What do you want me to do?” Hope asked. “You told him. I don’t have a lot else to add.”

He stared at her. “You don’t have— Are you kidding me? This is your
father,
Hope. The whole reason you’re here.”

“So it’s true?” Peyton asked. “You’re…my
sister
?”

Hope focused on the younger girl. “Yes. Half-sister.”

“Oh my God.” Peyton crossed her arms over her stomach and hugged herself hard. “Oh my God.”

“Peyton, I—” Hope started.

“That’s amazing!” The words seemed to sink in and Peyton ran up the steps to enfold Hope in a hug. “Oh my God!” She squeezed Hope hard and then leaned back, tears in her eyes.

Hope gave her a smile but TJ could see it was forced.

She had to force a smile while being reunited with her family? With her sister? A girl she’d already bonded with?

“Hope,” he said quietly. He looked from her to Dan and back.

Hope followed his gaze, resting on her father’s bowed head. She sighed.

She stepped around Peyton and moved to the top of the steps. “Yes, I’m Melody’s daughter,” she said to his back. “And yours.”

Dan shook his head back and forth on his hands. “She told me she was never going to tell you who I was.”

Surprise shot through TJ. “You knew you had a daughter with Melody?” he asked.

He looked at Hope. She was frowning at Dan.

“I knew she was pregnant. I never knew if it was a boy or girl.”

“You…knew?” Hope repeated, her voice scratchy. “You knew about me?”

Dan took a deep breath and rose, turning to face her from two steps down. “Melody called me from Arizona three months after she left. She wanted to come back. I told her Jo and I were engaged and…I couldn’t do it.”

Hope took a step back and TJ moved in behind her. He rubbed his hands up and down her upper arms, offering his support. And resisting the urge to punch Dan.

“She always told me it was just us, just her and me. She said that she hadn’t told you because I was
her
gift from the universe.”

Dan nodded sadly. “Another great adventure.”

Hope nodded.

“Okay, I
really
hate to bring this up right now.”

Everyone looked at Lauren.

She was standing near the front door, one hand on her belly, the other gripping the front of Travis’s shirt. There was a puddle of water at her feet.

“But I’m gonna need to be going now.”

There was a second of absolute silence. Then everyone started talking at once.

Travis immediately swung Lauren up into his arms. Tucker and Delaney offered to drive.

They started for the steps and TJ noticed Hope biting her thumb nail as she watched them. She said nothing.

But as they got to the car, Hope asked him, “How far is the nearest hospital?”

“Twenty miles.”

“Damn,” she muttered. Then called out, “Hang on!”

Everyone turned to look at her.

“How long have you been having contractions?” Hope asked Lauren.

Lauren hesitated and Hope gave her a look. “Be honest,” she told the soon-to-be mother.

“Two days. I thought they were Braxton-Hicks. And then they got worse. But the class and the doctor and all the books said the first labor takes forever. I didn’t worry. Until…now.”

“Jesus, City—” Travis started.

“Later,” Hope said. “You can go over all of that later. How far apart are they?”

“Pretty close.”

Hope nodded. “Okay, then. Guys,” she said to Travis and Tucker. “We need to get her in on the sofa so I can check her and make sure they can make it thirty more minutes or so.”

Travis turned with Lauren and headed back into the house. Everyone else followed close behind. Hope hung back, taking big, cleansing breaths, her hand on her stomach.

“Do you know what you’re checking for?” TJ asked.

She looked up at him. “A baby’s head. If I don’t see that, we’re still good for a while.”

Right. “And if you do?”

“We might be in trouble.”

He shook his head, but he couldn’t help but lean in and kiss her. “You don’t have to know everything. Just…convince Lauren that you do.”

She met his eyes and held his gaze for a moment. Finally, she nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”

There was something new in her eyes. Something soft. Not the sparkling sweetness or the bright optimism or even the glint of mischief that he was used to, but something…more. Almost wistful.

“You okay?” He stroked a finger over her cheek.

“I can see why Michelle won’t let go of you.”

He pulled his hand back. Damn. He hadn’t been expecting that. Because her comment stirred up a bunch of stuff he’d been thinking about for the past day and a half.

Michelle used him, yes. But she also needed him on some level. She turned things dramatic so he’d come to her rescue, but him being there met a deeper need in her. And she admitted it.

Hope didn’t think she needed anyone. She didn’t want to need someone. She didn’t really know how.

And it might make him the biggest ass in Sapphire Falls, but sometimes having Michelle need him met a need in him as well.

A need that Hope might not be able, or willing, to meet.

“Hope—”

“Hey, uh, you guys?” Peyton poked her head out the door. “We could use you in here.”

“Yeah, I’m coming,” Hope said. She looked at TJ. “Will you go to the camper and get the bottle of lavender and a clean washcloth?”

“Of course.” He shook off the previous thoughts. Now wasn’t the time. “What will the lavender do?” he asked, already moving.

“For labor? Nothing,” Hope said. “But I’m going to tell Lauren it will help with her pain.”

“Will it?”

Hope shrugged. “It won’t make it worse.”

That would have to be good enough. TJ jogged off in the direction Peyton had come from. Sure enough, the girl had brought the car and camper back and parked behind the garage where no one would see it.

He rummaged through Hope’s apothecary box and found the bottle labeled lavender. But it was empty. He looked over the other bottles but had no idea if any of them would be an adequate substitute.

He headed back for the house with the empty bottle. He was pleased to see that Hope had pulled her clothes on at some point and he resolutely kept his mind
off
wondering if she’d bothered with underwear or a bra.

She was kneeling next to the couch where Lauren lay, her lower half draped with a big blanket.

“How far apart did you say your contractions were?” she asked Lauren.

“Really, really not very far apart,” Lauren said through gritted teeth. She was squeezing Travis’s hand on one side and Tucker’s on the other. Both men were grimacing.

“Okay, well, I believe that.” She looked at Phoebe. “You need to call the ambulance.”

Chapter Twelve

“I do not want to have this baby in an ambulance,” Lauren said, struggling to prop up on her elbows.

Hope met her gaze. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

“She’ll make it to the hospital?” Travis asked.

Hope shook her head. “Your baby will be here before the ambulance.”

“Of course.” Lauren slumped back onto the couch. “Just like a Bennett to make this into a big deal.”

“Just like a stubborn-assed city girl to think she didn’t need to mention that she was in
labor
,” Travis said. He leaned in and smoothed Lauren’s hair back from her forehead. He looked into her eyes. “You’re a handful, you know that?” He kissed her forehead. “And I love you with all my heart.”

Lauren’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to go yet. It’s not time.”

“Well, baby doll, I think our kid gets to decide if it’s time.”

Lauren just took a deep breath and nodded.

Travis looked up at Hope. “You got this?”

TJ moved in behind her and handed the vial over her shoulder. “She’s got this,” he said with confidence.

Hope had to know
something
about delivering babies. She’d been to nursing school. But no matter what, she was the most caring, warm, positive person he’d ever met, and she had a way of drawing everyone in. She would calm and encourage Lauren and everyone around them would feel completely confident in everything happening and all would be well.

Hope took the vial and obviously noted it was empty. She covered it with her hand so no one else could see and pretended to tip it into her palm. “Okay, Lauren, your baby is on the way.” She took Lauren’s hand and began massaging it with sure, firm strokes. “We’re going to do some stimulating massage to make your contractions more effective and some deep breathing to calm your system so you can focus on this delivery.” She continued to massage and talk. “I’m a believer in natural childbirth and I think that being on your back is a tough position. I’d rather have you up walking as long as you can and then squatting. What do you think?”

Lauren looked at her with wide eyes, and TJ would have sworn Lauren looked scared.

But this was Lauren. Kick-ass businesswoman, genius scientist, humanitarian and political activist.

“Lauren?” Hope asked. “You can do this. It’s a beautiful night to have a baby.” She tugged on Lauren’s hand, helping her to sit and then stand. Hope held her hand all the way to the door and out onto the porch. “Think about it,” she said. “This is Sapphire Falls. Look at that sky. And this land. This is your home. This seems like the perfect place to bring your child into the world, don’t you think?”

Lauren finally nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay. Yes. Definitely.”

“Travis, Tucker, walk with her. Deep breaths. All of you.” Hope gave Travis a pointed look. “Do
you
have this?”

He nodded. “On it.”

But TJ knew his brother was scared too.

They moved off the porch, walking with Lauren toward the garden.

“How long for the ambulance?” Hope asked Phoebe softly when they were out of earshot.

“Twenty minutes.”

“What about Jason Gilmore? Does someone have his number?”

“I do,” Joe said. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed.

“Okay, the rest of you,” Hope said, turning to the group that was now back on the porch. “I need blankets. We’re going to need towels. Water—for her to drink and for her face, and also some boiled so we can sterilize a knife to cut the cord. We’ll need some orange juice. And a heating pad. And crackers. Plain saltines. Also, if there’s anyone who isn’t here who should be, call them. We’re going to have another Bennett very soon.”

Everyone scattered and TJ took Hope’s hands. “See? You know exactly what to do.”

She looked up at him and laughed softly. “I’m completely faking all of this.”

He looked over his shoulder. “But the blankets and stuff…”

“Well, I assume we will need blankets and towels.”

“And the boiling water to sterilize the knife?”

“There’s no way in hell I’m cutting that cord,” Hope said. “The ambulance will be here by then. Or Jason.”

TJ shook his head. “You came up with all of that to keep them busy.”

She nodded. “They need to feel part of this and like they’re helping. If anyone thinks too hard, they’re going to get scared.”

“And Lauren’s walking? Is that to keep her distracted too?” he asked.

“No, that’s actually really good to progress the delivery.”

TJ laughed and pulled her in close, wrapping his arms around her. “And what do
you
need?”

She hugged him back. Tightly. And TJ felt his heart clench.

“Another orgasm, a shower and Double Stuf Oreos. Not necessarily in that order,” she told him.

He felt the urge to press her against the wall, kiss her, laugh, hug her tighter and take her straight to the kitchen for Oreos all at once.

“I can actually deliver on all of those,” he said against the top of her head.

“Hope!” Travis yelled from the middle of the yard.

“Rain check,” Hope said, pulling away. “I’m up.”

“I’m right here,” he told her. “Through it all.”

Her eyes went to something behind him. “Keep the monkeys occupied, okay?”

He smiled and nodded. “Bananas on the house.”

She looked like she wanted to say something more, but instead just took a deep breath. “Here we go.”

She headed across the lawn and TJ went to grab the towels and blankets they would need.

The next twenty minutes were a blur of activity.

When TJ got back outside, Lauren was squatting in the grass, Travis and Tucker holding her up. They spread the blankets underneath her and surrounded the make-shift bed with lanterns. Hope coached her through pushing with her contractions while also rubbing her back and pressing on what TJ assumed where acupressure sites in her lower back, wrists and even ankles.