Page 83 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Right.”
They both bumbled around in the coat closet.
“We’ll give you a call later.” Connor called up, heading for the door. Absolutely no response. Amanda’s parents must be as shell-shocked as they were.
Thank goodness his truck had been the last one in and sat at the end of the driveway. Amanda ran around the front while Connor climbed inside. The truck felt freezing, but it started.
“You okay?” Amanda jumped in and slammed her door closed.
His lips curved into a smile while he gunned the engine and turned on the headlights. “We’re having a baby.”
“I guess so. Feels like a dream.” Her voice was filled with disbelief.
Turning, he yanked her to him for a hard kiss.
“Oh, Connor,” she whispered against his lips. “Can this really be happening?”
“Looks like it, babe.” He jammed the truck into reverse and backed out. “What time is it?”
She glanced at the dash. “Five o’clock.”
Perfect timing to make it down the Eisenhower. They didn’t say another word. The roads hummed with activity, but not enough to bring traffic to a halt. Changing lanes when he could,he felt like he was driving to a five-alarm fire. Next to him, Amanda gnawed at one of her nails.
When they finally reached the parking garage of Montclair Specialty Hospital, he barreled up that entrance ramp so fast the tires squealed.
She clapped one hand over his on the wheel. “Hey, slow down.”
“Sorry. It’s just that…”
“I know, but we’ll get there.”
He sucked in a huge breath.
A father. He was going to be a father. Sure, he’d told Amanda it didn’t matter that much. But it sure as hell did.
Not many cars in the parking garage and Connor pulled into a spot on the third level, parked and flew over the bridge at a fast clip. The quiet hallway gleamed in the low light. They took the elevator to the sixth floor and the water birthing suite.
He grabbed Amanda’s frozen hand and squeezed it. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Are we going to the waiting room?” Amanda asked.
“Yep. We’ll meet Cindy and Maria Sanchez there.” Maria had helped with all the paperwork for the open adoption. At the time, they had just been more forms. Over the past few years, they’d filled out lots of paperwork that came to nothing. Hopefully this time would be different. He sure hoped so.
The soles of their boots squeaked in the hallway. Although they’d been here for parenting classes, his mind was a blank tonight. They had to consult the signage on a wall and headed left.
Cindy and Maria looked up when Connor and Amanda came through the door.
“Looks like Christmas came early, huh?” Cindy smiled brightly.
“We can’t believe it.” Amanda looked to him and Connor nodded.
The women did the hugging thing.
“Always an exciting day when the baby comes.” Maria shook his hand.
Oh, you have no idea. “Amanda was afraid Angie had changed her mind,” Connor explained as they settled into the brown vinyl sofa.
Cindy turned to Amanda. “That must have felt awful.”
