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Tony’s big warm hand over Bridget’s belly activated more kicking and moving around, the parents laughing. Hugging her, Tony kissed her again.
“I’ll head over to Alice and Emmett’s house. Text me when you’re ready to leave here.”
He opened the truck door, and she climbed in, grunting at the effort it took. “I need to work out.”
“No, you don’t,” Tony said. “I’m afraid you’ll make me do it.”
“You work out at the station. I’ve heard Katherine say she enjoys watching the Saint boys lift weights.”
“She’s nuts,” he said, but laughed out loud.
“Okay, on that note, I’ll leave.”
She kissed him once more and leaned forward to start the truck. On the way to her parents’ house, she decided she was going to tell them about the baby.
***
The electrician was up in the attic, threading wires down through a hole in the ceiling for a light fixture above Bridget’s bar. It was the only must-have she’d asked for. There was a tap on the door, and Tony yelled, “Come in,” as he stood on a ladder, looking over his shoulder.
“Making headway,” Uncle Charlie said, glancing around. “That’s not centered, you know.”
“Thanks for the observation. It’s where Bridget wants it.”
The electrician shouted down from the attic, “And what Bridget wants, Bridget gets!”
The men snickered because there was an element of truth to it.
“I’ve got news for you,” Charlie said.
“It had better be good because I don’t think I can take any more iffy news today.”
“What’s going on?” Charlie asked.
“I haven’t told my parents yet, so don’t say anything.”
“You have my word.”
“Our baby has Down syndrome.”
Charlie rubbed his chin and nodded. “I know you’re probably upset, but she’s still going to be great. You’ll be great parents to her, Tony. Don’t worry too much, okay? Plus you have Roberta.”
“Thanks,” Tony replied, laughing. “I hope you’re right about her.”
“When are you going to tell them?”
“Probably tonight. Bridget’s telling her parents as we speak. So what’s your news?”
“DNA is back from the tiara, and guess what? It’s Katherine’s.”
In disbelief, Charlie took the information down from the detective. They’d picked her up at home on Saturday. She knew she was living free on borrowed time. At night she worked at the local hospital as a nurse’s aide, and during the day she volunteered at #34. Not every day, but enough to be considered among the permanent staff. She couldn’t pass the fitness test because of her frail frame; lifting the necessary weight was out of her reach. But the men all agreed she worked every bit as hard as the paid firefighters; she was conscientious and dependable.
Then Tony and Patty broke up. Her entire motivation switched from serving the community to being with Tony. After their unsatisfying liaison, she didn’t actually give up on him, but at the time it was enough that they saw each other every day, the easy camaraderie filling a void for companionship.
Even when he began to date Bridget, she dealt with it. But then the baby, and the house, and something just snapped. She went to the dollar store and bought a tiara to plant and started the fire. When she broke the front window to get in, she’d cut her hand and must have bled on the damn tiara.
And that was that.
Chapter 9
