Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels

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СКАЧАТЬ warned herself to be careful. “Of course, what little I know. I was referring to the nurses’ enthusiasm for his, um, appearance.”

      “You’ve heard the roar of appreciation?” Annabelle asked with a grin. “Mind you, I don’t think he compares to our Dr. Beaumont.”

      “Of course not. You’ve got a crush on him.”

      Annabelle’s cheeks flushed bright red. “Don’t be ridiculous. But I can’t help but admire him.”

      Bri let her get away with that white lie. She worried about her friend. Annabelle was only twenty-three and Zach Beaumont was thirty-six. But who was she to pretend to be an expert about relationships? She was going to be a single mother.

      “I doubt that anyone will complain about having another single doctor around here. Especially a handsome one.”

      “You think he’s handsome?” Annabelle asked, her expression alert.

      Bri struggled to remain calm. “I was speaking generally, friend. No one seven months pregnant with triplets is going to get excited about a man. They cause these situations. And then walk away from them,” she couldn’t help adding.

      “You’ve never said who—” Annabelle began and then broke off.

      “No I haven’t. And I won’t. The man involved didn’t want any future with me. These are my babies. No one else’s.”

      “I know. I’m sorry.” There was a moment of silence, as if Annabelle was remembering the past seven months. “How’s Maggie?”

      Bri sighed. “She’s fine. Not pregnant.” Her sister-in-law, Adam’s wife, had been trying to get pregnant for some time. Her inability to conceive had put a real strain on her marriage. When Bri had announced her pregnancy, however, Maggie had been as supportive as a real sister. Just thinking about the courage and generosity Maggie had shown brought tears to her eyes.

      “It’s unfair,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

      “Maybe things will change soon,” Annabelle said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

      Bri forced her eyes open and pasted a smile on her face. “Oh, it’s those hormones, Annabelle. You know how those affect us expectant mothers.”

      “Yeah. And anyway, Madeline’s a miracle worker, so probably Maggie will have a baby before we know it.”

      Bri had believed that at first. Madeline Sheppard was one of the fertility experts at the McCallum Multiple Birth Wing. But so far, there were no results. Bri feared for Adam’s marriage. Maggie seemed unable to think of anything else.

      The door opened again and another friend, neonatal nurse April Sullivan rushed in. Instead of speaking to Bri, she looked at Annabelle. “Is she all right?”

      Bri chuckled. “You’d think you’d ask me, silly,” she said, reaching out for April’s hand.

      “She seems to be okay,” Annabelle answered anyway.

      “Okay, now that I’ve had a professional opinion, I’ll ask you,” April said to Bri, with a grin at Annabelle.

      “Oh, you nurses! I’m fine, April. What are you doing here?”

      “Well, word has flown all over the hospital that you fainted. You know how excited we all are about your babies. So I took a break to come make sure you’re all right.”

      “Not all over the hospital?”

      Both ladies nodded.

      “Oh, no, that means I’ll have a lot of visitors.”

      As if on cue, the door burst open and a handsome man, with hazel eyes just like Bri’s, burst into the room. “Are you all right?” he demanded, ignoring her other guests.

      Bri grinned at her younger—by three minutes—brother. “Of course I am. I just tried to hurry too much. How did you hear?”

      Though he’d at least asked her first, Caleb now looked at the other two women. “I was running an errand for Dad. Is she telling the truth?”

      “Caleb!” Bri protested, still grinning. It wouldn’t have been the first time she’d tried to con her brothers, and they both knew it.

      “As far as we can tell. Abby was there, and she seemed to think everything was fine,” April said.

      “All right,” Caleb said with a sigh.

      Bri relaxed again, glad her brother was satisfied. Until he spoke again.

      “I’ll be back around five to take you home. I don’t want you driving anymore. I’ll bring you to work each day and take you home.”

      “You’ll do no such thing. I am not an invalid. I’m pregnant, that’s all. I’m perfectly capable of driving a car.”

      “Bri, you’ll do as you’re told,” he ordered in his sternest voice. It wasn’t the first time he’d tried to give Bri orders.

      “I’ll do as my doctor orders me, dear brother, and Abby assures me I should continue to lead a normal life until she says differently.”

      “But I did tell you to rest, didn’t I?” Abby said from behind Caleb. “How can you rest with the room full of people?”

      “Abby, don’t tell me you’ve taken time to come back and check on me,” Bri protested.

      “Yes, and it’s a good thing. Everybody out. I want my patient to rest. Lisa is going to bring you your lunch, Bri. I don’t want you traipsing down to the cafeteria. In fact, I want you in that chair or on the sofa from now until two when you’ll have to make an appearance at the welcoming party.”

      “But Abby, I’ll need to make sure my directions are being carried out before it starts,” Bri protested.

      “Send Lisa. I mean it, Bri. Either you cooperate or I put you in that hospital bed.”

      Bri sighed and looked at her brother and friends. “Okay, guys, I guess you’d better go. Oh, Abby, tell Caleb I can still drive myself to work,” she asked hurriedly as her brother was turning toward the door.

      He paused and stared at Abby.

      After looking at first Caleb and then Bri, Abby said, “For now, she can still drive herself to work.”

      Caleb frowned, but gave an abrupt nod and left the room. The two nurses followed, with offers to do anything for Bri thrown over their shoulders.

      Finally, with only Abby in the room, the doctor moved to her side and picked up her wrist.

      “Annabelle already checked my pulse.”

      “Good for her,” Abby said mildly, continuing to watch her wristwatch.

      Bri shook her head in disgust. “Well?”

      “Your pulse is fine. But I do have a question for you.”

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