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Under the table, Dane touched Cammie’s hand. The whole was bigger than the sum of its parts, ideas coming up they hadn’t even thought of on their own.
“We’re glad you guys are on board,” Dane said. He was as grateful to them as he was to Cammie. “This project has heart.”
“You’re making us look at what’s needed in this world,” Matt said. “And how we can use what we’ve been given to make it a better place to live.”
“Your brothers and sisters are all on board too?” Sebastian asked.
“Absolutely.” Dane tapped his temple. “Troy is already thinking about sports equipment. Gabby’s planning menus.”
“Don’t forget Fernsby’s baking.” Cal chuckled, showing his priorities.
“We have you to thank for this,” Will said. “Living with Jeremy, I should have seen the need long ago. But you both asked questions that made us think. It takes a team with fresh blood to look at things from a new perspective.”
A team. That’s what they were. Even as Dane wanted more, this was the beginning. He and his family and Cammie were the fresh blood the Mavericks needed. And vice versa.
“It’s synergy,” Dane said. “That’s what we’ve got.”
There were nods of agreement all around.
“We’ll start talking to our contacts about donations,” Evan said.
The Mavericks gave a rousing huzzah, filling the room with their voices and their enthusiasm.
With his uncanny sense of timing, Fernsby entered the room once again, his ubiquitous trolley refreshed with carafes of coffee and hot water for tea.
As the group enjoyed a celebratory round of Fernsby’s goodies, someone’s phone rang with a shrill rotary-phone ringtone from ages ago. All eyes went to Evan, the only one in the room who hadn’t put his device on silent. As he answered, his face turned pale. “What? But it’s too early.” A panicked note rose in his voice. “Okay. I’ll meet you there. Have Theresa take you. Everything’ll be okay.” He slammed his phone down on the table with a smack that could have cracked the screen.
“Paige?” Matt asked, worry lines etching his forehead.
For a moment, Evan seemed incapable of speech. Until finally he got out the words. “She’s having contractions. I have to get to the hospital. Hopefully, my mother will have driven her there by the time I arrive.”
“Maybe you should call for an ambulance,” Sebastian suggested.
Evan shook his head so hard his glasses wobbled. “And have Paige scold me for overreacting? No way. She’ll say, very calmly, ‘It’s just two babies, sweetheart.’” He did a very good imitation of Paige’s gentle, musical tones.
“Then have your driver take them,” Matt said. “Don’t make Theresa do it.”
Evan’s voice rose slightly, with either panic or powerlessness. “The driver is here with me.”
“Guess you need to hire two drivers,” Daniel said unhelpfully.
“Call Susan and Bob,” Cal advised.
It was almost laughable. All these powerful men deliberating about how to get Paige Collins to the hospital.
Fernsby tapped his silver spoon against the coffee carafe, the room going as silent as a church when the priest steps up to the pulpit. “If I might interject.” He didn’t pause for objections. “It appears to me, sir—” He bowed slightly to Evan. “—after having met Theresa Collins at the dinner party a few weeks ago, that she’s a very capable woman. I’d even go so far as to say she’s unflappable. Experienced in these matters, I’m sure she will safely convey your wife to the hospital in record time.”
Only Fernsby could be the voice of sanity in that room. And it worked.
Will jumped to his feet. “He’s right. Now let’s get the hell out of here and down to the hospital ourselves.”
They raced out like a stampeding herd of horses, almost bowling Fernsby over on the way.
* * *
Dane and Camille remained in the now quiet room. “Maverick generation two-point-oh on the way,” Dane said.
Camille nudged him. “Noah and Jorge are generation two-point-oh. This is generation two-point-one.”
Fernsby recognized the smile lurking on Dane’s lips and saw an opportunity not to be missed. “I suggest you two speed to the hospital as well. Your Maverick companions will need calming influences, so it’s your duty to accompany them.” He inclined his head, though he felt like cheering. “I will take care of everything on the home front, sir.”
After sending them off, he looked down at Lord Rexford, sitting at attention on a chair just outside the conference room. “My dear Lord Rexford, this is an astonishingly flawless scenario. The two of them together, witnessing the birth of new babies. Oh yes, that should get at least one of them thinking.”
He rubbed his hands gleefully, then patted Lord Rexford’s behind, urging him off the chair.
“Even I couldn’t have planned this one better.” He allowed himself a smile, since only the dog was there to see.
* * *
The hospital waiting room was so packed with Mavericks and family, it was almost claustrophobic. There certainly wasn’t room for anyone else. The chairs had been moved haphazardly, the magazines on the side tables splayed open, and grooves paced into the utilitarian carpet.
