Page 8 of Blood

“And where the fuck are you going?”

“Kaleb!” I close my eyes at my mother’s admonishment and pinch the bridge of my nose. I open my mouth but quickly close it.

I need another minute.

By the time I open my eyes, I’m leaning on the back of the sofa again. Samantha smirks at me. She’s witnessed me praying for patience enough times that she recognizes the look on my face. I raise a brow.

You can chip in at any time.

Her smirk turns to a toothy smile while she gives me a cute shrug.

I pout my lips to stop my own smile. One deep breath, two. By the fourth, my body starts to relax.

“Of course, I will babysit Samantha and Shelby,” I state, stressing the word babysit. Seeing Sam’s smile drop makes my own lips tip up. There’s no fighting it. My smile wins. Seeing that scowl makes me happy . . . and hard.

Clearing my throat, I push off the sofa. “But why do I need to?”

“Because there’s a robber in town, and we can’t leave the girls alone to defend themselves. Not that anything is going to happen,” he rushes to add.

“I know . . .” I take another deep breath. “Mother!” I call into the kitchen. “Where are you and Dad going?”

“To Charlie,” she pants, rushing back to my dad for the fourth time.

How much food are they packing?

Her words take a minute to register.Charlie?Why would they rush to see my sister-in-law in the middle of the night?

Surprise covers my face.

“The baby?” I ask excitedly.

“The baby,” Mom beams.

My excitement quickly drops. “911.”

“No, no,” Dad rushes, holding his hand out toward me as if he can stop my racing heart.

“Charlie was feeling lower back pain, more than normal, so she went in for a checkup, and they wanted her to go straight to the hospital. The baby is okay so far, but they need to deliver soon, so she’s being prepped for a C-section. Michael and I were watching Belle, so we met them at the hospital. Your mom and dad are coming to help with Belle and to meet the baby.” Lara’s voice comes through the phone.

Finally, someone who will tell me what’s happening. But where’s her husband?

“Where’s Michael?” I ask aloud.

“He’s gone down into surgery. I tell you, Charlie is a better woman than me. Letting her husband’s brother be so involved . . . there’s no way Daniel will be there when I give birth.”

My mom sucks in a loud breath, her head whipping around to look at where the cell sits on the coffee table.

Lara must have heard Mom’s gasp. “Later, in the future, many, many years in the future. Definitely not right now.”

My heart squeezes at her words. I know how much Michael wants a baby. The sooner, the better, but his wife’s wants and needs come first. When she’s ready, they’ll make it happen.

“Why did you take Belle with you?”

“I panicked.” She chuckles. “Michael was . . . well, I don’t want to use the word hysterical, but . . .”

Our chuckles mix with hers.

“I couldn’t let him drive like that, and it was just safer all around if I came too. Michael wasn’t waiting long enough to do a drop-off, so baby girl came with us, and we’ve been chilling ever since.”