Page 37 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

“Riley, believe me—I got the better end of this deal. You’re definitely the better half in this equation.”

“Not so,” Riley said, brushing her lips against Fallon’s.

The kiss deepened, slow and sure, and Fallon felt herself letting go—falling into the familiar warmth of Riley's arms.

Then Riley’s phone buzzed.

"Ignore it," Fallon said.

"Gladly."

A moment later, Fallon’s phone lit up on the coffee table, followed by another vibration and then another.

Fallon groaned. “Seriously?”

Riley reached over and glanced at the screen. “It’s Andi.”

Fallon’s brow creased. She picked up the phone. “Andi?”

"Hi," Andi said. "I know you're both tired. Becky's water just broke. We're about to leave for the hospital."

"You're not joking," Fallon said. "Are you?"

Andi giggled. "I'm afraid not."

"I'll let Riley know."

"Billie and I can swing by and pick Riley up."

"Are you sure?" Fallon asked. "Don't you want to get there?"

"I think we have time."

"But..."

"Tell Riley we'll be there in about fifteen minutes," Andi said.

"Okay. I'll tell her."

Riley looked at Fallon and tried not to laugh. "Let me guess. Becky's in labor."

"Andi said her water broke. She and Billie will pick you up."

"I'd better get ready," Riley said, reaching her feet. She looked back at Fallon. "Are you okay?"

"You're just so calm."

"I don't need to do anything except offer my support," Riley said.

"She was fine when she left," Fallon said.

"Fallon, Becky is fine. She's due in less than two weeks. She was playing with Owen and helping him open presents all afternoon. It probably helped things along." Riley leaned down and kissed Fallon's cheek. "Relax, babe."

"You'll call me, right?"

Riley grinned. "Yes. Not every half hour."

Fallon groaned. "What am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

"You could start the dishes," Riley called back. "Just don't do my laundry!"

Fallon put the last bowl into the cabinet and stared at the closed door. She’d taken a long shower, picked up every scrap of wrapping paper she could find, and washed every last dish from the party. What now?

It had only been a little over an hour since Riley left, and Fallon was already crawling out of her skin.

She tried to sit down. Got up again. Wandered into the living room. Sat on the arm of the couch, then stood up again.

Becky had asked Riley to stay with her during labor.

It surprised Fallon. Becky was close to Andi.

Fallon assumed Andi would be her obvious first choice.

But Riley explained it probably made Dave nervous to have his mom in the room, and as much as Becky loved Andi, she might have felt strange with her boyfriend’s mom at her side.

Riley was someone they trusted. Someone who’d been through it.

Labor and delivery weren’t the most flattering experiences.

It made sense. Still, Fallon couldn’t help feeling a little unmoored. Owen was worn out, fast asleep in bed. The house was too quiet. She was about to start reloading the dishwasher, just for something to do, when her phone rang.

Billie . Fallon answered. “Hey.”

“Hi,” Billie said. “You okay?”

Fallon let out a short breath and leaned against the counter. “Define okay.”

Billie chuckled softly. “Yeah, that’s kind of what I figured.”

“You’re at the hospital?”

“Yep. Dave asked if Andi would come into the room. They’re at full capacity. Dave’s pacing and pretending not to be.”

“Sounds about right,” Fallon said.

“I was going to head home, but I figured—maybe you could use a little company. Or a distraction. Or someone to help you polish off leftover cake.”

“There’s a lot more than cake left.”

“Already in the car,” Billie said.

Fallon put her phone down and looked around the quiet house. A tiny plastic dinosaur peeked out between the couch cushions as if it hadn’t gotten the memo that the party was over. She picked it up and placed it in the toy box.

Then she sat on the couch.

Then stood up again.

The silence stretched, making her feel more restless.

She wandered to the window and looked out into the dark yard, barely visible now in the porch light.

Becky was in labor. Dave was pacing. Riley was by Becky’s side.

Andi too. The people she loved most were caught in this impossible, sacred middle space—waiting.

Fallon hated waiting.

She leaned a shoulder against the window and pressed her forehead lightly to the cool glass. What would it feel like, she wondered, when it was them ? When it was her in that hospital room?

Two weeks.

Two weeks until they’d make their first attempt. Artificial insemination. It sounded so clean and clinical—but also terrifying. Not because she didn’t want it. She wanted it more than anything.

Fallon had always been a doer. Build a plan, take the steps, andfix the problem. But this? This required waiting. Hoping. Trusting the odds.

It would hurt. And it was more than knowing what Riley would endure physically. It was the vulnerability of it. The possibility of disappointment. The risk of dreaming too vividly, too soon.

Fallon couldn’t seem to help herself.

She imagined Riley squeezing her hand during the first ultrasound. Imagined hearing a heartbeat. Holding their baby. Introducing Owen to his sibling. Watching Riley fall in love all over again, this time with someone new, everyone commenting on who their child resembled—who they might become.

Her eyes stung, and she blinked hard.

Riley wasn’t even pregnant yet. It could take months. It could take longer. But the hope was already in her bloodstream. And that, she realized, was the scariest part.

A knock at the door made her jump.

She wiped at her eyes and crossed the room quickly, pulling the door open to find Billie standing there with two bottles of UFO White Ale.”

“Did I bring the right medicine?” Billie asked.

Fallon smiled. “You did.”

Billie stepped inside and slipped off her shoes. “You look a little pale, Fallon."

“Just the waiting game.”

“Something tells me it’s a little more than waiting to hear about Becky and Dave’s baby."

Fallon closed the door behind Billie and nodded toward the couch. “Want to sit?”

Billie handed her one of the bottles. “Only if you’ll drink with me.”

Fallon led them into the living room and dropped onto the couch with a sigh. Billie settled beside her, kicking her feet up on the ottoman like she’d done a hundred times before. They drank in silence for a few beats.

“You’re not wrong,” Fallon said.

“About what?”

“There’s more going on than just the waiting.”

Billie turned to give Fallon her full attention.

Fallon took another sip before setting the bottle on the coffee table. “Riley and I—we’re going to try. To have a baby.”

Billie didn’t respond right away.

“In two weeks,” Fallon added. “Our first attempt.”

“How are you feeling about it?”

Fallon let out a shaky breath. “Like I’m standing at the edge of a cliff, praying to sprout wings. I want this. Maybe more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But I’m also terrified it might not work. Or it might—and then everything changes.”

"I get it."

“I didn’t want to tell you at first," Fallon admitted. "Not because I don’t trust you—I do.”

Billie nodded. “Because I wanted kids.”

Fallon winced. “Yeah.”

Billie took a slow sip of beer. “I did. You know, Andi's brought it up a few times—the possibility."

Fallon probably shouldn't have been surprised. She was. "Of having a baby?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want that?" Fallon asked.

"I'd be lying if I said I never think about it. But no. I like our life. I think I'm okay with everyone else adding babies."

"Billie?"

"Yeah?"

"It scares me. Riley getting pregnant. It scares me even more that she won't."

“I think that's normal, Fallon. I'd feel the same way if it were Andi."

“How long do you think it'll be before we hear anything?"

"I don't know," Billie replied. "Babies do things on their time, not ours."

"Great."

Billie laughed. "I'm sure Andi or Riley will call with an update soon."

"Yeah. Hey, Billie?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for being here—for me. I know you must be anxious, too."

“I’m always here for you,” Billie said. “Whether you’re pacing the waiting room or torturing Riley with toads."

Fallon laughed.

Silence hovered for a moment.

"What did you think of Avery's daughter?" Fallon asked.

"I think she caught everyone's attention."

Fallon chuckled. "I think she caught Barb's attention."

"Maybe that's a good thing," Billie said.

Maybe.

The glow of the porch light faded into the morning sun by the time Fallon’s phone rattled across the coffee table. Billie’s quickly followed.

Both Billie and Fallon were startled awake, blinking in confusion as they sat up on the couch.

Fallon rubbed her eyes. “What time is it?”

“You slept in clothes, Momma.”

They both turned their heads to see Owen walking into the room, holding a stuffed owl he’d gotten as a present.

“I’m hungry,” he said.

“I’ll make something in a minute,” Fallon promised as she reached for her phone while Billie grabbed hers. They glanced at the screens at the same time.

“Riley,” Fallon said.

“Andi,” Billie echoed.

Owen climbed onto the couch between them as they each answered.

Fallon put hers on speaker, and Billie set hers aside.

“Hey,” Fallon said into the phone.

“Morning,” Riley’s voice came through, tired but happy. “Are you two still together?”

“We fell asleep waiting,” Billie admitted.

Andi’s voice joined in. “At least you slept.”

“Well?” Fallon asked.

“You’ve got a new nephew,” Riley said.

“A boy,” Andi added. “Born just after seven this morning. Becky was amazing. Dave cried like a baby.”

“He’s healthy,” Riley continued, her voice soft now. “He’s perfect.”

“They named him William Foster Maguire,” Andi said.

Fallon’s breath caught.

Billie froze.

“They wanted to honor both of you,” Riley added.

Neither Billie nor Fallon knew what to say.

Owen looked between them, wondering why they were so quiet. His Grandma Billie and his momma were always laughing—or talking.

“They named him after us?” Fallon asked.

“It shouldn’t surprise you,” Andi said. “Either of you.”

Billie reached for Fallon’s hand and squeezed it tight, her throat too full to form words.

“Tell them congratulations and thank you. I don’t even know what to say,” Fallon said.

“They just wanted you to know how much it means to them—to have you both in their lives,” Andi offered.

Billie cleared her throat. “I’ll head home now.”

“Don’t,” Andi said. “Stay there. We’ll be there in about half an hour. Becky needs some rest. So does Dave.”

“What about you?” Billie asked.

“We need food. And possibly a mimosa. Then we’ll take a nap,” Andi replied.

"I'll make waffles," Fallon said.

"Make extra," Riley told her. "All this breathing and pushing made me hungry, and all I had to do was say the words!"

"Check. Extra waffles."

Owen looked at Fallon. "Momma?"

"Yes?"

"What's mosa?"

"Mimosa. Something for Grandma and Mommy. You can have an orange juice."

"Can I find a toad?"

Fallon laughed. Dozens of toys, and all Owen wanted was to search in the yard for toads.

"Maybe after waffles."

Sometimes, Billie missed working in a hospital.

The emergency room wasn't the labor and delivery department.

There was more antiseptic and fewer happy endings.

Something was oddly comforting to her about the white curtains, sheets, and plastic water pitcher by the bed.

It was familiar, unlike this experience.

Billie didn't deliver babies. She never expected to be a grandmother, much less have a grandchild named after her.

Familiar kept her grounded. She wondered how Fallon was holding up.

Becky looked tired but happy. Dave stood at her side like a man still trying to absorb the fact that he had helped make a person. And in Becky’s arms, that person was fast asleep.

Billie set down a fluffy brown bear. “We come bearing teddy bears for emotional instability.”

Becky grinned. "Thanks."

Fallon followed, waving a paper bag. “I brought contraband scones. Don’t tell the nurse.”

Andi shook her head. Fallon and Billie were nervous.

Becky glanced at the baby in her arms. "Would you like to hold him?"

All eyes shifted to Fallon and Billie.

Billie took half a step back. “You go first.”

Fallon blinked. “I… think I’ll wait.”

“You love babies," Billie said.

“You just said you didn’t want to go first.”

“I didn’t expect you to agree with me,” Billie said, half-laughing.

Dave raised an eyebrow. “He doesn’t bite, you know.”

“He’s new, ” Fallon said.

Becky giggled.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Riley said. "You've both changed dozens of diapers." Riley walked over. “Happy to warm up the crowd,” she said as she scooped up the baby. She settled into the chair beside Becky’s bed, adjusting the blanket that swaddled baby Billy. “There. Nobody exploded.”

Fallon watched her. "He likes you."

“He’s asleep,” Billie pointed out.

“Exactly,” Riley said. “Best time to get in a snuggle.”

Fallon crossed her arms loosely and leaned against the windowsill, her gaze fixed on the two of them—Riley, calm and glowing with the tiny bundle in her arms. He looked a bit like a football, all wrapped up. Or maybe that was just Fallon. Something bloomed in her chest—big, impossible, and real.

“Two weeks,” Fallon murmured.

Billie exchanged a smile with Andi that told her Riley had confided in Andi about her plans.

The baby let out a soft sigh and drooled onto Riley’s shoulder.

Riley looked down, then glanced up at Fallon with a crooked smile. “Well, he definitely takes after his namesake."

"He takes after Billie?" Fallon asked.

“I'm sure he will. I'm talking about the dramatic entrance, the milk obsession, and now the drooling. Classic Fallon.”

The room burst into laughter as Fallon groaned, then rolled her eyes. "I don't drool," Fallon said.

Andi snickered.

"I don't!"

Billie looked away.

"Billie drools!" Fallon said. "She was drooling when we woke up this morning!"

Riley giggled. "Your family is crazy," she told the baby. "Trust me, that's a good thing." She stood and handed the baby to Andi.

"Yes. It is," Andi agreed.