“Everybody does, honey.” Josh kissed her forehead. “Do you feel better now?”
“I think so. And the baby’s awake.”
Ben watched as Katie ran her hand over her stomach. She looked relieved and exhausted, but her mouth curved into a smile as the baby kicked her hand.
“I know your muscles will feel sore after that,” he said, “but do you have any pain?”
“No. Everything feels more normal now. Well, pregnant-normal, anyway.” She sighed, already looking sleepy again. “But I’m never eating pork chops, mashed potatoes, ranch dressing, egg salad or ice cream again.”
Ben chuckled. “Maybe not all in the same evening, anyway.”
“I might have panicked,” Josh said. “She’s had heartburn, but nothing like this and when the antacids didn’t help, I thought it might be the baby.”
“Always better to be safe than sorry.” Ben checked Katie’s vitals again. They were good, and she looked relaxed. “I think you’re going to feel better now, Katie, but I can give you a ride to the hospital so they can check you out more thoroughly if you want.”
“I still feel a little bit queasy but other than that, I don’t feel like anything’s wrong. Are you going to be close by?”
Ben glanced at Laney and she nodded. “Yes, I’ll be close by. If you or Josh have any concerns, I’ll come running.”
“You could probably take the time to put pants on next time,” Rosie said. “I’m doing my damnedest not to look because you’re my daughter’s age, but the less worried I am for her, the harder it gets not to notice.”
“Yeah, when you were running here in your underwear and bare feet to save my wife and child, it was awesome,” Josh said. “But now you can get out of my bedroom.”
Laughing, Ben packed up his bag and gave Katie a last visual exam. Her smile was sleepy, but she looked content and he had no doubt she’d be asleep by the time he reached the back door. “Get some rest and I’ll see how you’re doing in the morning.”
“Thank you,” she said.
Josh held out his hand, which Ben shook. “Thanks, man. I’d hug you, but you’re practically naked.”
Bag in hand, Ben left the room with Laney. He put his hand on her back as they walked through the lodge and out the back door. “Thanks for getting my bag.”
“I’m glad you were here tonight. That was scary.”
“Do you mind if I stay the night, or would you be more comfortable if I grabbed one of the beds in the lodge?”
She looked confused for a few seconds. “You were in my bed when Josh knocked, remember?”
“Yeah, I definitely remember being in your bed, but we kind of nodded off together. That’s different than deliberately spending the night.”
“Ben, I want you to stay.”
Once they were back in her camper, he set his bag on her dinette table and tossed his pants on the bench seat, just in case. Responding to an emergency in his underwear was a first and he knew that once the fear from the night faded, it was going to be a long time before he heard the end of it.
Once he was back in Laney’s bed, her back pressed to his chest, he pulled her hair back so he could kiss her neck. “I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”
“Mmm?”
“Next Saturday we’re having a party for my parents, to celebrate their sixtieth birthdays and fortieth wedding anniversary.”
“Really? You mean like a date you picked to celebrate all three?”
“No, they have the same birthday. And they got married on that day. It’s kind of a milestone, so we’re having a party for them in the late afternoon and I’d like for you to go with me.”
“That sounds fun, and I like your parents. I’ll have to make sure it’s okay with Rosie and Josh, but it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ben smiled and kissed her neck again before laying his head on the pillow. Having the woman he was falling in love with—even if she wasn’t ready for him to tellherthat yet—at his side to celebrate his parents’ long, happy marriage would mean the world to him.
* * *
