due exactly?” he asked. He had one more rodeo event scheduled this month, but he wouldn’t go, if it were close to the baby’s due date.
“I’ll know more after today’s appointment, but Dr. Michaels thinks the baby will come in about four weeks.”
“You and Delaney go to those classes and all?”
“Yes. She took me to six childbirth classes. She promised to come back when it’s time. She’ll be a great labor coach, having gone through it twice already.”
Case shuddered at the thought of witnessing the baby’s birth. Selfishly, he was glad Sarah had Delaney to rely on to be there for the delivery. Case had pulled many a calf and pony in his day, but it ended there. He knew nothing about delivering babies.
When their brief conversation died, Case glanced at Sarah out of the corner of his eye. So pretty, he thought, with her long golden hair blowing in the breeze. He witnessed her tucking the strands that had brushed her cheeks, back behind her ear. He wished he had the right to run his fingers through her hair, to let the golden lights play over his hand.
She was a feisty one, though, with her chin raised indignantly. She wasn’t going to make today easy on him. But he’d secretly admired that trait in her. He’d put her through a lot as kids, but she’d never buckled under. One thing about Sarah Johnston, she always came out swinging.
The usual thirty-minute ride into Prescott took Case over forty-five, going ten miles under the speed limit, just to make sure Sarah was comfortable. He’d been careful on the pitted road not to hit any big potholes.
Once in town, Sarah directed him to Dr. Michaels’s office building. She was nearly out the door, before he stopped the truck. “Thanks, Case. You can come by for me in about an hour.”
“Hey,” he said, bounding out of the truck in time to help her down. She hung on to his arm, mostly for balance as he helped her feet hit the ground. He’d like it fine if she’d keep her hands on him, but she pulled away from him real quick. “Not so fast. I’d like to come and meet the doctor.”
“W-why?” she said, curiously.
“Why? This is the doctor who’s going to deliver my nephew, isn’t it?”
“Could be a niece, Case. We don’t know for sure and yes, Dr. Michaels will do the delivery.”
“Well then, I’m coming with you.”
“But, I thought you had errands to run in town.”
“That can wait. This is more important.” Although the thought of the delivery scared the dickens out of him, Case was just plain curious about this whole birth process. He needed to understand things, like how would he know that Sarah was in labor? What were the signs? What if Sarah had trouble?
Another shudder ran down his spine. Damn, the whole thing made him jittery.
“I don’t know, Case,” she said, a doubtful expression marring her face. There was mistrust there, too, along with a large dose of reluctance.
“You can decide inside,” he said, glancing at his watch, then taking her arm gently. “Or you might be late for your appointment.”
Once inside the office, Case took a seat next to Sarah in the waiting room. For all anyone knew, they must have appeared like a loving expectant married couple. Case breathed in her subtle flowery scent, noted her shapely legs peeking out from her pretty dotted dress and marveled at the serene glow on her sweet face. Damn, being near Sarah still had a powerful effect on him. If he could claim Sarah as his, he would and be done with it, and they’d really be the loving couple they seemed to portray. But Case knew beyond a doubt that would never happen.
“Mrs. Jarrett,” the medical assistant called from an opened doorway.
Sarah struggled to rise. Case stood and helped ease her up slowly. He laid a hand on the small of her back and guided her to the door. She stopped and turned to him. Case didn’t want to bully her again. This had to be her decision. “I’d really like to come in with you, Sarah,” he said softly.
Sarah stared into his eyes for a moment and he noted wariness mixed with reluctance, but when she relented with a brief nod, Case felt a small sense of relief that he’d won this round with her. The medical assistant led them into a small examining room. There, the assistant asked Sarah to step up onto the scale. “Don’t look,” she said firmly, before she took off her shoes to get on.
Case stifled a chuckle and glanced out the window. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He’d never understand a woman’s vanity. Sarah was as big as a house, beautifully so, but still she worried that he’d find out how much she weighed.
After her temperature and blood pressure was taken, Dr. Michaels walked into the room and stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed Case. Confusion mingled with uncertainty and she gave Sarah a questioning look. “Mrs. Jarrett,” she said, darting a glance from her chart to Case and back. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression—”
“Oh,” Sarah said quickly, “this is Case Jarrett, Dr. Michaels, my husband’s brother.”
“Identical twins?” she asked, realization dawning instantly.
“Yes,” Sarah answered.
Case put out his hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
After blinking once, Dr. Michaels took his hand. “Nice to meet you, too. Are you planning on attending the birth, Mr. Jarrett?”
“No, he’s not,” Sarah put in. “My sister will be here for the delivery. You might remember her. She took me to all my appointments during the summer.”
“Yes, I do remember her. Well, then, let’s get started. You’re due for an ultrasound, I see.”
After the doctor did an assessment of Sarah, checking, measuring and answering her questions, the assistant brought in the ultrasound machine. “Here we go,” Dr. Michaels said, once Sarah was all hooked up. “You might want to stand a little closer to Sarah’s side of the bed, Mr. Jarrett. The screen isn’t very large.”
Case positioned himself by Sarah’s side and watched in utter fascination as the doctor applied a jellylike substance to Sarah’s abdomen, then moved an instrument around slowly. The picture on the screen appeared to take form and Case witnessed a miracle in the making. Awestruck, he asked Dr. Michaels, “That’s the baby?”
“Uh-huh, but the little babe doesn’t want to turn so we can see the sex. Healthy one, though.”
“Are you sure, Doctor?” Sarah asked, motherly concern apparent on her questioning expression.
“He looks fine to me, Sarah. The baby’s got a steady strong heartbeat.”
Case watched the baby move around on the screen. He glanced at Sarah, captivated by the look of joy and serenity on her face. He was so moved, he had to put his hand on her shoulder. Surprisingly she reached up to touch his hand. The contact ripped right through him and the solid rhythm of his heartbeat went a little crazy.
“He’s beautiful, isn’t he, Case?”
“Couldn’t agree with you more,” he said, completely taken by the moment.
