“Good, I don’t want you to.”
He collapsed on top of her, kissing her lips. Vicki smiled up at him. “My dad threatened you.”
“I know. You’re the first woman I’ve been with whose father has threatened me. I better keep to my promise and make you the happiest woman in the world.”
“You better,” she said.
Later that day Tristan left to deal with something at the station while Vicki spent the afternoon baking. She wanted everything to be perfect for the weekend. Tristan was going to propose to her in front of the town, so she wanted their memory of the event to be worthwhile.
She was mixing some cake batter when the telephone interrupted her counting.
“Hello,” she said.
“Vicki?”
“Zoe, you’re never going to believe what just happened. My dad has met Tristan, and there was this whole big deal.” Vicki went into a quick, simplified discussion of her father’s conversation with Tristan.
“Vicki, shut the fuck up. I need your help,” Zoe said.
She froze at the panic in her friend’s voice. “Zoe, what’s wrong?”
“I, erm, can’t get hold of any of my men, and … erm … my water broke and ahhhhh!”
Vicki frowned at the phone as Zoe suddenly screamed down the line.
“I’m having contractions. Go and get my men, now!”
She dropped the phone and ran out of her house. Vicki didn’t bother putting on a pair of shoes as she ran through town toward the mechanic shop. Loud music was coming from the body of the shop. Noah, Drew, Jake, Brent, and Connor were stood around talking and laughing.
They smiled at her approach. The short distance she’d run had given her a stitch.
“What’s the matter?” Connor asked.
“Zoe’s … in … labour … her … water … broke … you … have … to … get … to …her,” Vicki said, gasping in between lung-fulls of air.
Zoe’s three men stared at her as if they hadn’t understood a word and then quickly started moving toward their house.
Tristan ran over to her. “What’s going on, baby?” he asked.
“Zoe, baby, now.” She didn’t have the energy to repeat her words. Her friend was in labour.
They all charged through Jake, Connor, and Brent’s home to find Zoe on the sofa crying.
Three men crowded around Zoe.
“What’s the matter?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Is it time?”
“Are you in pain?”
There questions kept repeating over themselves.
Vicki moved forward. “Give her some room.”
She took the phone from Zoe. “Did you phone an ambulance?”
“Yes, it hurts so much. I didn’t know it could hurt this much.” Zoe winced, reached out and let out a yell as she squeezed Vicki’s hand. The strength inside Zoe shocked Vicki, and she cried out in pain as well.
When the contraction ended, Vicki grabbed Connor’s hand and replaced hers with his.
****
Several hours later
Vicki held Tristan’s hand as they stared at Zoe. Her best friend after a couple of hours labour held a beautiful baby boy. Connor, Brent, and Jake looked like the happiest fathers alive. Zoe looked exhausted. They’d travelled to the hospital to be there when she woke up.
“Isn’t he just perfect?” Zoe said.
“We’re going to go and get a coffee,” Connor said.
Tristan kissed Vicki, and she waved him away. Sitting on the bed next to her friend she watched as Zoe couldn’t tear her gaze away from the baby in her arms.
“He’s amazing, Zoe. You did great.”
“I don’t even care about the pain. He was worth every bit of pain.”
Vicki sat with her friend and took the baby off Zoe when she fell asleep. She sat in the chair holding the little bundle until his father walked back in the room. Tristan stopped when he saw her. His eyes misted over, and she smiled back at him.
“What’s wrong with Zoe?” Connor asked.
“She’s tired. Here you go. I’m going to head home and tell everyone the news about Law Castle’s new arrival,” Vicki said, handing the baby over to Jake.
She followed Tristan out of the hospital. He turned and pressed her against the nearest secluded wall. “I want a baby with you,” he said.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Vicki pressed herself against him. “We’re working on it, Sheriff.”
“You’re not put off by the pain?” he asked.
“Not a chance. I want your children, and I want to be married to you.”
She took his hand, and together they walked back to the car. Her world felt complete after witnessing the birth of the baby.