room,” a voice snapped with military precision as if his question had been the utmost in stupidity.
He recognized Maryanne Winters, who had graduated high school three years ahead of him. She’d gone into the army, then returned to Buttonwood as a nurse. He thought she should have been a drill sergeant.
“Your niece and nephew are about to be born,” his mom told him, still holding his arm. “I’m glad you got here. I was afraid you were going to miss the big event.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” Ally added, throwing her own hundred-watt smile his way. “Here, let me introduce you to the birth mother, Taylor Fletcher. Taylor, this is Spence McBride, Rose’s younger son. Jack’s brother.”
For a second, Spence saw a shadow flash through Ally’s eyes as she mentioned her deceased husband. Jack had been killed in a construction accident just before Christmas. It had been a hard time for all of them.
That was when he’d decided to move back to Buttonwood and take up Johnny’s offer of a partnership. His mom had been so distraught after Jack’s death, especially since it followed his dad’s by less than a year.
“I’m glad…to meet you,” the young woman on the bed welcomed him with a hitch in her voice.
“Glad to meet you, too.” He didn’t offer to shake hands. He wasn’t sure of the protocol in this situation.
He had, of course, known about the twins and Ally’s plans to adopt them, but never in his wildest dreams had he thought of being present when they were born. Whether Ally was the one having them or not, that honor belonged to her husband.
The birth mother couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen, twenty at the most. Her long blond hair was gathered at the back of her neck. Her face, pretty, young and very serious, was scrubbed clean of makeup. Something about her earnestness reminded him of Ally when she’d been eighteen and filled with plans for the future.
“We’ve decided to name the twins Hannah and Nicholas,” Ally continued. “What do you think?”
Spence thought he should get the hell out of there. “Uh, that sounds fine. I’ll, uh, wait in the hall or…or somewhere.”
Anywhere but here!
Sweat broke out on his forehead. He couldn’t believe his mom had meant him to come in here. The young woman was about to have a baby—no, two of them!
“Oh, don’t you want to stay and welcome the babies?” Ally asked, her eyes wide as if shocked and hurt that he didn’t want to participate.
During all the years he’d stayed away from his brother and his pretty sister-in-law, Spence had never forgotten those eyes. They were the brightest, clearest blue, with a darker blue encircling the lighter shade around the pupil. Her eyes and that rusty voice—they were the things he most remembered about her. And that she had been his best friend throughout their growing years, up until they graduated and went off to college…and their separate ways.
When he’d returned, Ally had been engaged to his brother. She and Jack were married that summer.
He’d gone off to law school in the autumn and never returned, except on short visits. He’d established a practice in Durango—close, but not too close, to his family.
“Well,” he hedged, “I don’t want to be in the way or make…” He tried to think of the young mother’s name.
“Taylor,” Ally supplied.
“Yeah. I don’t want to make Taylor nervous.”
“It’s okay,” the young woman said. “Jack was supposed to be here. It’s okay if you stay.”
Hell, he could hardly leave now. It would seem rude. Which was maybe the weirdest thought he’d ever had.
“If you’re sure,” he murmured, unable to think of a graceful exit line.
“It’s time,” Maryanne snapped. “Let’s get the bed fixed and you in position.”
Spence swallowed hard when he realized the crabby nurse was removing a panel from the bed, then helping Taylor into the birthing position. The fierce July heat seemed to penetrate the room and gather in his neck, ears and face.
He peered through the mini-blinds at the scene in the nearby park, trying to focus anywhere but the room where the sheets were being lifted and folded back and Taylor’s knees were being exposed, rising above her mounded tummy.
Spence loosened his tie and opened a couple of buttons at his throat. He was having trouble breathing. He watched the kids playing in the park.
“Deep breaths,” Maryanne ordered. “Slow and easy.”
He forced himself to breathe deeply.
“The mother, not you,” Maryanne said with scornful amusement.
“Right,” he responded, as if this was old stuff to him. He risked a glance at the nurse. She folded a towel over the young mother’s knees. His face felt like a furnace.
“Where’s Dr. Parker?” Ally said, glancing past Spence toward the door.
“It’s Friday night. He’s probably on his way to his mountain cabin with some bimbo,” Maryanne said, clearly indicating her opinion of the doctor’s private life.
“Ohh,” Taylor said and reached for Ally’s hand.
“Is it time to pant?” Ally asked.
“I hope not,” Maryanne said grimly. “I’ll be back in a minute.” She sailed out of the room, giving Spence a glare as she swept past.
Spence suppressed a need to tell her he was innocent. He wasn’t the cause of the pregnancy, nor had he barged in uninvited. In fact, he’d rather not be there at all.
“There, darling,” Ally crooned.
Spence’s eyes were drawn to her. If a woman ever spoke to him in that tone he’d melt at her feet. It was caring and tender and filled with sweet encouragement. A chill ran down his spine, totally at odds with the furnace that glowed on his face.
He unbuttoned the cuffs of his white business shirt and rolled the sleeves up, glad that he’d tossed his jacket into the back seat of the car when he’d left the office.
The nurse returned in a minute. Claire Winterhawk, his partner’s wife and a pediatrician, entered with her. As the sole male, he definitely felt out of place in the roomful of women. He tried to think of a reason to leave…immediately!
“Hi, Taylor, I’m Dr. Davis,” Claire said. “I’m on call this evening, so I’ll assist you in the birth. I’ll be the twins’ pediatrician, so this is exciting, getting to meet them first thing, huh?”
Spence breathed a silent sigh of relief. He felt better having a doctor on hand. Claire and Johnny had only been married a couple of months and had adopted a baby themselves. He’d taken over the final paperwork for them.
Johnny was handling the adoption of the twins for Ally. Which Spence thought was good. He
