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She put the plate on the table and headed down the hall, well aware of him following her. He’d pushed the bed up against the wall across from the window. It looked like the perfect place for it. She ran her hand along the railing. “It looks wonderful.”
“Do you have a mattress for it?”
“Yes, it’s in the other bedroom.”
“I’ll get it.”
He soon returned with a mattress covered in protective plastic. Together they worked to remove it. Ryan lifted the bedding and dropped it into place.
“It almost makes it real,” she said with a note of wonder.
“What?”
“A baby coming.”
He chuckled. “I would think that large mound you’re sporting out front would make it seem pretty real.”
“It does but the bed is something tangible.”
“What about a rocker or any other furniture?”
She shrugged. “I’ll have to go buy something. I was hoping I could find some pieces at a garage sale that I could redo. I wanted to paint it bright and add animals and plants, that sort of thing.”
“You mean like the other folk art you have in the living room?”
She looked at him with a brightness that said they were talking about a passion of hers. “You know about folk art?”
“Only what it is. I’m more a straight paint and stain kind of guy. Fancy painting isn’t my thing. So, if you’ll show me where you want these books, I’ll start moving them.”
“They go in my bedroom.”
She went out the doorway and turned toward the end of the hall, then went through an open doorway. Ryan followed more slowly. Why did it bother him that he had just been invited into his buddy’s wife’s bedroom? She hadn’t even thought about what she was saying. When she looked back he was standing in the doorway.
“They go on this bookshelf. If you’ll bring them to me, I can shelve them.”
Ryan returned with an armload of books. She’d taken a seat on the floor in front of the shelving while he’d been gone.
He stacked the books on the floor and she went to work, putting them in place.
Ryan looked down at Phoebe. He saw pregnant women day in and day out, but there was something almost angelic about the way her golden hair covered a portion of her face and her small hands put the books so neatly into their spots.
He shook his head and strode toward the door. Had he been spending too much time in his shop alone? The sawdust was filling his brain.
Fifteen minutes later he had all the books moved. Phoebe hadn’t worked as fast as he so she was still shelving books. Not wanting to sit on her bed, he stood near the door until she was finished.
“Thanks for doing this. I’ve been dreading it for weeks. That’s why it hasn’t been done.” She continued to work.
Ryan’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. “I have to get this.”
She nodded.
“Ryan Matthews.”
“It’s Julie Habershire. My waters just broke.”
“Okay. No need to panic. We talked about what to do if this happens. I’ll meet you at the hospital. Drive safe.”
“Ryan, the baby will be all right, won’t it? It’s early.”
“The baby should be fine. Not so early it shouldn’t be perfect. See you soon.”
He touched the phone to disconnect the call. Phoebe looked at him with a slight smile on her face. “Are you always that calm and reassuring with your patients?”
“I try to be.”
“That’s a special gift.”
“I just know that people are scared when they have never experienced something before, especially if it has to do with their bodies. I learned a long time ago if I don’t sound upset, then they’re more likely not to get upset.”
“You must be good at your job.”
He slipped the phone back into his pocket. “I hope my patients think so. Anyway, I’ve got to go. I hate to miss out on that meal, but babies don’t wait.”
“I understand.”
“Would it be all right if I come back tomorrow and get started on that painting? Maybe get in on leftovers?”
“That sounds fine to me. After lunch?”
“Then it’s a plan. See you then.” He turned to head out the door and stopped. Coming back, he offered her his hand. “If I don’t help you up, I’m afraid you might still be on the floor when I return tomorrow.”
“Are you implying that I’m so big that I can’t get up off the floor by myself?” She accepted his hand. He helped her rise. She did it with grace.
With her on her feet, he put up his hands as if defending himself. “Hey, I work with pregnant women every day and I know better than to do that. Have to go. See you later.”
Her soft laugh followed him down the hall. He went out the front door with a grin on his face, something he’d done more in the last few days than he had in years.
The next afternoon Phoebe wasn’t sure what was happening but she was going to take Ryan’s help while it was being offered. She’d sat around for too long with no direction. Well aware that she needed to be getting the baby’s room together, she hadn’t had the heart to do so. It was just too sad to work on it by herself. Having the bed assembled made her want to do more. It needed sheets, blankets. There should be other pieces of furniture, pictures on the walls.
Next weekend she’d go to some garage sales and see if she could find a few items. She smiled. For once she was feeling some excitement over the prospect of being a mother. For now she’d be satisfied with just having the room painted.
She’d hardly finished her lunch sandwich when there was a knock at the door. Ryan stood there. Dressed in cargo pants and a white T-shirt that hugged his well-defined physique, he was a fine-looking man. Mrs. Rosenheim had made a point to tell Phoebe the same thing that morning. Ryan proved that just because she was pregnant it didn’t mean that she couldn’t be affected by a man. It took her time to draw enough breath to say hello.
“Hey,” he said in that drawl that left her feeling like she was sitting beside a cool stream on a hot summer day. “How about showing me the paint supplies? If I need anything I’ll still have time to go to the store before it closes.”
“Okay. It’s this way.” This was the first time he hadn’t taken time to ask her how she was doing. He seemed focused on the project. She kind of liked the fact that he didn’t see her as only a pregnant woman.
At the shed, she started to raise the roll-top door. Ryan stopped her by placing his hand over hers. His hand wasn’t smooth, l
ike she had expected for a midwife. Instead, it had a coarseness to it that spoke of a man who did more than wear gloves all the time.
“Hey, you don’t need to be doing that. Let me get it.”
What would have taken her great effort seemed as easy for him as lifting a blind.
“The paint stuff is stacked up over there.” She pointed to the right and toward the back of the shed.
“I see it.” He leaned over some gardening pots to gather the items, while at the same time presenting her with a nice view of his behind.
“Would you mind carrying a couple of things?”
It took her a second to answer. “No.”
Ryan looked over his shoulder and gave her a speculative look. “Here.” He handed her a few brushes and a package of rollers, then came out holding an armload of drop cloths and a paint tray. “I think this is everything I need.”
They walked back to the house. Phoebe held the door open for him to enter. He was laying supplies on the floor of the baby’s room by the time she entered. He took what she carried from her and added them to the pile.
Scanning the room, he said, “Is the desk staying in here?”
She looked at it. Ryan’s drive to get things done was surpassing what she had thought through. “I had planned to put it in the living room. But I’ll need to move a few things around so it’ll have a place. Give me a minute and I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’re not moving anything by yourself.”
Phoebe faced him with her hands on her hips. “I appreciate your help. Really I do, but up until a few days ago I had no help. No one telling me what I should and shouldn’t do. I am fully capable of moving a few things. If it’s too large for me to do so, I’ll call you.”
Ryan’s look met hers. He pursed his lips. She’d got his attention.
“I’m sorry. I stepped over the line, didn’t I?”
She nodded. “Yes. Just a little bit.”
“Then please let me know if and when you need help.” He bowed slightly.
“Thank you. I will.” She left the room with her head held high. She was grateful for Ryan’s help but she wasn’t needy, despite what her behavior at his house had implied.
In the living room, she began moving small items off an end table. Ryan’s soft whistle drifted up the hall. It was nice to have someone around. Her smile grew. It would be nice to have a baby in the house.
