Page 6 of Darla's Christmas Knight
“But he wants to marry me,” Inez added.
Well, at least the dad wasn’t running from his responsibility. But hell, they were so young.
“Colt’s got a job,” the girl continued, “working on the Lawson ranch.”
Colt? “Shereen Finnegan’s Colt?”
Inez nodded. “Colt says if Papi kicks me out, his parents will let me stay with them. Until we get married.”
Darla grabbed hold of Inez’s hands. “Doyouwant to get married, Inez?”
Inez shrugged her shoulder. “Yes. No. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice trembling softly. “I’m scared, Darla.” Fresh tears started.
“Of course you are, honey.” Darla squeezed the clammy hands in hers. “Did you come here today for a check-up?”
“Yes. But … if I go inside …”
“It becomes real,” Darla ended when Inez trailed off.
Inez nodded. “Papi is going to be so mad.”
Darla released her hands, reached an arm across the table, and cupped Inez’s ravaged face. “Honey, you’re going to have to tell your family sooner than later.”
“I know,” Inez replied. “Colt said he’d come with— Oh. I forgot.” She reached into her hoody pocket. “He gave me some money for the visit. He wanted to come, but he’s just started his new job …” She trailed off and placed a wad of cash on the table.
Kudus to you, Colt. “Keep it for now, honey. We’ll sort out the payment later.” Darla waited until Inez shoved the cash back into her pocket before standing. “Come, let’s go check out your baby.”
Inez gulped. “Now?” Her eyes darted to the uneaten food. “What about your lunch?”
“I’ll eat it later. This is more important.”
*
Darla wolfed down her burger and fries, finally satisfying her ravenous stomach. She never got to eat her lunch …
After examining her newest patient, she drove Inez home, holding her hand while the girl told her parents that come Christmas, they would be holding their first grandbaby (a boy!) in their arms. At first, there was lot of shouting and shotgun threats, but when Inez showed them the sonar images, the recriminations turned into happy tears and megawatt smiles. Darla left, knowing that the family would figure things out.
Driving back to the clinic, she couldn’t stop feeling a little jealous of Inez and her oopsie baby. And Darla imagined the joy of celebrating Christmas, her favorite time of the year, holding a child of her own in her arms.
How she wished …
Darla shook her head at her foolishness. Having a baby bythisChristmas was physically impossible.
But …
She could bepregnantby this Christmas.
Maybe IVF was the way to go, after all.
PastorMiller would have a fit, but after a whileMommaMiller would come around and love and accept her grandbaby.
Almost back at the clinic, she received a call. Last night’s false alarm patient was in active labor, and she spent late afternoon and early evening helping the mom deliver her fourth baby, a healthy and lusty girl.
And that green monster reared its ugly head again.
She drove away from the homebirth exhausted but couldn’t face her empty apartment, and she ended up at Daisy’s Saloon.
Nothing like good company, lively country music, and great food to chase away the dark cloud of melancholy that descended on her when she placed the squirming babe against her mama’s full breasts.
