Page 10 of Crushing on the Mountain Men

Kailee patted Jessica’s legs, trying to sooth her.

“It’s a girl.”

“One more big push,” the nurse said over the phone.

We all encouraged the young mother as she gave birth to a squalling, bloody baby.

Kailee wrapped the bundle and handed it off to Bascomb while she pressed a towel to Jessica.

“The paramedics are here,” Davin said.

***

Soon we were all outside the diner, watching as Jessica and baby Gabi were loaded on to the ambulance.

“I’ll get Mom and Dad and meet you at the hospital,” her sister said. “Can I have your number so I can thank you later?” She asked me.

I pointed to the rescue group’s offices across the street. “Call there to thank us any time. Let us know how they are doing.”

Kailee smiled at me, tears running down her face. Her hands were bloody from helping Jessica, and Davin handed her some napkins as we went back in.

“Great job,” I said. “You were amazing.”

“I did not know what I was doing.”

“Neither did B,” Davin said, referring to our friend. “No babies in army medicine, I don’t think.”

The waitress handed us Kailee’s purse and a big to go bag. “From us,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Where should we eat it?” Kailee asked as we walked outside. “And do you mind if we go somewhere near my apartment? I’d love to get changed.”

I could see she was shaking. “I’ll ride with you and Davin can follow us.”

***

Her apartment was part of a new complex in town, near to the fire station where she worked.

“My classes are only about 20 minutes from here, at the hospital. I have a few at the community college, too, but that’s not too far, either.”

College felt like a long time ago. I’d met Davin there, and we’d clicked immediately as two national guardsmen finishing our finance degrees. Then we’d met Tim when we joined the firm, and life moved forward quickly.

When we moved out here, kind of lost after Tim’s death, we’d been eating at that diner and wondering what Rescue Group Inc. was from the sign on the storefront. Something told me we should go inside, and we did. In between working with the few clients we’d kept online with the firm, we enjoyed the missions with the group.“I’ll be right back,” she said.

“I’ll let Davin in.” I let my friend in, and we sat on the couch waiting for Kailee. Her place had pictures of her smiling with different people.

“I still can’t believe that happened,” she said when she came back out of her room, in a pink hoodie and jeans. “A baby! Wait until I tell everyone at the station.”

She looked adorable. I wanted to pull her onto the couch with us and kiss her senseless before handing her off to Davin.

She grabbed her coat. “There’s a park nearby.”

Chapter five

Kailee

HadIreallyjusthelped deliver a baby? I looked at the two men who had quietly and confidently helped me. Neither man doubted me, just encouraged.

It was a heady feeling, just as it was walking between them, on our way to the park down the block.

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