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Rush shrugged "Don’t ask e and took out a beer, silently offering it to Steve

Steve shook his head He wasn’t interested in drinking anything All he wanted was for this situation to be squared aith Carol

Rush helped hi the recliner A slow smile spread across his face "In case you haven’t heard, Lindy’s pregnant"

Steve stopped pacing long enough to share a grin with his friend "Congratulations"

"Thanks I’rief, "

"Not her," Rush teased "Me The guys on the Mitchell clailow about me"

Despite his own troubles, Steve chuckled He paused, standing in the middle of the roo? She should have phoned long before now"

Rush studied his own tione a few minutes Relax, will you?"

Steve honestly tried He sat on the edge of the sofa and draped his hands over his bent knees "I suppose I’h his hair once

The national news came on and Rush commented on a recent senate vote Hell, Steve didn’t even knohat his friend was talking about Didn’t care, either

The phone rang and Steve bounced off the sofa as if the telephone had an electronic device that sent a shot of electricity straight through hiht be a phone call"

Steve didn’t take ti sarcastic "Lindy?" he de with Carol?"

"Well, for one thing she’s having a baby"

"Everyone keeps telling me that It isn’t any deep, dark secret, you know Of course she’s having a baby My baby!"

"Ithe baby now"

"Now?" Steve suddenly felt so weak, he sat back down "Well, for God’s sake she should be at the hospital Have you phoned the doctor? How far apart are the contractions? What does she plan to do about this?"

"Which question do you want me to answer first?"

"Hell, I don’t know" His voice sounded like a rusty door hinge His knees were shaking, his hands were tre in his life

"I did phone Dr Stewart," Lindy went on to say, "if that makes you feel any better"

It did "What did he say?"

"Not much, but he said Carol could leave for the hospital anyti down the panic that threatened to consume him "But I want to be the one to drive her there This is ht"

"Oh, that won’t be any proble here Carol wants to wash her hair first"

"What?" Steve shouted, bolting to his feet

"There’s no need to scream in my ear, Steven Kyle," Lindy informed him primly

Steve’s breath came in short, uneven rasps "I’m on my way… don’t leave withoutup on me, put Rush on the line"

Whatever Lindy said flew out his other ear Carol was in labor – their baby was going to be born anyti her hair! Steve dropped the phone to the carpet and headed toward the front door

"What’s happening?" Rush asked, standing

Steve paused "Lindy’s with Carol Carol’s hair is in labor and the baby’s getting washed"

"That explains everything," Rush said, and picked up the phone

By the ti so violently, his rib cage was in danger of being daed He leaped out of the car, left the door open and sprinted toward the house

"Where is she?" he dees, he’d come into the house so fast