Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels
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all. Three identical little girls, looking like their mama, couldn’t make a more beautiful picture.”
“Exactly!” Grace replied, almost clapping her hands in approval. “I’ll bring some baby pictures of Bri and her brothers the next time I come.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” he assured her, seeing the babies in his mind’s eye. Maybe they’d have blue eyes like his. But Bri’s hazel eyes were so beautiful.
Grace interrupted his thoughts. “The main thing is to get them here safely.”
“You’re so right,” he agreed. “That’s my number-one concern, too.”
“I’m still here,” Bri reminded them. “You’ve rearranged my life. The least you can do is talk to me as though I’m a real person.”
“Being pregnant makes her a little testy. She normally has a wonderful personality,” Grace assured him.
“I feel like an old maid someone is trying to auction off. Please, Grace, I’m fine. I don’t need a husband.”
April Sullivan stopped by their table, holding her full tray. “You looking for a husband, Bri?” she asked, obviously having overheard Bri’s last words.
“No! But some of my family seem to think I can’t manage alone,” Bri told her friend, disgust in her voice. “Have you met Grace? She and her husband took care of my brothers and I when we were babies. She’s going to be volunteering in the nursery as soon as we get babies,” she added.
“Then I hope you’re ready soon. We’ve got twins that I think will arrive within the week.”
“Excellent!” Grace said, beaming. “I love babies.”
“Well, you must be good if you took care of Bri and her brothers,” April said with a smile.
“We’d ask you to join us,” Hunter said, “but I think we’re finished. I know I have to get back so I can review the files. What’s the name of the patient soon to deliver?”
April gave him the woman’s name. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled down the last name. “Ready, ladies?”
“You go ahead. Grace and I want to visit with April for a while, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” he agreed. He stood and held out the chair for April to sit down. “I enjoyed the company, ladies. And, Grace, thanks for your help.” He bent over and kissed the older woman’s cheek. Then he did the same to Bri. “Didn’t want to leave you out, honey. See you later.”
“NOT IF I see you first,” Bri muttered, horrified that he’d kissed her cheek in front of half the hospital. When she dared look at April, she found her friend staring. “That meant nothing,” she hurriedly said.
“He is such a sweet boy, isn’t he, Bri?” Grace said, still smiling.
Bri couldn’t think of what to say.
“Everyone likes him,” April offered. “I’ve only heard praise since he got here.” But she still kept her gaze on Bri, as if she expected Bri to make a major announcement at any moment.
“April, don’t pay any attention to anything he does. He’s intent on teasing me.”
“But he just met you,” April pointed out, a puzzled look on her face.
Bri felt she had to come up with something, some reason for his familiarity, or everyone was going to be convinced she and Dr. Callaghan had something going. Which was utterly ridiculous. “Uh, I met him once at a conference.”
“Really? Did you keep in touch?”
“Not exactly. We have mutual acquaintances. It’s nothing.” Definitely nothing. She hoped if she downplayed it, no one would try to figure out which conference. She’d gone to three different ones before the wing opened.
“Oh, I guess that explains it. But you might keep him in mind for, you know, later on, after the girls are born.”
“Exactly what I say,” Grace agreed enthusiastically.
“I can’t believe the two of you. Look at me! Do I look like I’d be thinking anything about romance? I’m like a beached whale at this point. And I don’t feel friendly toward the sex that got me this way!”
April grinned. “That will pass. I know you love your girls already.”
“Yes, and I’m concentrating on them and no one else right now.”
A FEW HOURS later, when Briana opened her condo’s front door and smelled lemon-fresh polish combined with the fragrant odor of a homemade dinner, her thoughts weren’t on her baby girls. She was thinking about Hunter and his trickery.
She was still angry with him, but the thought of a great meal and a clean place was nice.
“Alice?” she called.
The lady Grace had introduced her to several months ago came out of the kitchen. “Ms. McCallum. You’re home. I hope you’re hungry.”
“I’m starved, and something smells delicious. I hope coming so soon didn’t cause you any problems?”
“No, ma’am. Frankly, I was ready for some company.” The woman beamed at her.
“Why don’t you join me for dinner and we’ll talk? You might’ve had some trouble familiarizing yourself with my place.”
“Oh, I only fixed enough for one. You need to eat it all.”
Bri stepped into the kitchen and watched as Alice filled the table with food. She gulped, then said, “Al-ice, when I said I was starving, I didn’t mean I’d have this big an appetite. There will be plenty for both of us. In fact, I think you should eat dinner with me every evening before you go home. Unless you wouldn’t like it. But some conversation would be nice, and there’s no reason for you to cook twice.”
“I’d love it, if you don’t mind. I’ll pay for half the food,” Alice assured her, her eyes big.
Bri laughed. “As long as I don’t have to fix it, I’ll gladly pay for it.” She pulled out a chair and sat down.
Alice joined her. After a few questions about how Briana liked her laundry done, Alice began asking her questions about her job and life at the hospital.
Before Bri knew it, they’d finished the meal, and she was completely relaxed. “Alice, that was wonderful. I’m feeling more relaxed than I have in weeks. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you liked it. I enjoyed myself, too. Hearing about your job is like listening to a real live soap opera. Now, you go take your bath and get dressed for bed while I do the dishes. Then I can go home knowing that you’re all settled in for the night.”
Obviously, Alice had been taking lessons from Grace, but Bri didn’t complain. She only resisted when the orders came from Hunter. She had to resist the strong pull she felt from him. Being in his arms overpowered all her common sense.
“I could help with the dishes.”
“You’ve already worked all day. I’ll take care of these.”
Bri left the kitchen and went to soak in the tub. Afterward, she dressed in a long flannel gown. It was December, not cold, in Austin, but not warm, either. She pulled socks onto her feet and wandered back into the living room. One of her favorite shows was coming on. She settled among the cushions just as Alice brought her a cup of hot tea.
“Thank you, Alice. I love hot tea.”
“That’s what Grace said. This tea doesn’t have any caffeine, so you can sleep well tonight. I’m going on home now unless there’s anything else you want me to do.”
“Oh, no, you’ve been wonderful. If you only want to come every other day, I’ll be fine.”
“I’d