Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Patrice Lewis (i read book txt) 📖

“If you elope, Larae and I will never speak to you again.” Stacia eased down into the tub and the warm pulsing water went to work on the tenderness in her back. “We want to wear our pretty red dresses. Finally, someone came up with bridesmaid dresses that aren’t hideous.”

“Please. Y’all could never look hideous.” Lexie’s smile turned sappy. “I can’t believe in two weeks, I’ll be Mrs. Clint Rawlins.”

“He’s still feeling good and not having any residual issues from his bull wreck last year?” Larae asked.

“Doing great. No memory problems, all back to normal.”

“I’m glad he’s fully recovered.” Stacia sipped her lemonade. “I’m sure it had something to do with having a great therapist named Lexie.”

“We saw his neurologist last week. All his tests came back normal. The doctor said to go live his life.”

“That’s wonderful.” Larae held her glass up. “Cheers.”

They clinked their lemonade glasses.

“I worry about the bull riders at my rodeo,” Larae said.

“Trust me, if you didn’t own a rodeo, they’d just go somewhere else. I’m so glad Clint quit.” Lexie settled lower in the tub. “He’s completely content with just watching. You should bring the twins sometime, Stacia. We’re there with Cooper and Charlee just about every weekend.”

“It would be fun and I’d love to support Larae, but I’m terrified Mason would decide he wants to be a bull rider when he grows up.” A shudder went through her despite the warm day and heated water.

“Oh!” Larae dropped her glass, clutched her stomach. Her glass bounced off her knee and landed in the bubbling water.

“You okay?” Stacia grabbed the glass before it sank, set it outside the tub.

“Just a twinge.” Larae clenched her teeth.

“Looks like more than that from your expression.” Lexie set her glass down. “What do you say, we get out and go inside?”

“I’m fine.” Larae waved a hand as if it was nothing. “Ow!”

“I’m an occupational therapist, not a midwife. Let’s go inside.”

“I’m not sure I can stand.” Larae moaned. “It’s been a few years, but I think that was a contraction.”

“When did they start?” Lexie checked her watch.

“I’ve had a few twinges today, but this just started.”

“I’m calling Rance.” Stacia grabbed her phone.

The pain seemed to subside and Lexie helped Larae stand. As they made their way toward the house, another wave hit and Larae doubled over, then crumpled to the deck.

Rance picked up. “Hello.”

“Hey, it’s Stacia. Can you come to the house?” She tried to sound calm.

“Is Larae all right?”

“Um, I think she might be in labor.”

* * *

“Coffee bar number fifty-seven, ready for paint.” Ross ran his hand over the joints, strong and sturdy.

The back door of the workshop opened and Stacia ushered Madison and Mason inside.

“I need y’all to watch the kids. Larae just went into labor, so I’m going to the hospital.” She was flustered, with pink splotches mottling her cheeks and shaking hands.

“We got this.” Maverick winked at the twins. “I need some help anyway.”

“Are you sure you’re okay to drive?” Ross asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Maybe Ross should drive you.”

“I don’t need a driver.”

“You look pretty shaky. That settles it, Ross you drive her.” Maverick tweaked Mason’s nose. “You can’t paint with these two here anyway. Somebody won’t keep a mask on. We’re ahead on the order and I can finish up here.”

“You heard the man.” Ross took off his sleeved apron.

“Just because he says it, doesn’t mean we have to do it. I can drive myself.”

“We kind of do. He’s my boss and your dad.”

“I like the way you think, Ross.” Daddy grinned.

“We know Uncle Ross is a good driver now.” Madison concurred. “And Aunt Stacia is really nervous.”

“Hold on and let me wash up a bit.” Ross hurried to the bathroom, dipped a generous dollop of Goop cleaner on his hands and scrubbed. Most of the paint came off.

When he stepped out of the bathroom, Stacia was still there, tapping her foot in irritation. He’d half expected her to bolt.

He hurried to the door, opened it for her. “After you.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You’re not supposed to roll your eyes, Aunt Stacia,” Madison admonished.

“You’re absolutely right,” Stacia admitted with a sheepish grin. “I was being a bad example and I’m sorry.”

“Your aunt is out of sorts because she’s worried about her friend.” Ross took up for her. “And she’s a bit of a control freak.”

The twins giggled as she shot him a glare and hurried out the door.

Once in the truck, silence echoed.

Ross backed out of the drive. “Which hospital?”

“The one in Boerne. It’s about forty-five minutes. I just put it in my phone GPS. She’s finding us.”

“That’s toward Bandera, right?” He hesitated at the end of the driveway.

“Yes.”

“Sorry about the control freak remark.” He pulled onto the highway. “I was trying to lighten things up a bit.”

More silence.

Was she that mad at him? Or was it more than that? Her friend was about to have a baby. Something Stacia would never do if she followed her doctor’s advice.

“This must be hard on you.”

“I’m just nervous. Larae was in a lot of pain.”

“I mean the whole baby thing.”

“I’m very happy for Larae and Rance.”

“But I imagine it’s still hard.”

“They had a rocky beginning and their daughter, Jayda, is eight now. But they fought their way to happily-ever-after and the new baby puts a much deserved exclamation point on their bliss.” She let out a sigh. “But to be honest, her pregnancy has been a constant reminder that I’ll never have that joy.”

“Does she know?”

Stacia shook her head. “No one knows except Daddy. And you.”

“And only because I badgered it out of you.” He winced. “Sorry about that. But you should tell your friends. Isn’t that what friends are for? To share your ups and downs.”

“At first, it was too painful. I couldn’t talk about it. It’s still hard. But about the time I was ready to tell them, Larae broke the news about the baby. I didn’t want to discourage her excitement or have her tiptoe around me.” Her voice caught. “I just couldn’t let her know