Timberlynn screamed. “Kaylee’s in labor!”
She shouted it to someone else and didn’t even try to cover up the phone. I couldn’t help but laugh as I pulled the phone from my ear. I heard another female scream; this one sounded like it was Ty’s mom, Stella.
“We’re on our way to the hospital now!” Timberlynn said.
I laughed once more. “Okay, well, be careful.”
“Are you not going?” she asked.
“Well, I wasn’t…I mean…I’m really only just starting to get to know Kaylee. I’m not sure if she’ll want me there.”
Timberlynn sighed. “Of course she’ll want you there. She likes you, Merit. She invited you over for lunch.”
“In an attempt to push me and Dirk together.”
“Does she know?” Timberlynn asked in a whisper.
“No, not that I’m aware of.”
Timberlynn remained silent for another moment or two before she spoke once more. “Okay, well, I don’t want to force you to go. How are you feeling?”
“Tired,” I answered truthfully. I felt like I was growing more tired as the days went on.
“Go home and nap. I’ll keep you updated.”
Smiling, I slipped into my car and started it. “Thanks, you’re a good friend. Give Kaylee my best wishes.”
“I will. Rest, okay?”
“I don’t think that will be a problem. This baby—and his father—are sucking all the energy from me.”
Chapter Nineteen
DIRK
I paced the small waiting room as everyone else sat and chatted. Every now and then I would look up and check the time. It felt like it was moving at a snail’s pace.
“Should it be taking this long?” I asked as I looked at Tanner.
“I’m sure she’s fine. She’s got both Timberlynn and Lincoln in there with her. Plus, Ty.”
I sighed. “Why isn’t anyone coming out to tell us how she’s doing?”
Stella stood. “Dirk, why don’t we head on down and get some coffee.”
“See if you can find some damn whiskey to put in it,” Tanner said on a laugh. “You’re acting like the worried father.”
That caused me to snap my head and look back at Tanner. “What?”
He smiled, but then it faded when he saw my serious expression. “Dude, it was just a joke. Everyone knows how close you are to Kaylee.”
At that moment, someone walked up to Stella and hugged her. I turned to see it was Janice.
“Oh my goodness, Janice! How are you?” Stella exclaimed. She turned and faced me. “Dirk, you know Janice Lewis, don’t you?
I reached out my hand and shook Janice’s. “Yes, we ran into each other a few weeks ago.”
“I heard you opened up your own practice in town,” Stella said.
“Yes, and it’s doing well.”
Stella laughed. “There seems to be something in the water in Hamilton. Everyone is having babies.”
Janice laughed…then gave me a nervous look before focusing back on Stella.
“What type of doctor are you, Janice?” I asked.
She looked at me nervously again, and for a moment, it felt like she didn’t want to answer me. “I’m an OB/GYN.”
I nodded. “Oh, that’s nice.”
“It is.”
Stella went on in a whispered voice, “I’m hoping Tanner and Timberlynn don’t wait too long to have a little one!”
Janice smiled and took a quick peek at Tanner.
“Dr. Lewis, here are those prenatal patient files you wanted,” a young lady said as she walked over to us. She handed Janice the files and turned to leave. When she did, she tripped and Janice reached out to steady her. The files almost fell from Janice’s arms, but I caught them. One quick look at them and I saw a familiar name.
Her name.
Merit Grace Eden - Due date February 24
The two women exchanged a few words while I focused back down at the file. Prenatal? What in the living fuck? As I watched her and the younger woman speak, I slipped Merit’s file under the rest of them just as Janice turned back to me.
I forced myself to smile and handed her the charts. My head was swirling and I needed to find out what in the hell was going on as I quickly added up the months since Merit and I had made love in my truck. My heart hammered against my chest.
I cleared my throat and asked, “Do you mind if we talk in private?”
Janice grinned. “Of course.”
“If you have a moment, that is,” I added.
“Yes, yes. Not a problem at all.” She turned to Stella. “It was so nice seeing you, Mrs. Shaw.”
“You as well, sweetheart. Tell your mother I said hi!”
Janice gave her a wide smile. “I will.”
When she turned back to me, she said, “My office is just around the corner. Our practice keeps a small office here on the maternity floor.”
I motioned for her to lead the way as I attempted to act normal when I was far from feeling that way.
As we walked down the hallway, I wondered if everyone in the entire hospital could hear my heart pounding.
Merit was pregnant?
Pregnant.
The baby had to be mine. We had sex in my truck. Unprotected sex. It was the right time frame.