Authors: Brenda Jernigan
The tears, burning Dani's eyes, spilled over onto her cheeks. "Are you sure?"
"I'm positive, sweetheart."
Dani rushed into his arms, knocking him back against the seat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him more like an excited puppy than a woman. "You don't know how long I've wanted to hear those words."
The kiss suddenly turned more serious, and Dani melted against him. It had been so long. His lips moved with a languor that suggested that if she were not with child they would be doing more. She kissed him with all her heart, and he clutched her tighter.
Sighing, Dani opened her mouth to invite his tongue. God, how she'd miss this closeness with Adrian. He was her whole life, and she knew at long last she'd found where she belonged ... in the arms of
her
Prince Charming.
"Excuse me, Mr. Massimino, but it's time to land."
Reluctantly, Adrian pulled back and looked over Dani's shoulder. "All right, I'll return my wife to her seat."
"Adrian!" Dani felt her cheeks grow warm.
"She might as well get used to seeing us like this because after the baby is born, I'm not going to let you get two feet away from me."
Finally, the plane's wheels touched down. And she hadn't gotten sick at all. Funny in all the turmoil and excitement of the trip, she’d forgotten all about her motion sickness. For that she was thankful.
However, the boat trip told an entirely different story. Dani's happiness soon became misery as she hung her head over the side of the boat.
After the boat docked, Dani couldn't make up her mind whether to crawl off the boat or walk, but Adrian took that decision out of her hands, by sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to dry land.
Once her feet were firmly planted on dry land, Dani felt better, so they headed toward the General Store. She couldn’t wait to see Angus and Nettie.
"I didn't realize that motion bothered you. You should have said something to me earlier," Adrian told her.
"It's not a subject I like talking about. Normally, I would take some medication, but with the baby I couldn't. I did so well on the plane, I thought maybe I’d be all right. That is the first time I've ever gotten seasick.” She laughed. “Now I can truthfully say that I've thrown up on every kind of transportation there is. I guess I'm just not a good traveler. It's funny. I didn't feel sick until the boat slowed for that other vessel."
"It's probably the rocking motion that got to you. At least that’s behind us. How do you feel now?"
"Better. My back aches a little, but I'm sure it’s from the plane ride."
A group of sea gulls swooped down in front of them diving toward the ground and raising back up in the air. Sea Horse Island seemed different. Maybe it was because people were there milling around as they prepared for the upcoming season. As she looked around, Dani realized that she now had a home. It was fitting that they had come back to the place they had first met.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Angus and Nettie," Dani said as she opened the front door of the store.
"The Saints be had! Look who's come home, Nettie girl," Angus shouted as they stepped inside.
"Adrian! Dani! 'Tis good tae see ya." Nettie started toward them, then suddenly stopped and stared. "Mercy me. Is this the surprise ye mentioned, Adrian?" Nettie's eyes fastened on Dani's stomach.
"Yes, it is." Adrian said, grinning broadly.
Nettie hugged Dani. "Don't need tae be askin' how yer doin'. Can see for myself. Yer fit as a fiddle."
Dani cheeks were so hot she was sure they'd melt butter. One look at her belly told the whole world what she'd been doing and with whom.
"Yer beautiful, lass," Angus chirped in. "I was glad tae hear ye finally settled down, Adrian, and with a mighty fine lass, too."
"I knew you’d be pleased,” Adrian said. “We would like for both of you to be the godparents to our child."
Nettie nodded her eyes bright with tears. "We'd be happy to.” She wiped at her eyes. “When is the little one due?"
Dani finally found her voice. "Next month."
Nettie arched an eyebrow. "I’d be thinkin’ sooner than that by yer shape,” she said eyeing Dani’s stomach. “What do the doctors know anyway? Come, help me fix some lunch."
Dani followed Nettie to the kitchen where she stopped at the refrigerator and took a huge ham out. "How about slicing some sandwich meat while I wash the lettuce." She jerked her head toward a knife rack. “The knives are there.
"It's strange tae see ye again, lass. I was just talkin' about ye the other night with Angus, and, the Saints be had, Adrian called us out of the blue." Nettie tore strips of lettuce as she talked. "He didn't sound much like himself on the phone. I've been a wee bit worried about him ever since."
Dani quit slicing. "Oh, Nettie, I don't know what to say."
"Would ye like tae talk, lass?"
"I’m not sure where to start." Dani arranged t
he sliced meat on the platter. "It's just that Adrian didn't meet me because he wanted to. I just kind of showed up by mistake.” She sighed. “And we didn't date for years, fall madly in love, then marry like normal people are supposed to do."
Nettie chuckled. "Do
ye think most people plan their love life, lass?"
Dani nodded.
"Nay, 'tisn't so. Great love is spontaneous combustion. Take Angus and me. He never planned tae meet me, either. Instead he found me head first in a hedgerow.”
Dani struggled to hide a smile.
“Don't laugh, lass. 'Tis true. See, I was riding my scooter when I hit a rock and flew over the handlebars. Luckily, Angus was drivin' along and spotted me in the bush."
Dani smiled. "Adrian rescued me, too."
"See." Nettie took the platter to the table. "Took Angus a bit before he found out he couldn't live without me." She chuckled. "But he came tae his senses, and the rest ... has been an adventure.
"
'Twill never be smooth sailin', lass, but trust me. The voyage is well worth the adventure."
"Owww!" Dani grabbed her side.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Sometimes the baby hits the wrong thing."
Dani placed her hand on Nettie's arm. "Thanks. I think I've been afraid to relax and let Mother Nature takes its course."
"Now, yer at Sea Horse, lass. Relax. Y
e've come home."
After lunch, Dani and Adrian went to the beach house. As they approached, driving slowly in their golf cart so many fond memories came flooding back into Dani’s head that all the bad times faded into nothing when they pulled up in the driveway. The ocean breeze gently blew the pampas grass, and a big pelican sat perched on the deck rail as if he were waiting for her.
"It's such a beautiful home."
"I'm partial to the place myself,” Adrian drawled. “Come over here. I want to show you something."
Dani followed him. On the front of the house were large brass numbers broadly proclaiming that they were at
699
Sandy Lane.
Dani laughed. "I guess you don't want any more stray women making the same mistake I did."
Adrian pulled her into his arms. "Not since I've found the one woman I want."
She placed her hand on Adrian’s cheek. Power and virility radiated from him, and Dani’s pulse raced. "I love you, Adrian."
His mouth opened over hers, and the magic of their first kiss returned. Sinking his hand into her hair, his tongue plunged and caressed hers.
Desire flamed between them and then she felt his need as it pressed against her. What heaven they would share once the baby came. Adrian shifted his attention to her ear, kissed her lobe, then whispered, "I want you, sweetheart."
"Oh, Adrian," she murmured. "I want you so much. Oh!" A sharp pain struck Dani so fast she couldn't think. She clutched her stomach and clutched Adrian’s arms as a rush of warm water poured down her legs.
"What's wrong?"
"The baby," she gasped, looking down at her soaked clothes. "I think the baby's coming."
Adrian swept her up in his arms. "It can't come yet!" He started up the stairs. “The doctor said it would be all right to come here.”
"Babies comes when they choose, Adrian,” Dani gasped. “Not when we choose.” Another pain tore at her. “Oooo!"
Adrian opened the door, taking her straight to the large bed. "Remember to breathe," he instructed. He yanked the cover back and laid her carefully down. "Maybe I should go get Nettie."
"No! Don't leave me, please."
"But someone's got to deliver the baby."
"You can do it."
"
Me
?” Horror registered in his eyes. “I don't know anything about this."
"Well, I don't either!” She clutched at her stomach again. “Oh, God. Nobody told me it would hurt this much!" Dani groaned again. "Hold my hand."
She gripped his hand so tightly that Adrian thought she'd break the bones. God, the pain must be terrible. And he wasn't doing her a bit of good just staring at her helplessly. "Listen, Dani, breathe. Remember the puppy training. Take short breaths. That's it."
"The pain has gone now, but it will be back.” Dani tried to remember her Lamaze training. “I'm not sure exactly what to do, but I think I need to get out of these clothes and into something loose. And we'll probably need towels, sheets or something.
Oh, Adrian. I'm so scared!" she cried.
"Shush, sweetheart." He sat on the bed and gathered her in his arms. "It's going to be okay. You've got to remain calm and leave everything to me. I promise I won't let anything happen to you.
Let's get off these clothes before you have another contraction."
He moved to the closet and got one of his blue chambray shirts. "How about this? I think it will do the trick."
Dani gave him a half-laugh. "I got into trouble the last time I wore that shirt."
"I remember, he said, smiling. “Here put it on. You can’t get in any more trouble than you already are now." He handed her the garment, but before she could slip it on she grabbed at another pain.
"This is a bad one."
"Focus on me, Dani, and breathe." Adrian waited for the contraction to let up, then he eased his wife back into the bed, helping her to quickly change her clothes.
"I--I can't remember everything I learned, but I do remember the cord has to be cut. Wait, it's starting again."
"I'm right here. It's all right. As soon as this one is over, I'll get some scissors and string."
He felt her squeeze his hand. He'd give anything if she didn't have to go through any of this. "Good, that one is over. I'll be right back."
He was all thumbs as he frantically tried to find everything he thought he would need. If only he had time to get her to a hospital.
"What little I saw of the house looks lovely," Dani said as she tried to relax on the fluffy pillows.
"Thanks. Do you realize that every time you've come here you have ended up in my bed?" Adrian joked, trying to keep her mind off the situation.
Dani giggled. "I guess I do. Can't imagine why.” She gasped again. “Wait! Another one." She regained her death grip on his hand.
Hours went by with Dani's contractions getting worse all the time. Dani’s cries went from whimpers to gut-wrenching groans. Adrian felt useless.
"I--I need to push!"
"Put your knees up, sweetheart."
Adrian was beginning to think the baby was too big when, he finally saw the child's head. "Dani I see the head. Give me another push."
"I--I can't," she wailed. "I'm so tired."
"Yes, you can. Come on, you can do it once more."
Dani gritted her teeth and pushed as hard as she could. The baby slid into Adrian's arms. What a beautiful baby it was! Quickly, he slapped the child on the rump to get it breathing and when he received a loud wail, Adrian cut the cord.
What a perfect baby. He counted all he fingers and toes and smiled. They had just created perfection.
"Would you like to see your bab--" Adrian stopped in mid-sentence because Dani lay completely still, her eyes closed. "Oh my God!" He felt for a pulse then breathed a small sigh of relief. His hand went to her forehead. She was alive, but exhausted and burning up with fever.
He wrapped the baby tightly in a towel and up laid it in a dresser drawer, then raced to the store where he instructed Angus to radio his pilot."Get a helicopter out here fast! I need to get my wife to the hospital. She might be dying."
Chapter Seventeen
Looking through the glass at his wife, Adrian impatiently waited for the doctor to finish examining her.
"How is she?" Adrian asked when the doctor finally came outside.
"Under the circumstances, you did the best you could do, but -- your wife is hemorrhaging. I need to go in and make some repairs."
“Surgery? Now? She's just had a baby.” Adrian’s voice sounded strange even to his own ears.