Country Brides - Debbie Macomber [125]
“Kate?”
“I feel fine.” There was no need to list her complaints, but all of a sudden she felt funny. She didn’t know any other way to describe it. As Rorie had said, there were a dozen different aches and pains the last few weeks of any pregnancy.
Luke kissed her, his mouth soft. “Did you have a busy day with Katherine?”
“She slept almost the entire time, but I think Rorie knew she would.” Leaning forward, Kate kissed her husband’s jaw. “I made some iced tea. Want some?”
“Please.”
When Kate reached inside the cupboard for a glass, a sharp pain split her side. She let out a cry.
“Kate?”
Clutching her swollen abdomen, Kate stared at Luke. “Oh, my goodness. I just felt a pain.”
Luke paled. “You ’re in labor?”
Smiling, wide-eyed, she nodded slowly. “I must be. I didn’t expect them to start off so strong.”
In an instant, Luke was across the kitchen beside her. “Now what?”
“I think I should call the doctor.”
“No.” Luke’s arm flew out as if that would halt the course of nature. “I ’ll call. Stay there. Don’t move.”
“But Luke—”
“For heaven’s sake, Kate, don’t argue with me now. We’re about to have a baby!”
He said this as if it were a recent discovery. As he reached for the phone, she saw that he’d gone deathly pale. When he finished talking to the doctor, he gave her a panicked look, then announced that Doc Adams wanted them to go straight to the hospital. As soon as the words left his mouth, he shot to the bedroom, then returned with her suitcase. He halted abruptly when he saw she’d picked up the phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Dad and Dorothea. I promised I would.”
“Kate, would you let me do the phoning?”
“All right.” She handed him the receiver and started toward the bedroom to collect the rest of her things. If he thought that talking on the phone was too taxing for her, fine. She’d let him do it. The years had taught her that arguing with Luke was fruitless.
“Kate,” he yelled. “Don ’t wander off.”
“Luke, I just want to get my things before we leave.” A pain began to work its way around her back and she paused, flattening her hands across her abdomen. She raised her head and smiled up at her husband. “Oh, Luke, the baby…”
Luke dropped the receiver and rushed to her side. “Now?”
“No.” She laughed and touched his face. “It’ll be hours yet. Oh! I just felt another pain—a bad one.”
He swallowed hard and gripped both her hands in his own. “I ’ve been looking forward to this moment for nine months, but I swear to you, Kate, I’ve never been more frightened in my life.”
“Don’t worry.” Her hands caressed his face and she kissed him, offering what reassurance she could.
He exhaled noisily, then gave her a brisk little nod. Without warning, he lifted her in his arms, ignoring her protests, and carried her out the door to the truck. Once he’d settled her in the seat, he returned to the house for her bag.
“Luke,” she called after him, “I really would like to talk to Dad and Dorothea.”
“I’ll phone them from the hospital. No more arguing, Kate. I’m in charge here.”
Only another sharp pain—and her regard for Luke’s feelings—kept her from breaking out in laughter.
Ten long hours later, Kate lay in the hospital bed, eyes closed in exhaustion. When she opened them, she discovered her father standing over her. Dorothea was next to him, looking as pleased and proud as Kate’s father. Devin took his daughter’s hand in his own and squeezed it gently. “How do you feel, little mother?”
“Wonderful. Did they let you see him? Oh, Dad, he’s so beautiful!”
Her father nodded. For a moment he seemed unable to speak. “Luke ’s with Matthew now. He looks so big sitting in that rocking chair, holding his son.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Luke wear an expression quite like that before,” Dorothea murmured. “So tender and loving.”
Devin concurred with a nod of his head. “When Luke came into the waiting room to tell us Matthew Devin had been born, there were tears in his eyes. I’ll tell you, Kate, that man loves you.”
“I know, Dad, and I love him, too.”
Devin patted her hand. “You go ahead and rest, Princess. Dorothea and I