Read A Baby And A Wedding for Free Online

voices below. Stepping back into the bedroom, she headed into the ensuite bathroom and snatched her pink satin robe off the back of the door. It was thin, but at least it was sort of decent. Pulling it on, she belted it over the place where her waist used to be. The material barely covered her now.
    Emily started down the stairs barefoot, clutching the front of the robe closed. As the steps squeaked, she heard chairs scrape back in the kitchen. Brad appeared at the bottom of the stairs, with Jed lingering just behind him. Emily stopped halfway down just as she felt her muscles contract more tightly to the point that she couldn’t think clearly, except to focus on the pain that stole her breath away. Somewhere in the distance she heard boots pounding on the wooden stairs. Brad’s supportive arm slid around her.
    “Em, are you in labor?”
    Emily heard him say the words, but she couldn’t speak, not yet. She waited until the pain broke its hold and the pressure released from around her belly. Then she nodded. “I just woke up. I’ve had two, not that far apart, but they are strong.”
    Brad helped her down the remaining steps and to the rocking chair in the corner of the living room. “Sit down.”
    Jed hovered in the archway, dressed in faded blue jeans and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His wavy, brown hair was creased from the cowboy hat he always wore.
    Emily pulled the two ends of her housecoat together as they parted when she sat down, exposing her bare thighs. Jed looked away. Brad grabbed a blanket that had been tossed over the sofa and draped it over her legs. He hunkered down in front of her.
    “I don’t think they’re that far apart,” she said, noticing the concern in Brad’s eyes.
    He glanced behind him to Jed. “Your timing is good. Could you look after the kids if we have to go?”
    Brad’s brother didn’t answer right away. Emily remembered the day before the wedding that didn’t happen all those months ago, and how Neil had been the one who played with Katy. Jed had hung in the background.
    “You know I will,” he answered, rubbing his jaw and glancing at the staircase. “The kids will be fine.”
    Emily felt the pull and twinge of another contraction, which tightened suddenly, leaving her struggling for breath. It went on and on this time. Brad held her hand, but Emily couldn’t help the groan that escaped as she leaned forward.
    “Don’t fight it, Em,” he urged her. “Come on, breathe.”
    She heard him, but felt herself drowning as she held her breath, until she finally felt the wave of pain release. Then she took another breath as the ache pulsed down her thighs and finally subsided.
    “That’s pretty close, Em. I’m calling the doc.”
    Emily thought Brad sounded annoyed when he spoke; a man who’d already decided. Jed uttered something in a low voice as Brad grabbed the cordless phone in the kitchen. Emily couldn’t hear, but both brothers glanced back at her. Brad shook his head in a way that showed he was upset. He hustled to the fridge where she kept Dr. Montgomery’s card with her contact number.
    Emily listened to him dial the phone and talk to someone, right before the pain hit again. Strong and long, it took her breath away, and she clutched the arm of the chair. Then she heard Brad speaking. He was standing right beside her, holding her hand.
    “She’s having another contraction,” Brad said into the phone. “Her last was about a minute ago. Okay, we’ll meet you there.”
    He’d hung up by the time the contraction passed.
    “We’re going to the hospital now,” he said. “Dr. Montgomery is going to meet us there.”
    “I’m not going like this,” Emily protested. “I’m not decent. I need some clothes.”
    Brad headed toward the stairs at a run and shouted over his shoulders, “I’ll get your clothes. Jed, go and warm the truck, and pull it up to the door.”
    Emily closed her eyes and pressed her head against the back of the chair. This