Picnic in Someday Valley (Honey Creek #2)(61)

“I held your hand? I thought you were holding mine.” When he studied her eyes and pale cheeks, it struck him that she looked tired, very tired.

He reached over and pushed the call button. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “It’s just hot in here.”

The Lanes kept talking to the baby as the nurse ran Kerrie’s vitals. One look from the nurse told Pecos that something was wrong.

The nurse turned to the grandparents, who were now trying out names that their grandchild would call them. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to take baby Smith to the nursery. Time for a nap. If you’ll wait in the waiting room, we also would like to examine your daughter.”

“What’s wrong?” Mr. Lane demanded.

“We’re not sure anything is. That’s why we are examining her. Please step out. The doctor is on his way.”

Pecos moved to Kerrie’s side and took her hand. He could hear Mr. Lane asking, “Why’s he staying in the room? We’re her parents.”

For once Pecos turned all the world off as he squeezed Kerrie’s hand, trying to push strength into her. She’d closed her eyes and he could see her blood pressure dropping on the monitor. “I love you,” he whispered. “I always have and I always will. Remember that, wife. I might be just your best friend, but you are my life.”

Two more nurses and the doctor circled through the room poking her, examining her while they whispered among themselves.

Kerrie must have drifted to sleep because she let go of his hand. The loss of her touch made him feel hollow. Without her, there wasn’t much of him.

Finally, the doctor put his hand on Pecos’s shoulder. “You need to step out for a few minutes. Go talk to that baby of yours. She’s probably wondering where her daddy is. We’ll be finished here soon and will come get you when Kerrie wakes up.”

“Is Kerrie all right?”

“Yes. She’ll be fine.”

Pecos saw the uncertainty in his eyes.

As if sleepwalking, Pecos left the room. He turned his back on the waiting room and headed straight to the nursery. His baby was the only one there. An aide sat at a desk doing paperwork as she watched over baby Smith.

Pressing his hands against the glass, Pecos watched his baby move in her sleep. She was so perfect. She was his daughter, for sure. She had her fist up, ready to fight.

“Your mama is going to name you today,” he whispered. “She said when you look at her, when your eyes meet hers, according to her, she’ll know your name.”

Pecos heard his words echoing off the entry hallway. “It doesn’t matter what she names you, I’m going to call you Button. I have a feeling you’re going to be beautiful, just like your mother.”

The need to talk to someone was so great he felt like his emotions might explode. “Your mom’s going to be fine. The doctor said so. Just a complication. Giving birth is hard.” Pecos smiled. “I bet it wasn’t easy on you either. There for a while I was wondering if you were ever going to come out to meet us.”

Pecos pushed a tear off his face. “Don’t think nothing about me crying, Button. My eyes just leak now and then. Sometimes just because I’m so happy.”

He closed his hand into a fist against the frame of the viewing window. “Nothing is going to happen to her. I won’t let it. If God tries to take her, I’ll make Him take me instead. You need her a lot more than you do me.”

He stared down at Button. “I don’t see how I can love something so small so fast. I thought I’d never love anyone but Kerrie, then you popped out and all it took was one look.”

A hand touched his shoulder, startling Pecos.

“Now you know why I hate you so much,” Kerrie’s father said. “Someday this little angel is going to grow up and want to marry some bum of a boy like you. He won’t be good enough for her.”

Pecos saw tears in Lane’s eyes, as his grip grew tighter on Pecos’s shoulder.

“I just pray he’ll be half the man you are, son.”

He watched Mr. Lane walk away, wiping his eyes as he headed back to the waiting room.

“You see that, Button? I think I’m growing on the old guy.” Pecos thought he saw the baby smile at him. Probably just gas. “You’ll have him wrapped around your little finger in no time.”

A nurse stepped out of Kerrie’s room and waved him in.

Pecos kissed his fingertips and pressed them against the glass. “See you soon, Button.”

He ran down the hallway, but the nurse didn’t let him in. “She’s resting. Nothing to worry about. Just a minor thing that could have been a problem. The doctor said he’ll explain the procedure when she wakes up.” The nurse gave him a stern look. “Do not wake her up. We’ll keep a close eye on her, but I’ve watched you two and I know she would want you close. So, I guess you can stay.”

“Can you go tell her parents she’s all right? I just want to be with Kerrie.”

“I’ll tell them and ask them to come back during visiting hours.”

Pecos stepped back in Kerrie’s room and sat in a chair beside her bed. “I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere. We’ve got Button to raise.”

After a few minutes of listening to the sounds of machines, he rested his head next to her pillow and fell asleep.