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Feeling more than a little awkward and helpless, Oz took a step back to simply observe the Babes.
The lifelong friends surrounded Rayna Jo with their love and support, their loyalty sweet and sincere.
Having grown up down the street from Michael and his identical twin brother, Logan, Oz knew the story of how the Babes’ friendships came about.
During the summers of ’58 and ’59, four of the prominent Carolina Cove neighbors and friends had given birth to baby girls. One a set of twins—Rayna Jo and Adaline.
The proud mamas had taken the girls for daily strolls in their prams—and the locals had nicknamed the group the Boardwalk Babes—a name used to this day by the five sixty-somethings.
All in all, the group consisted of the five Babes, who’d had twelve children between them, with Rayna Jo and Adeline each having a set of twins. On top of the second generation, a third had started, with Cheryl Dummit and Mary Elizabeth having grandchildren.
“The girls will be here soon,” Rayna Jo said again. Comforting herself?
As though summoned by the statement, the automatic doors of the hospital parted with a whoosh of air, and Oz’s stomach dropped to the floor until he realized the woman walking in wasn’t Devon.
Dara and Devon were Rayna Jo’s identical twins but as different as night and day despite their physical similarities. They both had the same sandy-blond hair and features, but Dara was typically dressed casually, in comfortable clothing for her long hours behind a screen as a cybersecurity specialist, while Devon sported a more feminine look, her profession requiring her to always be made up and camera ready.
Dara met Oz’s gaze with one of pity because she no doubt knew what he went through each time he saw her, and he acknowledged her glance with a small nod. Dara’s gaze shifted to the crowd and she rushed to her mother.
“Hey, Mama. How are you?” Dara asked.
“Oh, Dara, I’m… How did you get here so quickly?” Rayna Jo asked.
“One of the perks of being a good employee. My boss let us use the private plane. How’s Dad?” Dara asked with a glance at those gathered.
“He’s still in surgery,” Adaline said, patting her sister’s hand. “The nurse said it could be several more hours.”
“I just don’t understand. Your father said he was going to be in Cincinnati two more days,” Rayna Jo said. “Why didn’t he tell me he was home?”
Oz’s heart broke for the woman, especially in light of the answer to that question.
The doors whooshed open again, and he knew before he turned who it was. His pulse picked up speed, and he braced himself before shifting his attention to Devon.
She was as beautiful as always, though looking more tired and stressed than he ever remembered her being. She wore it in the stiff way she moved and her drawn features.
“Hey, Mama.”
“Devon, oh, my babies, I’m so glad you’re both here,” Rayna Jo said, tugging her daughters close for a long hug.
The woman’s sobs filled the waiting area, and it was quite some time before Rayna Jo managed to gather her emotions.
The waiting game continued another hour, with everyone speaking in whispers and being very careful of what they said in front of Rayna Jo.
She’d have to be told, but how did one pick a good time to hear such news? Especially while waiting to see if her husband survived surgery.
“Mrs. Teeks?” a man said.
Oz looked up and blinked, not expecting to see a Hollywood superstar or the hulking guard at his side, along with a curly-haired woman who also looked vaguely familiar and another woman as well.
“Oh. Oh, Mr. Beck, I’m so sorry,” Rayna Jo said to the man.
“Don’t get up,” Oliver Beck said when Rayna Jo began to do just that. “We just wanted to stop in and check on you.”
“That’s very kind of you. It’s s-so good to see you up and about. You’re okay? Truly?” Rayna Jo asked.
“I’m fine, ma’am. Just some cuts and bruises, nothing serious,” Oliver said. “Denz, here, took the brunt of it,” he said, indicating the bodyguard. “And he was still able to get out and walk away with the same. Our wives are here to see us home.”
Oz’s brain finally did some connecting on its own, and he remembered that Beck had married a local woman, a professional matchmaker, no less. He’d seen her picture in the tabloids, on the news, and online, and that’s why she looked so familiar.
