Page 69 of The Blessings of Christmas
Dad snorted. “You think your mother would have it any other way?” His father glanced around the room as if he had no clue how this had all happened. “Say, I want you to come downstairs with me later and see the fishing lures I wangled at the swap meet last weekend over in Palatine. Guy had thisYamah Moto worm. Swears by it. Got him to bundle it along with a tricky new fly rod.”
“Can’t wait to see it.” After his father retired, swap meets and bundling became a new passion. He’d taught them all to fish up in Michigan.
Big Mike sized up the crowd, like he was tempted to take Connor downstairs right now. His mother caught his dad’s eye. “Connor has to make the rounds and meet all the guests, Michael. Besides, the children are down there. I don’t want you playing with anything that has sharp hooks around the kids.”
They’d have to wait, and his father’s expression told him just what he thought of that. His mom went back to tending the hash browns sizzling in her enormous skillet.
“Catch you later, Dad.” Connor circulated, making his way out to the family room his father had added to the four-bedroom house when the family kept expanding. His mother wanted the kids where she could see them while she cooked dinner. Wasn’t easy to fit seven children, five of them strapping boys, into this brick bungalow.
“Hey, Connor.” McKenna sidled up to him, giving him a big hug “Ready for the big day?”
He scratched his head. “Guess so. I had no idea a baby needed so much. Some of those presents are almost bigger than the tree.”
“Everything going all right?”
“I guess. Amanda’s a little nervous. Worried that Angie might change her mind.”
“Why? What has Angie said?” McKenna frowned.
“Nothing that I’ve heard. Tomorrow we meet with her again. Maybe Amanda’s just nervous. Two weeks and counting.” He jiggled the melting ice cubes in his empty glass.
“I can understand Amanda’s reservations, I guess, but I’ve seen Angie in the childbirth classes. Doesn’t seem like she’s changed her mind.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way.” At first, he’d been more than a little put off by the skinny girl who would never look him in the eye. Angie looked more like a waif than a young woman you’d want to have your child. But the more time he spent with her, the better he felt. Connor didn’t know if it was her new job or her apartment, but she looked better every time they met—more settled. She’d made some bad choices. That’s all. And now she was trying to change her life. McKenna was behind Angie all the way. He’d always trusted his sister.
“Brunch is served,” his mother announced, coming out into the family room where the guys were watching some game. “Time to turn the TV off.”
Connor exchanged a grin with Seth. They’d heard this since they were kids. No TV during dinner. Their dad was the worst offender.
Picking up a plate, Connor joined the buffet line. What rules would he have for his own family? Had his brothers considered stuff like this? Mark and Malcolm were so young when they started having babies. Hardly any time to think about it.
Maybe Connor had waited too long. Thirty-two and he had no clue how to do all this. His grip on his plate loosened and it slipped from his hands.
Luckily, Malcolm scooped it up before it hit the carpet. “Hey, watch it, buddy. Mom’ll kill you if you break one of her plates. You daydreaming?”
“Guess so. Those twenty-four hours on duty can do that to you.” Connor avoided his brother’s eyes and began scooping up the egg casserole.
Bing Crosby’s Christmas carols were playing—his mother’s favorites. Connor had to dig deep for Christmas spirit thisseason. He didn’t feel it. While he piled hash browns, eggs and bacon onto his plate, his mind wasn’t on food. Something huge loomed in their future. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this excited and worried at the same time.
Across the room, Amanda stood talking to McKenna. Had his wife always been so pale? She was starting to worry him.
CHAPTER 3
“You’re letting yourself get stressed out,” McKenna told Amanda as they stood so close to the tree that the pine smell tickled her throat.
The room felt warm and Amanda wished she hadn’t worn this stupid red sweater with the snowman on it. “What if Angie changes her mind at that last minute?”
“Any signs that might happen?”
“A birth mother can always back out, right? She wants to see the baby once it’s born. Made a point of it.” A red flag in Amanda’s mind.
“Not unusual. Since she chose water birth, of course she’ll see him. You want your baby to be held right away.” McKenna nudged her into the buffet line and picked up a serving spoon. “But that doesn’t mean she’ll change her mind. How about some eggs?”
“I don’t think so. So many kids are sick at school and I think I’m getting the bug.” McKenna would give her a hard time if Amanda even mentioned ulcers. Usually, she loved the crisp brown sugared bacon. Not today. She took an English muffin.
“You have to chill out.” McKenna heaped eggs and hash browns on her plate. “School will be off soon and your maternity leave will begin.”
“Maybe I should go back to work after Christmas break. Angie isn’t due for two weeks. I don’t want any time on my hands,” Amanda fretted. But what would she do in the house alone all day, waiting for Angie to deliver? Sit in the nursery and worry? “Aren’t first babies usually late?”
