Page 72 of Wilder Heart

“Could you also call my parents?” she asked. “The plan was for Lain to be in the room with me, but if he can’t be here, it might be nice to have Mom close by instead. She can be a little overbearing, but she’s still family.”

“Absolutely. Just write her number down and I’ll handle it.”

He had to coach himself on what to say for ten minutes before he finally picked up the phone and called Lain’s number, ignoring the covert looks from the two nurses standing nearby who looked vaguely familiar. He probably went to high school with them. There was no answer, and he didn’t know if that was because Lain was busy or just screening unknown numbers. It went to voicemail, and Wilder sighed.

“Hey Lain. Listen, it’s Wilder. I’m at Rose County Hospital with Mary-Beth. Her water broke, and she’s in labor. She’s doing fine right now, but they’re talking about getting her in for a C-section soon. I don’t knowhowsoon. I’ll call again from this number if there are any updates, because we both left our phones in the rush, and now it’s snowing pretty hard. Uh, talk to you soon, I guess.”

He regretted that he didn’t have Cash’s number memorized, if only because he longed to hear the man’s voice, his steady reassurance that Wilder could do this. He could stand in for his brother and hold Mary-Beth’s hand through the scary shit if thatwas what she needed. But God, he hoped Lain got there soon. He’d never felt more like an outsider here, watching this event unfold and knowing he was the wrong Blackwood. He didn’t want Mary-Beth or the life Lain had built for himself, but in another life, maybe Wilder would have been here supporting his twin as he helped welcome his new children into the world.

Blowing out a breath and offering a weak smile to the not-so-subtly eavesdropping nurses, he dialed the second number on the slip of paper and listened to it ring.

“Hello?”

Wow, somebody actually answered. He faltered for a heartbeat, words fleeing his mind, and then stammered, “Uh, hi, Mrs.—” Oh shit, he didn’t know Mary-Beth’s maiden name. “Sorry, um, is this Mary-Beth’s mother?”

“Yes, this is Emily Dandridge. Who am I speaking with?”

“I’m Wilder Blackwood, Lain’s brother.”

“Wilder Blackwood?” she repeated. It was a shocked tone. A scandalized one. One he recognized.

His lips pursed. “Yeah. Mary-Beth has gone into labor a little early, and?—”

“Mary-Beth’s in labor? Where’s her husband? Where is Lain?”

“He and the foreman went out of town to an auction.”

“Lain’s not even there, Robert,” Emily said curtly, and Wilder winced. To him, she said, “We’re on our way, Mr. Blackwood. I assume you’re calling from Rose County General?”

“That’s right.”

“And our granddaughter?”

“She’s here, too. They’ve got Mary-Beth set up in a private room, and they’re taking good care of her. I’m keeping an eye on her and Annalise.”

“For now. We’ll be there shortly.”

He took a breath to reply, but the line went dead. What a charming lady.

When he returned to the birthing room, Mary-Beth was staring hard at the television screen and taking deep, measured breaths with her hands on her swollen stomach. Annalise sat on the little loveseat against the wall, snacking on pretzels and watching a cartoon on a tablet, although she kept sneaking glances at her mom over the tablet’s edge.

Wilder went to Mary-Beth’s side and sat on the edge of the bed, letting her squeeze his hands until the contraction passed.

When the pain faded enough for her to speak, she said, “The doctor came in again while you were out. He wants to prep me for the surgery soon.”

“Good, good. Your parents are on the way.”

“Oh, good.” Her eyes were bright with nerves. “And Lain?”

Wilder winced. It was hours to Bozeman and hours back, and the snow would only make things worse. Even if Lain heard the voicemail right away and was already hitting the road, he probably wouldn’t get there in time to go into the surgery with her.

“I left a voicemail.”

She nodded. Her face remained calm, but her eyes filled with tears. “That’s fine. He’ll head back when he hears it. I can do this.”

“You can. You absolutely can.” He paused, hesitating, and his eyes bounced from mom to daughter, and she followed his gaze. Her whole face softened for her little girl.

Mary-Beth stroked her stomach. “This isn’t the way any of this was supposed to go. When they take me back… would you stay with Annalise? Help her stay calm? I’ll feel better knowing she’s safe with you.”

---