Page 129 of Lone Star Longing
His mother walked forward on unsteady legs and gripped Lacey’s arms in both hands, then she leaned forward and hugged the surprised nurse.
Then she took Lacey’s hand in hers and lifted her ring to inspect it.
“That’s a very lovely ring, Beck. I’m proud of you. Pretty and practical.”
“Learned from the best,” he said, leaning over to kiss his mother’s temple, a move he never made, but today, what the hell.
Lacey’s mother and sister finally made their way to her. Beck wasn't sure why they waited. Maybe they didn't think this was a good idea. Maybe they just wanted to wait until everyone was out of the way. He wouldn’t read too much into it. Tonight was a night for celebrating, and he lost his girl once more in the crowd.
“When are you getting married?” Hailey asked when things settled down a bit, and Beck and Lacey sat at one of the picnic tables, Beck curved around her, feeling a little awkward at the intimacy, but he wanted to be close to her.
“I’d love to do it before the babies are born,” Beck said. “How soon can you throw another one of these parties?”
“Ha!” Hailey countered. “Nope. Give me a month, at least.”
“Oh, me, too,” Lacey said. “I don't want a rushed wedding. I want a real one. Don’t you?”
“Don’t care, as long as you’re there.”
She gave him one of those looks that he loved, the sideways ones that made him wonder what she was thinking, made him want to be alone with her so he could find out.
“I’ll be there,” she promised. “And hopefully a few sizes smaller.” She rubbed their joined hands across her belly as the babies bucked, apparently aware of all the excitement.
He nuzzled her neck, just briefly, breathing in the smell of her, her no-nonsense soap and a slight layer of sweat, because she was enormously pregnant and outside in Texas at the beginning of fall.
“Why doesn’t everyone grab a plate, get something to eat?” Hailey suggested. “Then we can get to the presents, and then the cake.”
“Are we playing games?” Tanya asked.
“We have a few, but let’s eat first, then take it from there. Lacey, you go first.”
Beck noticed Lacey picked at her sandwich, concentrating more on the salty chips she probably shouldn’t be eating. She’d put cut vegetables on her plate, but was ignoring them, too. Was she nervous? Having second thoughts? She was quiet, which wasn't unusual for her, but he wanted to know if she was happy, or worried, or what. Maybe she just didn't like being the center of attention.
“Present time!” Poppy announced a few minutes later, standing beside the stage like Vanna White, arms out in presentation. “Which do you want to open first? Don’t worry. We’ll bring them to you, and Tanya will write down who gave what, okay?”
“Well, then, we’ll save the biggest for last,” Lacey said. “Bring me that bag.”
Beck sat by while she unpacked tiny clothes and socks and bibs, bottles and diapers and gift cards. She unwrapped things he couldn't identify by use, like diaper genies and wiper warmers. But she apparently knew, and exclaimed over everything.
He helped Poppy pull over one of the bigger boxes—two were identical.
“That’s from me, and the other is from your brothers,” her mother said.
Lacey stood up to unwrap the beautifully wrapped gift, and immediately froze. “Hey, can y’all excuse me for a minute? I need to go to the bathroom.”
She caught Poppy’s hand and gave her a look before the two hurried off toward the bathroom. Beck watched after them, tension in his body.
“That was weird,” he said.
“When you gotta go, you gotta go,” Austin said. “Especially with two babies sitting on your bladder.”
But a few minutes later, Poppy came back to the table and drew Austin away from the group. Beck was on his feet in an instant to join them.
“What’s going on?”
“Lacey’s not sure, but she thinks her water broke,” Poppy said.
The adrenaline pump was instant, and Beck pivoted toward the building.
