“I’ll make the coffee in the kitchen,” he said. “Then we can go for a walk before I open the store. In fact, Enid might beat me to it today.”

“Should we act as if I just got here?”

“Why do that? I’m kind of proud you stayed the night. Course, I don’t intend to divulge, but I don’t see the need to make up any stories.”

“Good. I prefer to be honest and I’m not at all embarrassed, nor do I have regrets. In fact, Mr. Sullivan, you’re just about the biggest surprise of my life.”

“How’s that?” he asked.

“The last thing I imagined I’d find here was a man. And not a man I was so fond of. And yet...”

“Well, girl, you surprised me, too. I thought I was prolly long past getting together with a woman. And one who can scare the bejesus out of me, at that!”

“And I like this place. You do need a new mattress, however...”

“It sinks in all the right spots!” he said.

“We’ll go together to pick one out. It’s not quite an emergency but a sinking mattress isn’t good for you, either. Will that be all right? That’s me, asserting myself into your space.”

“Woman, you can do anything you want to this space.”

They each had a cup of coffee, let Beau out to water the grass, then Sully grabbed the leash and asked the dog if he wanted to lead the way. “He won’t know what to make of this. I don’t usually walk him before breakfast.”

“I like a morning walk,” she told him. “It sets me up for the day, but normally I walk alone and spend the time thinking of what I’m going to write. It takes me a long time to get to it and I’m thinking the whole time. But today after we have a walk and some breakfast, I’m going home. I know Leigh is going to work this afternoon so maybe I’ll catch her before she goes to the clinic. I want to hear about her dinner date.”

“Think she’ll tell you?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said with a laugh. “One look at her face and I’ll know.”

“And will you tell Leigh about your dinner date?”

“There’s one thing you should know about our grown children. They are never too old to put their hands over their ears and cry La-La-La-La-La to drown out what is outrageous to them.”

“Well, it is pretty outrageous, when you think about it,” he said. “At least for me, at my age. Helen, you must realize, I don’t know how much time I have left.”

“Neither do I,” she said.

“Surely ten years more than I have. You’re just a pup. I bet you don’t even collect Social Security yet!”

“I’m holding off on that a few more years. I want to tell you something. My mother passed away at the age of fifty. I wasn’t even thirty. She had cancer and had been fighting it for a few years. My father was quite a bit older than my mother and he followed pretty quickly. There is not exactly a history of long lives in my family. But I’m said to be in good health despite taking medicine for both cholesterol and blood pressure. I have no guarantees, either. But what I really want you to understand is we could be thirty and there would be no guarantees, don’t you see? So, I’m for living each day fully and happily. Beyond that, I have no ideas. Well, one idea. If I’ve only got four years, as an example, I don’t think I want to live those four years thinking about the end.”

“I think that’s very wise,” he said. “There is one truth you should know. I was much better in bed when I was thirty-five.”

She laughed loudly. “So was I.”

Don’t judge each day by the harvest that you reap but by the seeds that you plant.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

12

IT WAS EARLY in the day and the urgent care waiting room held a few occupants when Sierra Boyle waddled in, her fist pushing into the small of her back. Behind her, Connie was holding one-year-old Sam on his hip.

Sierra went to the counter, which was manned by Gretchen. “Hi, Gretchen,” she said, signing in. “I have a terrible backache—I might’ve strained it lifting Sam. I can’t take anything. I’m having the baby in three days. Can I see Dr. Culver, please?”

“Sure,” Gretchen said. “It’ll be a bit of a wait.”

“That’s okay. She’s my only option.”

“Have a seat,” Gretchen said.

“Thanks, but I’m better just walking.”

It was only a few minutes before Eleanor happened into the reception area and saw Sierra. Eleanor looked at the sign-in sheet, spoke to Gretchen, then went to get Sierra and took her to an exam room. Connie and Sam followed.

“Jump up on the exam table,” Eleanor said. “Okay, no jumping. Here, let me help. Then I’ll get the doctor.”

“I’m sorry to be a bother but I want good behavior points—I didn’t take Advil.”

“Five stars for you. I’ll be right back.”

It was only a minute before Leigh came into the room. “What’s up?”

“Just a backache, but it’s so terrible I hardly slept.”

“No one slept,” Connie put in.

Leigh raised the back of the exam table a bit. “Can I get you to lean back, Sierra. I just want to give the baby a little listen.”

“I’m having her in three days,” Sierra said. “The doctor is going to induce me.”

Leigh was busy with her stethoscope listening to Sierra’s heart, then listening to her big, round belly, then touching Sierra’s belly. “Eleanor, can I get a blood pressure here,” she asked. She looked into Sierra’s eyes and said, “Not three days, Sierra. You’re in labor.”

“But I’m not having pains!”

“You’re having the dreaded beast—back labor. Does it come and go?”

“Not anymore!” she said. “It’s been one big pain forever.”

“I’d tell you to go straight to the hospital, but I think I should have a look,” Leigh said. “Connie, take Sam out to Gretchen and help me get Sierra out of these jeans.”

“Holy crap, Sierra,” he said. Instead of doing as he was told, he got out his cell phone and punched in numbers one-handed. “Rafe, come and get Sam at the urgent care. Sierra’s in labor. Gretchen will have him. Can you hurry?”

“He’s right across the street. He’s working today,” Connie said to Sierra. “Don’t do anything till I get back.”

“I’m not going to do anything,” Sierra said to Leigh.

Leigh was pulling on her gloves. “Push down these jeans and I’ll pull them off,” Leigh said.

“Pressure is elevated. One-thirty over ninety,” Eleanor said. Then Eleanor and Leigh each pulled on one pant leg and the jeans slid off.

“What is going on here?” Sierra demanded. “I have a backache!”

“You are in labor, I swear,” Leigh said, smiling. “In fact, I’ve only run across this twice before. In the ER both times. Raise your knees for me, please.”

The second she lifted her knees, she felt the warm gush of fluid escape and flow onto the floor. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” she said.

“Towels,” Leigh said calmly, and Eleanor threw a couple on the floor at Leigh’s feet. “You couldn’t have stopped that if you tried,” she told Sierra. “I’m going to check you for dilation, Sierra.”

“The doctor said I’m a little dilated,” she reported just as Leigh slid a gloved hand into her birth canal.

She withdrew the hand pretty quickly. “And now you’re a lot dilated. I’m afraid we’re having a baby, sweetheart. I’m sorry the facilities aren’t the most comfortable for that. You’re fully dilated and it’s too late to go anywhere, even in the ambulance.”

Connie stepped into the room. “What’s happening?” he asked.

“Baby’s happening,” Leigh said. “We have one bed. It’s not a hospital bed but it’s more comfortable than this. Your wife is past walking, Connie...”

“I’ve got this,” he said, lifting her up, bare bottom hanging out. “Show the way.”

Leigh noticed that Connie gently laid her on the bed. It was just a single bed, something they used for patients who had to lie down for a while because they were weak or faint or waiting for pickup after a procedure and it was softer and safer than an exam table.

Connie was instantly on his knees beside Sierra’s head. And now that the baby was moving down very quickly for a first baby, his wife was crying out. Connie was coaching her on breathing.

“Eleanor, tell Gretchen we’re going to want an ambulance with a baby transport.”

“Oh God, she’s coming!” Sierra cried, then she was lifted up by her urge to push.

“Go ahead,” Leigh said. “Bear down. Let’s see what we’ve got.” Then, “Okay, stop and pant. Ahh...nice. Can we get towels and blankets and an emergency setup for a delivery! Chop chop! Take a breath, Sierra. Deep, calming breath.”

“God,” Sierra said. “First I had no idea I was pregnant. Then I had no idea I was in labor. I have to stop doing this!”

Leigh laughed softly. “You’re just doing it the old-fashioned way.”

Sierra started to cry.

“Pain, baby?” Connie asked.

“I’ve been in pain all night! And I was so looking forward to that epidural!”

“I have a feeling this isn’t going to last much longer,” Leigh said. “You ready to push again? Connie, can you give her a little help? Lift her so she can bear down. Sierra, grab your thighs.”

Sierra growled, a loud animallike sound. Then she collapsed back on the bed. She had five more of those hearty and noisy pushes before the head was out.

“Almost done,” Leigh said.

Gretchen stuck her head in. “We have an ambulance, stretcher and baby transport.”