“I’m fine,” Leanna said. “But we don’t know where Terri and Ryker are. Do you know which hospital they’re scheduled to have the baby?”
“You mean Terri’s gone into labor?”
“I don’t know, but we think she might have,” Leanna said.
“Is Ryker not answering his phone?”
“No answer.” Leanna felt funny hearing Axe’s voice. It still did all sorts of things to her insides, stirring unwanted emotions, and making her feel hot and cold at the same time. “Should we go look for them?”
“Sure, I went with her to a Lamaze class at Redwood General Hospital,” Axe said. “It’s not too far from her flower shop.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Leanna said before another thought crossed her mind.
“Okay, sure. I’ll be there.” Axe’s voice sounded strained, and after Leanna hung up, she wondered if she’d been too pushy.
Who cared? She was on a mission to help her friend, and Axe knew the way to the maternity ward at Redwood General. Leanna exited the ladies’ room like she’d won a lottery prize.
“They’re registered at Redwood General,” Leanna announced to her friends, the rest of the Bumblebees.
“Let’s bring the cupcakes,” Nikki said. “They’ll fit back into the boxes.”
“Oh, oh, oh, the plants, which bouquet should I pick?” Marisa asked.
“How about the shamrocks?” her fiancé, Liam, suggested. “They’ll need the luck of the Irish.”
“I’ll prepare doggy bags for Ryker,” Sherelle said. “I’m sure he’s so nervous he can eat a cow.”
“Pick one balloon,” Jolie ordered her husband. “Make it pink. Then pack all the gifts in the van.”
“Okay, on it,” her ever so loving and obedient husband, a former surfer turned actor, loped off to do her bidding.
Carol wheeled up. “Put the boxes on my lap. I have a van, but we’d better leave the speakers and dancing here.”
“You go ahead,” Nick said. “I’ll watch the club and make sure things don’t get too crazy.”
“I’ll stick with you,” Liam said. “In case we need to bust some heads.”
“In that case, you’ll need backup,” Ken said, handing Jolie a pink “It’s a girl” balloon.
Meanwhile, Gage Swanson, who used to moonlight as an exotic dancer, was already wowing all the motorcycle chicks with his abs and moves.
Great. Just great. None of the guys except Axe would be there for the baby’s birth. What a bunch of chicken-wutzs.
“I have to meet Axe so he doesn’t get lost,” Leanna said, totally disgusted at the men bowing out of the baby shower. She hurried out of the club, wondering whether she was yet again being a fool in love or a too-stupid-to-survive heroine.
