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*****
“Darling,shouldn’t you be on bed rest?” Sela exclaimed as sooncame into Brooke’s office. “Aren’t you in the lastmonth of your pregnancy?”
“Shh.”Waddling over, Brooke closed the door and tried to regain her breath.“Your son is threatening to divorce me. I feel fine.” Shereturned to lower herself into the chair, one hand rubbing her back.
“I promised himI would take two months away from the clinic when our son comes. Iwant to be here for Mr. Benn when he returns from surgery. And I feelokay. Why are you here? Not that I am not very happy to see you, ofcourse.”
“I know,darling. I just stopped by the apartment to drop off some things formy grandson and decided to come and see how you are doing.”
Brooke shook her headat her mother-in-law. “Between you, my mom, Dwayne, andCaitlin, that little boy will be spoiled rotten, which I will notallow; I am making that very clear.”
“Of course, mydear. Have I told you how much happiness you have brought to my sonand me?”
“I believe youdid several times.”
“And now youwill be bringing the next generation of Rochester into the world.”
“No pressure atall.”
“Absolutelynone.” Sela smiled at the beautiful young woman who had changedher son’s life. “Now, I have to run. I am meeting yourmother to review some details for the christening.”
“Could youkindly wait until I pop him out first?” She asked inexasperation.
“It does nothurt to be prepared.” With a wave, she was gone.
Shaking her head,Brooke rubbed the small of her back as the pain increased inintensity. She was eight months and a week pregnant and knew fromexperience that first babies had their own minds.
Her stomach wasnauseous, and the pain in her stomach was not going away but wasgetting more intense. Pushing away from the desk, she waddled over tothe fancy cabinet her husband had insisted on having the contractorput in and made some tea with a touch of honey.
“Oof.”Putting the cup down, she rubbed her hand over her bulging stomach.“Okay there, little Jamieson, it’s not time. Mama is notready for you to pop out just yet. I am not prepared.” Takingdeep breaths, she took several sips of the tea. Her hand shook as thecontraction leaped through her body like a sharp, pointed sword.
The cup fell to thefloor with a crash. Leaning against the counter, she took severalbreaths to ride it out. “Oh God.” She whispered, thesweat popping up on her brow. She was about to gather her strength togo and get her phone when her husband came rushing in.
“Perfecttiming.” She told him with a shaky smile. “How didyou-”
“A patient wascoming to see you when she heard the cup shatter. How far apart?”
“I think it’sten seconds, and if you are thinking of going to the hospital, I haveto tell you I am not going to make it. Oh, good Lord.” Grippinghis hand, she bent over and took deep breaths.
“Dr.Johnson is still here.”
“That’sgood.”
“Can you makeit to the examination room?”
“We willsee.”
She started to taketwo steps when she buckled again. Hissing out a breath, Cooper liftedher gently in his arms and did not bother to argue that he had toldher to stay home.
“Iram, my wifeis in labor.” He told the man who followed him into the room.
“Let’ssee how we can bring the little guy into the world.”
*****
Their son, JamiesonCaleb Rochester, was born an hour later, healthy and weighing sevenpounds despite being three weeks early.
“He isperfect,” Brooke whispered as she cradled her baby. “Youare going to be a heartbreaker, darling?” She crooned.
“I sent homethe rest of the patients. They understand, of course, that since onedoctor was giving birth and the other was the Daddy, there would beno one to see them for the remainder of the day. How is Mommy?”Cooper came to sit on the edge of the narrow bed.
“Justwonderful. My God, I am a mother.”
“That youare. I called the family, and they are on their way over. Why do Iget the feeling that you designed this so that you could have our sonright here at the clinic?”
“You might beright.” Lifting her head, she turned shining eyes to him. “Ilove you, darling.”
“Right back atyou.” Kissing her on the forehead, he took his son and placedhim inside the cot one of the patients had made for him just a weekago. Stroking a hand over the sparse black hair, he stood therelooking at what they had created and felt his throat thickening withemotion.
