Forever Burning, page 3
“I don’t want my hoo-ha flopping out in the wind for everybody to see,” Aniyah whispered.
Colton turned around, put his fingers into his mouth, and let out a sharp whistle. “Everyone to the head. Move!”
The entire reception shuffled to the side of the tent behind Aniyah’s head.
“Thank you,” Aniyah said, still looking fearful. Then her eyes went wide and she squeezed DeAndre and Ahmed’s hands so hard that DeAndre looked as if he would pass out. Ahmed didn’t blink.
“Get the towel and clamp ready,” Jace ordered.
Colton had the towel at the ready and Flint moved to grab both the suction and the clamp. A firefighter was always prepared.
“Head is out,” Jace said with a smile. “Give me one more push to get the shoulders out. This one is built like DeAndre. I think you’ll have a boxer here.”
“You can do it, baby. Let’s meet our cub. I love you so much,” DeAndre told her full of love.
“You are a beautiful warrior and you will push and push now. Deep breath,” Ahmed ordered as if he were a drill sergeant. “And push with all you have as you exhale. Now! Push!”
Colton was at the ready as Jace guided the baby out and into his hands. Jace turned slightly and placed the baby right into Colton’s hands. Flint moved in and handed the clamp to Jace before turning to get the surgical scissors. Colton looked down at the scrunched face and kicking legs of the newborn and smiled as he wiped him down.
“It’s a healthy boy,” Jace announced and the town went crazy.
Aniyah cried. DeAndre cried. Ahmed sniffed.
“But you know what’s next? The smaller one,” Jace said and that sent the town into a tizzy. No one knew Aniyah was pregnant with twins. Jace turned to Flint. “This baby is much smaller. We might need immediate transport to the hospital.”
“Colton brought the chief’s SUV. It has sirens. I’ll go get it and bring it closer.” Flint handed the tools off to Nolan Flynn, the part-time firefighter who also owned a feed store in town. He and his family had a huge cattle farm. Nolan had probably delivered more babies than anyone here. They just happened to moo.
There was a calm before the next storm. Colton wrapped the baby boy in a blanket and carried him up to DeAndre and Aniyah. Happy tears ran down their faces as he placed the boy in Aniyah’s arms.
“There’s my big cub,” Aniyah said with a look on her face that was pure contentment and love. DeAndre kissed his wife and ran a finger over the chubby cheeks of his son.
“At first we didn’t know there was a twin,” Jace whispered to Colton. “We didn’t know if Baby B would make it. Baby A was so much larger and taking so much more of the nutrients. However, at the last ultrasound, Baby A looked to be seven pounds while Baby B was around three and a half pounds. Baby B is hanging in there. We just don’t know how strong they are.”
The Rose sisters, the three elderly women who ran Keeneston and had started the betting books, all approached and kissed Aniyah and DeAndre and cooed over the baby. Abby and Dylan, Ahmed’s daughter and son-in-law, who were both good friends with the Drews, were also there.
Colton looked up to find Cady and Conley standing side by side at the ready if either he or Jace needed anything. She was smiling at Aniyah and Colton was hit with a vision of Cady holding a little girl who looked just like her but with his hazel eyes.
“You okay? Are you going to faint on me?” Jace asked in a harsh whisper, drawing Colton from his vision.
“Nah, I’m good.”
About fifteen minutes after Baby A was born, Aniyah groaned in pain again. Bridget, Ahmed’s wife, swooped in and took their newborn son so Aniyah could focus on Baby B. Ahmed took one of Aniyah’s hands, DeAndre the other, and with a worried look, DeAndre watched Jace and Colton get to work.
Colton grabbed a new towel, Nolan got the second clamp and surgical scissors out of their sterile wrapping, and everyone waited. DeAndre was clearly concerned. The tight lines around Jace’s lips told Colton he was concerned too, and that scared him. Flint had the SUV backed up to the tent ready to rush them to the hospital. Aniyah and DeAndre had gone through so much to get pregnant and while they had the joy of the baby boy being born, everyone knew that this next baby could be in danger.
“Sugar bear,” Aniyah said with a gasp. “What if—?”
Tears threatened DeAndre’s eyes and he just squeezed his wife’s hand.
“We’ve got you, Aniyah. Let’s meet your second baby,” Colton said with as much confidence in his voice as possible.
Aniyah turned her anxious face to Ahmed. “It’s okay, daughter of my heart. Your baby will be well,” Ahmed said with such surety no one could dare argue with him.
“Let’s meet them. Push for me,” Jace ordered with a faux smile. He couldn’t hide the worry either.
Colton’s eyes didn’t leave Jace’s hands as Aniyah pushed and a small head appeared. There were no cries as Aniyah panted and then pushed again. Jace caught the baby and placed it in Colton’s hands. It was so small and it wasn’t moving.
“Why don’t I hear crying?” Aniyah asked, pushing up to look between her legs where Nolan was handing the clamp to Jace.
Jace didn’t wait to ask DeAndre to cut the cord. He clipped it and grabbed the suction from Nolan. Colton knew why. The baby’s lips were tinted blue. The small tubing was placed into the baby’s mouth and Jace sucked on his end.
“Do you have a pulse?” Jace asked Colton between sucks and spits of fluid.
Colton pressed on the small chest near the heart. “I have a pulse, but it’s fading.”
“Let’s go. Jack, call it in to the hospital.”
“My baby!” Aniyah’s pain was heartbreaking.
“We’ve got her,” Colton told her. “I promise.”
“A girl?” DeAndre whispered. “Save my baby girl!”
Chapter 2
Colton didn’t hesitate. He knew what to do. He wrapped the baby in his arms and ran for his SUV with Jace hot on his heels. Jack was already on the phone with the hospital. Conley was picking Aniyah up from the lounger as a group of people raced to Sheriff Matt Walz’s cruiser. They’d be right behind Flint.
Flint took one look at them running, turned on the lights and siren, and already had the SUV in gear as Colton and Jace leaped into the back seat. Flint floored it the second the door was closed.
Jace had his stethoscope out and was listening to the small baby in Colton’s arms. He shook his head and placed his fingers on the baby’s chest. “Starting chest compressions. You breathe.”
Colton fell back on his training. Jace pressed on the little chest and Colton breathed for her. They didn’t speak. They moved in seamless teamwork thanks to familiarity that bordered on telepathy that came from growing up together. They didn’t need to talk.
Flint, the best damn ambulance driver around, got them to the hospital in under fifteen minutes—about half the time it normally took.
A team of doctors met them at the door as Flint slid to a stop. Colton held the newborn tightly in his arms and bolted from the car as Jace delivered all the information to the doctors in a matter of seconds.
Then the baby was taken from him, an oxygen mask placed on her, and the team went running with Jace following, calling out more information.
It took a moment for Colton to realize Flint was right next to him. Flint was from Louisville and stood the same height as Colton. Their main difference was Flint’s midnight black hair and his complete oblivion to female attention.
“Her lips weren’t blue anymore,” Flint said quietly. “That’s good.”
Babies and children were the worst calls any firefighters could get. The fact that this was his friend’s baby? “Damn!” Colton yelled as Matt’s cruiser slid to a stop behind them.
Colton took a breath. He had to be in control for Aniyah and DeAndre. Colton moved to grab a wheelchair for Aniyah. Ahmed got out of the front seat with the baby boy in his arms. DeAndre ran around the back of the cruiser and reached inside to get Aniyah, who looked as if she were a zombie.
“My little girl?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
“Is alive and with a team of doctors. I’ll take you to her.” Colton watched as DeAndre and Aniyah leaned on each other in their time of need. It was heartbreakingly beautiful to witness.
Cars began to line the ER drop-off. All of Keeneston had followed, but Colton had to get Aniyah and DeAndre to their baby. DeAndre helped his wife into the wheelchair and Colton took off with long strides into the emergency room.
The nurse was waiting for them. “Are you the baby’s parents?”
“Yes,” Aniyah answered.
The nurse looked back at Ahmed and Colton. “I’m sorry, family only.”
“He’s my father,” Aniyah answered instantly, reaching for Ahmed, and not giving the nurse the chance to question their different races and complete lack of common characteristics. The town had been Aniyah’s family, but everyone knew Ahmed had a soft spot for her and treated her the same as his own children. “And he’s holding our newborn son.”
Colton turned the wheelchair over to DeAndre and stepped back. This wasn’t his place anymore. He got the baby to the hospital alive. He’d done his job. It was hard to step back though.
“Right this way then,” the nurse said, taking off at a brisk pace down the hallway.
Colton stared down the hall as the double doors closed. He heard people rushing into the ER lobby, but he kept his eyes on the door. All he could see were the blue lips and the tiny body of Aniyah’s daughter.
A gentle hand squeezed his arm. Then he felt an arm wrap around him and the scent of floral, amber, and musk reached him. He knew that scent. He looked down and found Cady with one arm around him, her head resting on his upper arm, and her other hand squeezing his arm.
“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. It has to be hard, working to save a newborn. Are you okay?” Cady asked, still holding on to him.
Damn, she felt good. She felt . . . like home. Safe. Warm. And a little exciting.
“Her color was improving. We did CPR the whole way,” Colton said, trying to ignore how good it felt to have Cady rubbing his back.
It was then he looked around the waiting room. It was full. Every single person who’d been at the wedding was in the waiting room. It was overflowing. King Dirar of the island nation of Rahmi, in all his royal glory, was at the front desk demanding, by royal order, to be informed of how Aniyah and her daughter were doing. Father Ben was leading a prayer. Aniyah and DeAndre’s friends were pacing. Someone had collected her aunt and grandmother, who were now sitting with the Rose sisters. Everyone was waiting and hoping for the best.
“How long has everyone been here?” Colton asked.
“Twenty minutes. You haven’t moved since we got here,” Cady told him.
Colton looked behind him. His mother, Annie, and his father, Cade, were watching him. Landon was sitting holding hands with his wife, pro-football coach, Kate. His sister, Sophie, was clutching her husband, Nash’s hand. Nash was second-in-command for the Ali Rahman royal family security team. The same team Ahmed had run before retiring.
“I can’t lose that baby. It’s Aniyah’s and DeAndre’s. They’ve wanted children so badly,” Colton whispered to Cady. “They want her so badly.”
“And you have given that little girl a chance. You kept her alive and got her to the hospital.”
Colton leaned into Cady’s warmth. He gripped her hand as the double doors he’d been staring at opened. Ahmed walked out. He smiled and Colton closed his eyes and squeezed Cady’s hand.
“The baby is alive,” Ahmed said. Immediately clapping and cheering rang out from the ER waiting room. “She’s three pounds, fourteen ounces. Now that her lungs are clear, she’s letting everyone hear it, especially her brother. She’ll be staying in the hospital for at least a week, Aniyah and her son, too. But they will be fine and home soon.”
Relief coursed through Colton and he turned to Cady. In the excitement he hugged her to him and kissed the top of her head. Her hand was at his waist. The other was on his stomach. Damn, she felt good against him.
“You did this. You saved her. How are you holding up? That must have taken a toll on you.” Cady asked him as she hugged him tightly.
“Colton! Our hero!” Jasmine, one of the Keeneston Belles, cried out.
Colton winced. He might have slept with her last year. He thought it had been a one-time thing, but she had other ideas. Jasmine came up, pried Cady from him, and plastered herself against his chest. “Pooh bear, I’m so proud of you. I can’t wait to get you home tonight and show you how what a hero you are. With my tongue.”
Too late. The image of Pooh was in his mind and all interest was gone. He hated Pooh. The bear had mitten hands. It wasn’t right. Mittens. On a bear. How could he climb a tree that way?
Colton stepped back from Jasmine, but it was too late. Cady was already walking over to Willa and Tilly, who were his cousins Porter’s and Parker’s wives. Colton frowned. He felt something he’d never felt before. Loss. He didn’t like when Cady had walked away and left him.
“Excuse me, Jas,” Colton’s father, Cade Davies, said to Jasmine. “I need to talk to my son.”
“Okay.” Jas stood there smiling and not moving.
“Alone,” his father told her.
“Oh! Of course. I’ll be right over there, Pooh Bear.” Jasmine walked off with a sway of her hips before looking over her shoulder and giving him a wink.
“Thanks, Dad.”
His father squeezed his shoulder. “How are you doing? I know it can be hard rescuing a baby, especially a baby belonging to a friend.”
“I’m relieved.”
“I saw Cady over here before Jasmine interrupted.” Colton glanced at his father. His mother, Annie, had been dropping marriage hints for years, but his father had never gotten involved. “I’ve always liked her.”
“Are you trying to set me up?” Colton asked as he noticed his mother, standing with her best friends and sisters-in-law, watching him with interest.
His father chuckled and slapped Colton’s shoulder. “Ha! You know I love you, son, but Cady is too good for you. She built a freaking distillery by herself. She’s smart, determined, kind, and cute as can be. Plus, you made her the mayor of Friendsville years ago. You lost your chance there. There’s no way she’d date you now.” His father laughed again and shook his head as if this was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad.”
His father just laughed harder. “You and Cady,” he said like it as a punchline to a joke as he walked away to join his brothers.
Jasmine rushed back toward him, but his mind was on Cady. He glanced over to see her talking to her two closest friends with a huge smile on her face. She was too good for him. But that didn’t mean he would give up. But, give up what? Something changed tonight. It wasn’t only the dress. He’d seen her in dresses before. They’d been to how many weddings? It was just . . . something. Like he’d been blinded by badge bunnies and now he could see clearly now. He was thirty-two years old. Maybe that’s something that changed him, too. Looking at the Belles had been a fun distraction with no thoughts of the future. He’d seen Sophie marry Nash and have little Emersyn. Then Landon had married his soulmate, Kate, and were blissfully happy. His closest cousins, Porter, Parker, and Jace, along with close friends, Ariana and Kale, were all married now and so in love it was hard not to compare to his time dating the Belles. He found it empty in comparison.
When he looked at Cady though, he saw so much more. Her smile, her eyes, her intelligence, her grit, her laugh—they filled him.
“Excuse me?” a nurse asked, tapping him on the shoulder. “Are you Colton?”
“I am,” he answered, reluctant to take his gaze from Cady.
“The Drews said you were their cousin, once or twice removed, and would like to see you. Follow me.”
Colton followed the nurse to a private room where DeAndre was holding a small bundle in a pink blanket. Aniyah was holding her son in a blue blanket.
“We had to thank you for saving our little princess,” DeAndre said. “Would you like to hold her?”
Colton smiled as he approached the baby. There were so many Davies cousins and babies running around that he wasn’t the slightest bit hesitant to hold the baby girl. “I’d love to.”
Colton held out his arms and DeAndre placed the baby in his arms. She blinked up at him and made the cutest baby noises. “She’s beautiful. And she’s a strong one. Mark my words, she’s going to make her brother pay for taking up so much room. If I know anything, it’s how sneaky sisters can be when they want payback.” Colton thought of how his older sister would beat them up when they were little and made her mad. He laughed as he thought about it. This little girl was small but mighty. Just like Aniyah. Her brother didn’t stand a chance.
Chapter 3
Cady would not show the hurt of being tossed aside for a Belle. Again. When she’d moved to Keeneston, she’d kept to herself. She was using as little of her money as possible to restore the distillery that had stood empty since prohibition in the 1920s. Instead, she’d done as much of the work as possible by herself. She bushwhacked the property. She cut down trees. She plowed up the lawn around the buildings and planted new grass. She made paths and laid down the gravel. She cleaned every building, inside and out.
She had to hire plumbers, electricians, and contractors, but she helped where she could to save money. Plus, as the owner of a distillery, she needed to know how everything worked so if something went wrong, she could fix it.
What she didn’t do was go into Keeneston and try to flirt and pick up men. One embarrassing night when she tried, she’d ended up hitting on Father Ben, the Catholic priest, and that stopped all future flirting attempts. Plus, she didn’t have money to spare for lots of meals at the café. It was a lot of ramen soup and peanut butter sandwiches for her during those lean years.
