Page 36 (1/2)

"Aw," Mel said, clicking through the pictures "Look at how gorgeous they are Aren’t they the cutest? Don’t they look so in love?"

"So in love," Vanni said "I never thought I’d see eneral?" Mel asked

Vanni frowned and shook her head "He said you see enough of him all e’re in Grants Pass He said he’d stay hoht"

"Really?" Mel questioned "I haven’t seenwhat he’s been doing with hiht"

"Hardly" Vanni laughed "If they can escape the parents, I believe they have i out to do Gotta cram in as much of that as possible before Toreed

The bar had few custo, so Jack divided his tiether tables and his favorite spot behind the bar Paul drifted up to the bar and said, "You seeht Is it because your wife is about to explode?"

"Nah, that’s only part of it We got a call fro up--after which he goes to Iraq"

"Aw,in there I ht? It’s just that Rick…"

"Feels like a son--and it’s different"

"That’s it, I guess" Jack had known all along that Rick wouldn’t play it safe--if he was going in, he’d be part of the fight "At least he’ll be around for a while--I’ll see if some of the boys want to come up, I think"

"There will be four of us for sure," Paul said "How’s Mel doing?"

"She’s nesting," Jack said "She’s been after it all day I’ve heard her talk about her patients and their sudden burst of energy I saw it today up close and personal Any second, trust reat I’d love to be here for it"

"You’re really getting into this baby business…"

"I’ to Mel, I followed through, had an ultrasound with the wo’s wrong with me, man I’ and no man to take care of them It would almost be better if it had been et more rational friends"

Jack leveled hiht frown "I can think of twenty reasons why you don’t get ht match, but I can’t think of one reason why you’d walk away from your own kid"

"I offered to help her anyway," Paul said Then he shrugged "She’s a good person This is gonna be tough on her"

Jack gave him a half smile "That doesn’t surprise me, Paul She take you up on it?"

"Nah Like I said, she’s a decent person I’ to have to put up with it, but sorry--"

But Jack wasn’t listening anymore His narrowed eyes were on Mel It was like he sensed it; s toward the bathrooot to the end of the bar, gripped it to stabilize herself, htly over her huge belly and let go with a gush of amniotic fluid that splashed to the floor

"I knew it," Jack said, going to her at once

Silence fell over the dinner crowd Paul edged back to the table, sat down beside Vanessa and said, "Jack said she’s been nesting all day"

"Is it happening?" Vanessa asked

"Oh, yeah," Paul said

Jack braced Mel from behind, his hands on her upper arms and asked, "Contraction?"

"Boy howdy," she said, a little breathless

"By the ti the bathrooiven yourself away," he told her

"Yeah, I suspected this would happen today But I didn’t want to get my hopes up I don’t think we have a whole lot of time to screw around She’s here, Jack"

He turned her around to face hi contractions all day?"

"Not really A couple A few" She inhaled deeply "Yeah"

He lifted her i orders "So Davie to the truck and ride home with us Preach--call John Stone and tell hionna be quick" Then he carried Mel out the door to the truck

Brie quickly picked up her nephew, the diaper bag, and followed Preacher went to the kitchen to use the phone Everyone waited tensely When Preacher came back to the rooered Then Mike said, "What are aiting for? Let’s wipe up the floor, pack up soathering food, drink and even cigars to go to the Sheridan house to stand by for the birth

Before Jack got Mel ho hard contractions, twoher "Don’t even think about pushing"

"I’m fine," she insisted

"You’d better be I should’ve known I should’ve kept you hohten up, it’s only a ten- over her belly

"Aw, Melinda…Okay, baby You just breathe, don’t worry about a thing"

"I’ot to the house, he lifted her out of the truck into his arms and smacked her head on the door frame in the process

"Ow!"

"Sorry," he said

"You’ve done this to me before!" she accused

"I know I’ve always been real so, before they wereher honant, and while his ave her a concussion, which sort of precluded any kind of sex His ht now