Sam rushed around to Megan’s side of the car. “Are you sure you’re not in labor?”
“My doctor said it’s normal.” Megan closed her eyes and took another deep breath.
Willow sat in the driver’s seat and rubbed her friend’s arm. “When was the last time you had a contraction?”
Megan frowned. “At eight o’clock. This is the third time I’ve had contractions in the last hour.”
Sam looked across the car at Willow. “My cousin’s baby was seven weeks early.”
Willow bit her bottom lip. Megan had a lot less than seven weeks until her due date. To make matters worse, they were nearly an hour’s drive from the obstetrician. If Megan was in labor, they needed to do something now. “I think we should call your doctor.”
Megan opened her eyes and forced a smile. “I don’t want to interrupt his evening. Besides, I’m fine now. I think they’ve finished.”
Willow glanced at Sam. From the frown on her face, they must be thinking the same thing. “If you won’t call your doctor, I’m getting William.”
“He’ll only worry.” Megan relaxed against the leather seat. “The contractions are my body’s way of preparing me for the real thing. I just need to stay here for a few minutes and relax.”
Willow looked around the yard. “It’s too cold to be outside. We’ll go back to the barn and find somewhere quiet to sit.”
“What about decorating the car?” Megan asked. “We haven’t finished.”
Sam helped Megan out of the seat. “It will only take a few more minutes.”
“I’ll do it.” Willow plucked the sign and tape out of Megan’s hands. “I won’t take long.”
“Thank you.” Megan handed her a set of keys. “We need to give these to Zac as soon as we’ve finished.”
“No problem. And don’t worry about the empty boxes. I’ll bring them inside with me.” A few minutes after Sam and Megan closed the door to the barn, Willow finished the car. By the time she rushed inside, her friends were sitting in the foyer, talking quietly.
“Would anyone like a drink?” Willow asked.
Megan shook her head. “No, thanks. If I have something to drink, I’ll be running to the bathroom every five minutes.”
Willow doubted Megan would be running anywhere, especially if the contractions kept coming. It was at times like this that Willow wished she’d come from a large family. Even having friends who had already had babies would help. At least that way she would know what to do.
Sam shook her head, too. “I’ll make myself a cup of coffee when we go back into the reception.”
“We don’t have to stay here,” Megan said as the band launched into an Elvis Presley song. “I’m perfectly okay.”
Sam checked her watch. “Let’s wait another ten minutes. I want to make sure the contractions are practice ones and not the real deal.”
“You’re worse than William.”
Willow looked toward the big, double doors leading into the main part of the barn. “Talking about your husband. Look who’s walking our way.”
Megan turned and smiled at William.
He frowned.
It didn’t look as though he was fooled for one moment by his wife’s false cheerfulness.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
Megan glanced at Willow and Sam. “We decided to sit here and chat. It’s difficult to hear what anyone’s saying when the band’s playing.”
William’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“You’ll overreact.”
