Brantley nodded and continued to pace.
He was glad Cindy was coming down.Between Jules, Cindy, and Iris, JJ would have all the motherly support she needed.He doubted it would take away the sting of not having her own mother there, but he only hoped she was too preoccupied to think about it.If it weren’t for the fact she would castrate him, Brantley would’ve confronted JJ’s parents a long time ago for how shitty they’d been.If and when JJ ever decided to do that herself, he vowed to be right by her side.
“I heard y’all hired a new guy,” Bryn said from her spot beside Reese.
Brantley looked at his sister.“How the hell’d you hear that?”
“I have my ear to the ground, little brother.You should know that by now.”She flashed a grin.“Any chance he’s single?”
“He is,” Brantley said, mirroring her self-satisfied grin.“He’s also gay.”
“Aw, man,” she drawled dramatically.“But seriously.Who is he?”
“First off, we haven’t hired him,” Brantley corrected because he knew how quickly rumors spread.“We offered him a job.If and when he accepts, then we’ve hired him.”
“Who is he?”Bryn repeated.
“Archer Halligan,” Reese told her.“He works with Simon Jennings.”
“The guy Violet’s datin’?”
“Yep.”
“Isn’t he a podcaster or something?”Bryn looked around the room as though she wasn’t sure who might answer.
“Havoc Your Way,” Holly said.“Best true-crime podcast ever.”
“I might have to give it a listen,” Bryn said.
“You really should,” Elana told her.“I started a few years ago…”
Brantley was grateful when they started chatting amongst themselves.He was too antsy to carry on a conversation, although he had no idea why.It wasn’t like he was going to be a father.Then again, he was going to be an uncle again.Since he’d been OCONUS—outside the continental US—for the births of his nieces and nephew, he hadn’t been able to be there.Now that he was firmly rooted in Coyote Ridge once again, he didn’t have to worry about a mission interrupting his personal life.
He rubbed the ring on his finger and looked at Reese, something he’d found himself doing quite a bit since they tied the knot a couple of weeks ago.He was still wrapping his head around the fact he was married to the man.Of all the things he’d done in his life, that was the most satisfying accomplishment to date.
The doors leading to the rooms opened, and a woman walked out.The room went silent for a moment until they realized she wasn’t coming to give them any information.
“It might be a while,” Bryn told them.“Tori was in labor with Eric for thirteen hours.”
“Fuck that,” Atticus mumbled under his breath.
Brantley laughed.
The next several hours crept by at a snail’s pace.Afternoon turned to evening and finally to dinnertime.People came and went from the waiting room.Some heading down for food, others taking a walk to wake up.Brantley ventured outside a couple of times, taking Tesha along with him so he’d have an excuse when he really just wanted some air.
As the minutes ticked by, his anxiety increased.There were plenty of reassurances going around, people sharing war stories about the births of people they knew.Evidently, a lengthy labor wasn’t abnormal.
“You want coffee?”Cindy asked, standing up to stretch.
Brantley could feel Reese’s gaze on him.“Nah.Thanks, though.”
He didn’t need the caffeine, and his husband liked to remind him of that.Stress and caffeine were the perfect combination to trigger a migraine, and that was the last thing he needed.Ever since the wedding, he’d suffered more than he had in a while.Enough that he’d gotten in to see his doctor last week.His bloodwork had come back fine, but the doctor suggested they start a once-a-month injection that should offer some relief.As for whether it would work for him, only time would tell.He had his fingers crossed.
“What about you?”Cindy asked Reese.
“No, but I’ll walk down with you.”
She beamed a smile at her son.“Perfect.”
