Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(54)

Jack had some premonitions. His patience was going to be severely tested for the next several months. He was not going to be having much sex. John Stone, her OB, was going to think this was hilarious. He might have to kill John.

“Well, Melinda, you little devil,” John said, grinning.

She rested the back of her hand over her eyes while John and Jack studied the ultrasound, examining that little heartbeat in a barely moving mass. John pointed out small buds where arms and legs would be growing.

“When was your last period?” John asked her.

She took the hand off her eyes and glared at her husband. “Um, she hasn’t exactly ever had one.”

“Huh?” John said.

“That I know of,” Jack said with a shrug.

“A year and a half ago, all right?” she said crisply. “Approximately. I’ve been nursing. I’ve been pregnant. I’ve been cast into hell and will live out my days with sore boobs and fat ankles.”

“Whew. Going right for the mood swings, huh? Okay, looks like about eight weeks to me. That’s an educated guess. I’m thinking mid to late May. How does that sound?”

“Oh, duckie,” she answered.

“You’ll have to excuse my wife,” Jack said. “She was counting on still being infertile. This might cause her to finally give up that illusion.”

“I told you if you made one joke—”

“Melinda,” Jack said, his expression stern, “I was not joking.”

“I would just like to know how this is possible!” she ranted. “David is like a miracle pregnancy, and before I even get him off the breast, I’ve got another one cooking.”

“Ever hear the saying, pregnancy cures infertility?” John asked her.

“Yes!” she said, disgusted.

“You know what I’m talking about—probably better than me. I guess you didn’t think it would apply to you, huh?”

“What are you talking about?” Jack asked John.

“A lot of conditions that cause infertility are made better by pregnancy—endometriosis being one. Often when you finally score that first miraculous conception, the rest follow more easily. And when you change partners, you change chemistry. You’re going to want to keep these things in mind,” he said. And he grinned. “You want to continue nursing?” John asked Mel.

She got tears in her eyes. “I wasn’t quite ready to quit,” she said.

“Mel was going to breast-feed right up to basic training,” Jack said.

“I thought he’d be my only baby and I didn’t want to rush him,” she said, a tear spilling over. She got a very pathetic look on her face.

On that note, Jack leaned down and scooped her up from behind, holding her. He had a unique sense for when it would work and when it would get him smacked. Right at that moment, she needed a little human contact, support from her man.

“Then how about let’s evaluate your vitamin program, add some supplements and maybe you can get David down to a couple of meaningful feedings a day—the ones that comfort you and him most. You’d better add lots of water to your regimen—you have to keep the fetus in fluids, too.” John grabbed her hand. “Easy does it, Mel. You’re in good health, you had a very successful delivery and at one time you would have said this was the answer to your prayers. Try not to make Jack feel like shit.”

That night, lying in her husband’s arms, she asked, “Did I make you feel like shit?”

“Only a little bit. It’s not like I tricked you. As I recall, you were an incredibly willing accomplice.” He sighed. “Incredibly.”

“I’m just in shock. Stunned. Not quite ready.”

“I know. Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are pregnant? You shine. There’s light around you. Your eyes are brighter, your cheeks rosy, you smile and feel your belly all the time—”

“You smile and feel my belly all the time….”

“I can’t believe I’m getting all this,” he said wistfully. “You and a couple of kids. A few years ago I thought I’d be alone the rest of my life.”

“Do you know how old you’re going to be when David graduates from college?”

“What’s the difference? Does Sam look old to you? I think I can hang in there.”

“Snip, snip,” she said.

He rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. “Everyone around me is in a mood,” he said.

“Is that so?”

“Well, there’s Preacher—he’s pretty prickly when it’s not ovulation day, which you might have warned me about….”

“That would have been confidential.”

“Well, not anymore. I think Paige might be a little put out that he told all the boys he was staying home to have sex.”

“You think?” she asked, laughing in spite of herself.

“And Mike is past moody. I think that’s because my sister isn’t here—and believe me, I don’t know how to take that. I want Brie to be happy. It would be nice to have Mike happy, but not if he’s getting happy on Brie, if you get my drift. I’m celebrating, I’m celebrating,” he said before she could scold him. “And this little surprise has had an effect on your mood, if you don’t mind me saying so.”