Page 25 of Convincing Alex (Stanislaskis #4)

Alex strode straight through the door, but Bess hung back. “I don’t want to intrude,” she said to Nadia.

“This is not intrusion. This is family.” Nadia cocked her head. “Are you uneasy with childbirth?”

“Oh, no. I couldn’t be, after I’ve written so many.”

Alex poked his head back out. “How’d you research that, McNee?”

“I did rounds with an obstetrician.” Her dimple winked out. “And found a few mothers-to-be who didn’t object to having me

hang around during labor and delivery. Have you ever seen one?”

“No.” His eyes changed. Just like a man. “They, ah, show us films, just in case, but I’ve never been at ground zero.”

“It’s pretty great.” She laughed, perfectly able to read his thoughts. “Don’t worry. I’ll hold your hand.”

They passed the time in the big, airy birthing room telling stories, giving advice, joking with Zack once Mikhail and Nick

arrived with Rachel’s things. Griff was happily settled in with Zack’s cook, Rio, so there was little to do but wait.

When Rachel felt like walking, they took turns leading her around the corridors, rubbing her back, making small talk to take

her mind off the discomfort between contractions.

“I can see your mind working,” Alex murmured to Bess. “‘How can I use this?’”

“It’s ingrained.” She murmured her thanks when he passed her his cold drink. “Your family,” she said, glancing around the

room. “I’ve never known anyone like them. My parents—they’d be appalled to be expected to take part in something like this.”

“It’s our baby, too.”

She smiled and lifted a hand to his cheek. “That’s what I mean. You’re all very special.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” As he leaned over to kiss her, Yuri slapped him on the back.

“Now all my children make babies but you.” He wiggled his brows at Bess. “You start soon, yes?”

“Papa...” Not sure how to take Bess’s chuckle, Alex rose and spoke, firmly and quietly, in his mother tongue. “When I decide

to make babies, I’ll let you know.”

“What decide?” Yuri gestured toward Bess. “She’s the one you want, isn’t she?”

“Yes.”

Now Yuri gestured expansively with both hands. “Then?”

“I have my reasons for waiting. They’re my reasons.”

Though the shake of Yuri’s head was a gesture of sadness, there was a twinkle in his eye. “How is it all my children are so

stubborn?”

“How is it my papa is so nosy?”

With a laugh, Yuri embraced Alex and kissed both his cheeks. “Go take this pretty girl for a walk, steal some kisses. Your

sister will be some time yet.”

“That’s advice I’ll take.” He reached for Bess’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, let’s get some air.”

“Alexi.” Bess had to quicken her pace to keep up with him. “Don’t be angry with him. He didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Yes, he did, but I’m not angry with him.”

“What were you two rattling on about?”

He punched the button for the elevator. “You know, I don’t think I’ll teach you any Ukrainian. It comes in too handy.”

“But it’s—”

“Rude,” he finished for her, grinning. “I know.”

By the time they came back again, Alex had taken his father’s advice to heart. Bess’s head was still spinning when they walked

past the waiting room. It was Alex who spotted Nick, pacing and smoking in the smoking lounge like the cliché expectant daddy.

“How’s it going, kid?”

“It’s been an awfully long time.” Nick’s hand shook a bit as he lifted the cigarette to his lips. “I mean, Sydney was only

in a couple of hours for Griff. It’s getting really intense, and Rachel kicked me and the camera out. How come they don’t

do something?”

“I don’t know a lot about it,” Alex mused. “But I think babies come when they’re ready.”

“It’s only been a little more than six hours.” Bess moved in to soothe, touched that Nick should have such deep concern for

his sister-in-law.

“Feels like six days,” Zack commented as he staggered in. He plucked the cigarette from Nick’s hand and took a deep drag.

“She’s swearing at me. I know what some of those names are now, even if they aren’t in English.”

“That’s a good sign,” Bess assured him. “It means things are moving along.”

“She swore at the doctor, too.” With a sigh, he passed the cigarette back to Nick. “But she didn’t take a swing at him. ”

“If she missed,” Alex commented, “she must be in really bad shape.”

Wincing, Zack rubbed his shoulder. “She didn’t. I’d better get back.”

“Let’s go give him some support,” Alex began, but then he spotted a woman rushing off the elevator. “Tash!”

“Oh, Alex!”

Bess watched the woman fly into the waiting room, Gypsy hair flowing. There was concern in her eyes and laughter on her lips

as she swung into Alex’s arms.

“Alexi, how is Rachel?”

“Swearing at her doctor and punching Zack.”

“Ah.” She relaxed instantly. “That’s good. Nick.” She held out a hand for his. “Don’t look so worried. Your niece or nephew

will be along soon. Spence is parking the car. We were going to leave the children, but they were so disappointed, we brought

them. Freddie’s looking forward to seeing you.”

Nick brightened a bit. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s taller than me now, and so pretty. Alex, where’s Rachel?”

“I’ll take you. Oh, this is Bess.”

“Bess?” Natasha turned, one hand still on her brother’s arm. Of course, she’d heard about Bess. West Virginia might be a fair

distance from New York, but family business traveled fast on phone wires. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”

“That’s all right. You’ve got a lot on your mind.” And then Bess said the first thing that came to hers. “What fabulous genes

you all have.”

Natasha’s brows lifted. Then, below them, her eyes lit with laughter. “Rachel said I would like you. I hope we have time to

talk before we leave town. I’m sorry to rush off.”

“Don’t worry about it. I think Nick and I’ll go to the cafeteria, rustle up some food for this group.”

Three hours later, Bess had delivered sandwiches and coffee, bounced Natasha’s youngest daughter, Katie, on her knee and introduced

herself to Spence Kimball and helped him entertain his very cranky son. She’d met Freddie and noted that the pretty, pixielike

teenager was deep in puppy love with Nick.

As time dragged on, she added her support when Mikhail pressured his very tired wife to rest in the waiting room, took a few

minutes to interrogate some nurses to help her beef up some hospital scenes and soothed Alex’s nerves as his sister’s labor

reached the final stages.

“It won’t be much longer.”

“That’s what they said an hour ago.”

They were standing in the waiting room. Alex refused to sit. After a yawn and a good stretch, Bess wrapped her arms around

him.

“She’s fully dilated, and the baby was crowning. The last glance I had of the fetal monitor showed a really strong heartbeat.

A fast one. I think it’s a girl.”

“How do you know so much?”

“Research.” She settled her head on his shoulder. “I was figuring earlier that I’ve delivered twelve babies, including one

set of twins. In a matter of speaking.”

When her voice slurred, he tipped up her chin. “You’re asleep on your feet, McNee. I should have sent you home.”

“You couldn’t have pried me away.”

No, that was true, he realized. It was just one more aspect to her beauty. “I owe you.”

“Then pay up.” She lifted her mouth, sighing into the kiss.

“Mama.” Though he’d enjoyed watching his brother, Mikhail shot to his feet when he spotted his parents in the doorway.

“We have a new member of the family.” There were tears in Nadia’s eyes and in Yuri’s as he stood with his arm tight around

his wife.

“What is it?” Nick and Alex demanded together.

“You will come see. They bring the baby to the glass in a moment.”

“Rachel is resting.” Yuri dashed away a tear. “You will kiss her good-night soon.”

They trooped out together, to wait by the nursery window for the first glimpse.

“I’m an uncle,” Nick said to Freddie. The girl’s cheeks turned pink as he gave her a hard hug. “Hey, there’s Zack.” He kept

his arm around her as his brother walked forward, holding a tiny bundle. The bundle was squalling, and Zack was grinning from

ear to ear.

He held the baby up. Atop the curling black hair was a bright pink bow.

“It’s a girl,” Alex murmured, and held Bess hard against him. “She’s beautiful.”

“Man” was the best Nick could do. “Oh, man.” Overcome for a moment, he glanced down and found himself looking at Freddie,

who was still tucked under his arm. He drew back, brushed a fingertip along her cheek and caught a tear on the tip. “What’s

this?”

“It’s just so sweet.” Freddie’s eyelashes were spiky and her eyes swam as she looked up at him. He thought for a moment—an

uncomfortable moment—that it would be easy to drown in those eyes.

“Yeah, it’s great.” He let out a careful breath. She was his cousin, he reminded himself. Well, a kind of cousin. And she

was hardly more than a kid. “I, ah, don’t have a handkerchief or anything.”

“It’s all right.” Freddie felt a drop roll down her cheek, but she didn’t mind. After all, these were the very best kind of

tears. “Do you ever think about having babies?” she asked with disarming candor.

“Having—” Nick would have stepped back then, way back, but the family was crowding him in. “No,” he said firmly, and made

himself look away from her damp, glowing face. “No way.”

“I do.” She sighed and let her head rest against his arm.

Mikhail was whispering something to Sydney that had her nodding and wiping away tears. Behind Freddie, Natasha shifted Katie

in her arms and turned to her husband. He had one hand on Freddie’s shoulder, and his sleeping son lay curved on his own.

“Every one is a miracle.”

He bent his head to kiss her damp cheeks. “Just say the word anytime you decide you’d like another miracle of our own.”

“I am a man blessed.” Yuri grabbed the closest body. It happened to be Bess’s, and she found herself whirled in a circle.

“Two grandsons. Now three granddaughters.” He tossed Bess up. She came down laughing, gripping his shoulders.

“Congratulations.” She pleased him enormously by kissing him firmly on the mouth. “Grandpapa.”

“It’s a good day.” He reached in his pocket. “Have a cigar.”