A soft knock sounded on the door a second before it opened.
Baz breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his mother’s face peering into the room.
“Come in,” JJ said, smiling.
Julia Buchanan pushed open the door and walked in.His mother looked as regal as ever.The same could almost be said for his father, who was not far behind, though not many people could get away with calling Wes Buchanan regal even when the man was wearing a five-thousand-dollar suit.And he was rocking it as he always did, looking very much like the corporate CEO that he was.
“I heard my grandbabies might be comin’ today,” Jules told JJ, her voice soft and soothing as she went over to her.
“That’s what Dr.Tinder’s sayin’,” JJ agreed, rubbing her belly gently.“It’s also why they downgraded me to this bed.”
JJ’s pout was cute, but Baz suspected she didn’t really care that they’d given her a regular bed—a necessity in the event the medical staff was needed—and carted off the king-size.
“Hey, ladybug,” his father greeted JJ.
“Hi, Wes,” she said, smiling as she always did.
Baz watched the interaction between the three of them.The way his parents doted on her.The way she looked up at them with so much love in her eyes.Since he was close to his mother and father, he was glad that they’d taken to her so well.Then again, this was JJ.He couldn’t imagine anyone meeting her and not being completely infatuated.He had been.From the first time they were introduced.
“Want to get some coffee, kid?”his father asked him.
Baz looked at JJ.
“Go,” she said.“If Dr.Tinder’s right, you’re gonna need it.”
He walked over and kissed her on the forehead, then looked at his mother.“Text me if the doctor comes in.”
“Of course.Now get.”
Baz glanced at JJ one last time before reluctantly leaving the room.If it were up to him, he would’ve been glued to her side from now until the end of time.After the last harrowing ordeal—when she was kidnapped in broad daylight right in the heart of Coyote Ridge—he’d felt absolutely helpless and terrified he would never see her again, so he wasn’t keen on being away from her.He figured that might wear off.One day.But that day wasn’t today.
“You look tired, boy,” Wes said as they walked the hall toward the cafeteria.
“The chair’s not as comfortable as you might think,” he admitted.
“You could sleep in the same bed with JJ.”
He could, yes.That was within the rules.With that said, the idea of sleeping in the same bed and having people traipsing in and out was creepy as fuck.
“I’ll pass.”
“They told you they’d bring in a cot.”
Yes, they had.And he probably should’ve taken them up on it, but it was weird enough sleeping in a chair in a giant hospital room that looked very little like a hospital room.
“Have the contractions increased?”
Baz shook his head.“Still consistently inconsistent.But her cervix is dilated.”
“Well, I think today’s a great birthday for my grandbabies.”
Baz smiled.
“Did I mention Jules had me fix up one of the extra rooms so you’ve got a nursery when you come visit?”
“Dad, that’s not necessary.You only live thirty minutes away.”
“Maybe, but if it makes your mother happy…”
