“Hula-Hooping?” He was glad that made Rosemary smile. He didn’t like seeing any woman uncomfortable or in pain.
“Absolutely! And if that doesn’t work then it’s line dancing at The Dancing Pony. Can you see me dancing Gangnam Style?” She circled one arm in the air and wiggled in her chair, imitating the dance, and then made an odd sound and froze. Her eyes went a little bulgy.
“Rose—”
Rosemary grasped the arms on her desk chair, her cheeks went red, and she looked up at him with uncertain eyes. “Uh, we might wanna call the guys after all. Either I just peed in my pants in front of a handsome cowboy or my water just broke.”
Julián grabbed the bookkeeper in the office next door and found Wes Garner’s contact info in his phone. Rosemary sat in her chair calmly as the call connected.
Wes’s Texan drawl came on the line. “Wes Garner. How’s it goin’, Julián?”
“Hey, Wes. I’m up at Cheaver’s and we’re pretty sure Rosemary’s water just broke.”
Julián smiled when he heard a crash and then the sound of running. “Tell her we’ll be right there. Will you stay with her just in case?”
“Of course.”
Wes chuckled. “Now Evan’s phone is ringing too. We’ll be there as quick as we can. Thanks, man.” The line went dead.
Bernadette came around the corner, nearly bumping into Julián with her phone to her ear. She grimaced and put her hand over the microphone. “I forgot that Evan is the nervous daddy.”
Julián could hear Evan loudly pelting her with questions from the speaker of her phone. “Is she okay? Is she sitting down? Is she upset? Bernadette! Are you there?”
Bernadette spoke quietly to Evan and answered all his questions with simple responses. “She’s in good hands, Evan. Just let Wes drive, okay? We’ll see you when you get here, daddy to be.” She smiled when she hung up the phone. “I had a feeling something was up this time so I called him.”
“Her water just broke. I called Wes.”
“That’s what Evan said.” They peeked in the office and the bookkeeper was squatted down looking at her wristwatch, stroking Rosemary’s shoulder as she breathed shallowly. Bernadette skirted around him and opened the top drawer in the filing cabinet, and pulled out several towels.
Rosemary chuckled as she finally breathed out a slow, deep breath. “I guess it’s a good thing the Boy Scouts thought to put those in there, huh? Sorry for all the female drama, Julián. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to. I’d understand.”
Julián shook his head. “I promised Wes I’d stay with you. Was that a contraction?”
“Think so.”
The quiet was broken several minutes later as Wes and Evan barreled through the stockroom doors, making them swing wildly. “Rosemary!” Evan hollered, startling Rosemary but then she smiled in relief. Both men entered the office and everyone else exited. “Sorry, Rosie, didn’t mean to yell so loud.” He looked at his brother and they both knelt down beside her.
Julián said, “Guys, I’m gonna leave you to it now. Congratulations to all three of you. Call me if there’s anything we can do to help.”
The men nodded their thanks and Rosemary smiled and waved.
“And thanks for all the help, sweetie. You’re gonna be a great mommy.”
He followed Bernadette out of the stockroom doors and to the register, having nearly forgotten about his purchases in all the excitement. They chatted briefly and he was in time to hold the door open for the threesome as they hurried out of the store to Evan’s big truck which was parked right outside the front doors.
“Headed to the hospital?” he called.
“Yep.”
Julián smiled when he heard Rosemary tell Evan that he needed to call Grace and let her know to get the word out, while Wes drove. Good strategy, Rosemary. With her pleasing disposition, Grace would likely be able to keep Evan calm on the ride to the hospital.
The thought of having to go through a scenario like this with Chris made him grin again. Gwen would probably be just like Rosemary, wanting to work up until the very last second before the baby arrived. Julián thought he might be a little neurotic and protective like Evan too. Walking out to his truck, he felt a little sappy as he imagined Gwen with a baby bump.
* * * *
Valentine’s Day
Gwen stood in front of the long mirror behind her bedroom door staring critically at her reflection. The stylish Western dress Julián had bought for her fit like a dream.
But it shows way more leg than I’m used to!