Mel flashed her a grateful smile. “A cold rag sounds wonderful.”
“Ash?” That was all Olivia needed to say and he was dashing off to find one.
“This baby isn’t due for another week,” Mel said, “but I guess no one told her that.”
“When it’s time, it’s time,” Olivia agreed.
Rand was pacing over by the desk now, running his hands through his hair.
Mel glanced over at him and rolled her eyes. “Childbirth makes them so uncomfortable, when we’re the ones doing all the work. Well, except for their contribution nine months before, which I wouldn’t exactly classify as work.”
Olivia smiled. “I think they want to be able to do something. Take action and solve a problem. For once in their lives, they’re completely helpless. I’m sure it’s disconcerting.”
Mel laughed.
Ash returned with the cold rag. Olivia folded it and placed it on the back of the woman’s neck. “Better?”
She sighed. “Much.”
“Is this your first?” Olivia asked.
Mel shook her head. “My third. I’m an old pro at—” She stopped walking and clutched her belly, her pretty face twisted in pain.
Olivia sensed a lot of the discomfort was coming from her lower back, so she rubbed it as the woman focused on her contraction. Eyes closed and concentrating, Mel inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.
“There you go,” Olivia said in a soothing tone. “You’re doing great.”
After the contraction was over, Mel looked up. “Thanks. Um, Olivia, right?”
“Bloody hell,” Ash said, looking almost as uncomfortable as Rand. “I’m sorry. I should’ve introduced you.”
Mel gave him a sidelong look. “It’s okay, hon. We’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“Yeah, I’d say so,” Olivia agreed. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking when I came in today. I had a feeling this baby would be coming soon, but I had a few more things to take care of here before I left on maternity leave.”
“Jesus, Mel,” Rand called from the other side of the room. “We’d have been able to figure things out. We’re not completely helpless when you’re not around.”
Mel rolled her eyes at Olivia. “No, they wouldn’t. Trust me.” Then she turned back to Rand and started reeling off a list of instructions. “Payroll’s done and ready to go out on Friday. Don’t forget that the Atlas rep is coming early in the morning. The cake and balloons can be picked up in town tomorrow after three o’clock and the bouncy house is being delivered at four.”
“Shit,” Rand said, eyes wide. “I completely forgot about the party.”
“No, he didn’t,” Mel said in a low voice to Olivia. “We talked about it yesterday.”
“Party?” Asher looked at Mel for more explanation.
Rand’s expression was one of pure terror. It was the same look you’d imagine he’d have if a doctor came into the shop and said they were ready to do his vasectomy now. “Caitlyn’s birthday party is tomorrow. She wanted to have it here, so of course I said yes.”
“Sorry, hon, that I won’t be here to help,” Mel said. “But everything’s organized and ready to go. All the presents are wrapped. You’ll be fine.”
“Is Caitlyn’s mom not around?” Olivia whispered.
Mel shook her head. “She died a few years ago, when Caitlyn was little.”
Olivia’s heart wrenched for the loss he and his daughter had suffered.
“I’d be fine if it was just her and a friend or two and they wanted to ride dirt bikes,” Rand was telling Ash. “But a bunch of nine-year-old girls running around screaming?” He looked shell-shocked.
“What if Ash and I were here?” Olivia said. “Would that help?”
Rand’s head jerked up. “You’d do that?”
“Of course, man.” Ash clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ll be happy to stick around.”
“It’d be a huge fucking help, thanks.” Rand’s shoulders, which had been up around his ears, relaxed a little.
“Where’s your purse?” Olivia asked, turning her attention back to Mel. “Anything else you need to take with you?
“My purse is in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet. Oh, and Asher, the number of your friend who called earlier is posted on the yellow sticky on my monitor.”
Rand jumped as if someone had snapped him with a whip and grabbed her purse. Asher removed the note and tucked it in his pocket.
“I’ve got the rest of my things packed and in the car already,” Mel said.