“Tori, Karin’s in labour.”
The fact that he used her name told Tori how uptight David was. She was instantly wide awake. “How far along?”
“The contractions are twelve minutes apart...and her water just broke. We’re on our way to the hospital. Can you meet us there? I know it’s late or early or whatever.” He was babbling in his nervousness.
“Take a deep breath Dave. Everything’s going to be fine. It’s going to be awhile yet.” Out of the corner of her eye she could see Richie climbing out of bed and pulling on clothes. “Why are you so uptight? You’ve been through this before.”
“I know, but there’s a higher risk because of Karin’s age and she seems to be in a lot of pain.” He paused to swallow. “She’s really scared Tori and I don’t know how to help her.”
“Just hold her and comfort her as best you can. She needs to feel you close. That’s she’s not going through this alone. We’re on our way.”
Hanging up the phone, Tori rose and quickly dressed.
“Dot must have had a feeling when she insisted we leave the kids at the main house last night when they fell asleep watching the movie.” Richie commented.
“That was part of the payback for Jon. I hope Lauren kept him up all night.” Tori was still pissed at him. “I guess we should let them know where we’ve gone.”
“I’ll send a text to Jon’s phone. He’ll get it when he wakes up.” Picking up his phone, Richie thought for a moment, then started typing, a smirk curving his full lips. Gone to hosp. Munchkin coming. You’re babysitting.
“Mmmhmm.” Was the nurse’s non committal reply.
In the room, Tori immediately moved to Karin’s side while Richie said hello, then went to get comfortable in the waiting room with the twins and Lily. He was there to support his wife....and David if he needed it.
“Okay Karin where are we at?” Tori pulled up a chair and got comfortable.
Karin glanced at David.
“Anywhere from ten to twelve minutes apart.” He answered.
Tori studied Karin’s face. “Stop fighting it. It’ll only make it hurt worse.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Karin snorted between clenched teeth. She had to wait for the contraction to ease before she could speak. “Do you remember when Lauren was born Mrs. Do As I Say Not As I Do?”
“Yes. Pant through the contractions. But I was fighting it to wait for my husband to arrive. Your husband is already right beside you. And do you remember how much faster and easier it was when I stopped fighting?” She paused. “Now, do you want some ice chips or go for a walk or something?” She glanced at David. “Do you want to take a break and get a cup of coffee or something? I’ll stay with Karin. Richie can go with you.”
David cast a glance at his wife. “Naw, I’m good.”
A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door and Richie entered, a tray in his hands. “Breakfast is served.” He handed David a cup of coffee. “For you Court Jester.” A cup of ice chips went to Karin. “For you and the munchkin milady.” Turning to Tori he passed over juice and a breakfast sandwich. “For milady and the seedling.” He dropped the nasal accent. “You need to eat angel.”
“How come she gets a sandwich and I don’t?” David pouted.
"Do you really want anything to eat?” Richie had been in David’s shoes more recently than David had before this and doubted his stomach would handle food well.
David thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “No.” His eyes widened. “The kids...”
“I fed them. They’re fine. Anxiously awaiting their new sibling.”
Tori reached up to cup her husband’s cheek. “Thank you honey.”
The shininess in the blue eyes concerned him for a moment, but closer scrutiny assured him they were happy tears. He pressed his lips to hers briefly. “You’re welcome angel.”
For the next several hours David and Tori coached, encouraged, and badgered Karin through the childbirth process. Every five minutes, David thanked God for Tori. If he’d had to do this on his own, it would take the curl out of his hair. He’d never realized how stubborn his wife could be.
“Push!”
“I can’t. I’m too tired.”
“Yes you can.”
“No.”
“YES!” Even the nurse and the doctor joined in that one.
In the waiting room Richie dozed, half listening to the conversation of Colton and Gabi across the room. Lily was sleeping in the chair beside him. The buzz of his phone jerked him awake. It was a text from Jon.
How come I always end up with your kids?
Richie snickered. ‘Cause your wife loves me.
Naw she just feels sorry that those kids have the devil for a father.
Richie snorted. Well your sister loves her horny devil.
Ew! Her bad taste must come from her mother’s side. Tell Shirley we’re on our way.
Okay, see you in a bit.
Finally, Tori appeared in the doorway and was immediately surrounded by the Bryan offspring as well as David’s mother and sister who had arrived about an hour before.
“Is the baby here?”
“What is it?”
“Is Karin okay?”
“Did Dad pass out?”
Tori held up her hands. “It’s a boy and everyone is fine.”
“Can we go see them?”
Tori waved them down the hallway and went into her husband’s arms. Richie rubbed her back. “You okay?”
She nodded her head and breathed in his scent. “Yeah, just tired.” She tipped her head back to look at him. “He’s beautiful.”
“Do they have a name for him yet?”
“They were arguing about that when I left to get the kids.”
Richie bent to kiss her. “Come on angel, show me the newest munchkin.”
When they walked into the room, they found the name argument still going.
“We are not calling this baby Morty!” Karin shot down David’s suggestion.
“Saul?”
“No.”
“Vincent?”
Richie couldn’t resist. He leaned down to stroke the baby’s cheek where he lay in his grandmother’s arms. “Yo, Vinnie.”
Karin pinged one of her husband’s curls. “Honey, you may be from Jersey, but you’re not Italian.” She pointed at Richie and Tori. “They could get away with that, you can’t.”
“Luke.”
“And have you – or him” she pointed at Richie again, “do the Darth Vader voice every time you get near him? No way.”
David sighed in defeat. “What do you suggest then?”
Karin considered for a moment. “Joshua Edward Bryan.” She glanced at Flo, who nodded, her eyes filling with tears of joy...and a little sadness.
How could he argue when she wanted to name the baby after his father? David smiled and kissed his wife. “Yeah. Okay. That’s a good name.”
“At least one of us gets a normal name.” Gabrielle rolled her eyes.
“Charlie must have named him then.” Jon commented from the doorway. “Shirley doesn’t do anything normal.”
David lifted his hand to flip him off, but caught the look from his mother and just waved instead. “’Bout time you got here. Where’ve you been?”
“Dealing with the Devil’s spawn and an annoying muppet.”
Tori’s eyes narrowed, but before she could react, Dorothea swatted her husband. “Thanks Dot.”
“What he means is that he wouldn’t leave until he’d finished feeding Lauren her breakfast.” Dorothea explained. “Now, where is the newest member of the clan?”
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