Part 8 (2/2)
The visitors each held Rosie, cooing over her shamelessly and declaring her the most beautiful child they'd ever seen.
Lacey couldn't help laughing-which hurt her poor tummy. ”Why is it people always say that new babies are beautiful? They haverashy red skin and squashed faces and this one even has a point on the top of her head.”
Edna was holding Rosie right then. She clucked her tongue and rocked back and forth. ”There, there,” she told the baby, ”don't you listen to Mommy. She knows you're beautiful. She just doesn't want you to become vain about it. And don't you worry about this point on your head. It won't be there for long.” She stroked Rosie's fuzzy head. ”Of course,Jobeth and Starr can't wait to meet you...”
Tess added, smiling at Lacey, ”We told them maybe tomorrow, after you've both had a little more time to recuperate.”
When they were through fussing over the baby, they handed her back to Lacey and enlistedLogan's aid in making up a grocery list. ”We're going into town this afternoon,” Edna said. ”We'll pick up whatever you need. Anything else we can do?”
Jenna, Lacey thought. She stopped her lazy rocking. Over eight hours since Rosie had come into the world and her Aunt Jenna didn't even know that the momentous event had occurred.
Lacey shot a swift, guilty glance atLogan-and then instantly wondered whatwas the matter with her . She was not going to put off sharing the wonderful news with her sister just because the mention of Jenna's name might causeLogana little emotional discomfort.
She spoke firmly. ”You can take me over to the main house for a few minutes. I need to make a phone call toFlorida, to give Jenna and Mack the news.”
Edna frowned in disapproval. ”But don't you have one of those portable phones?”
Lacey put Rosie on her shoulder, pushedherself from the rocker and drew her sore body up tall. ”I hate to use a cell phone. When it does work, it tends to cut in and out. And then there's an irritating delay on and off, too. It's no fun trying to talk on it, especially for something like this.Logan, if you'll take the baby, I'll just get into some clothes and then-”
Edna clucked her tongue and bustled over. ”You sit back down, young lady. You're in no shape to go traipsing down the road right yet.”
Logan and Tess stayed where they were, over by the counter. Neither of them spoke-Loganfor reasons Lacey didn't really want to examine. And Tess ... well, Lacey had told her aboutLogan's feelings for Jenna just yesterday. No doubt Tess didn't know what to say.
But Edna was blithely ignorant of the emotional minefield they were forging across here. ”Why don't you let Logan or Tess make the call for you right now? Then you can call again yourself in a day or two, when you're feeling up to it.”
Tess finally decided to speak up. ”Uh, Edna, I think Lacey wants to be the one to give her sister the big news.”
Lacey sent Zach's wife a grateful smile. ”Yes, I do. I want to tell her myself. And if you'll just drive me over there and then drive me back ... please. It won't take long. I'm sure I'm up to it.”
SheglancedLogan's way again. His face betrayed nothing-not the usual concern for her welfare, and certainly not whatever emotions all this talk about Jenna called up in him. ”Logan, do you think you could look after Rosie on your own for a little while?”
He did move then. He strode toward her. ”I think I can handle it.” His voice, like his expression, gave her nothing. But at least he wasn't trying to talk her out of it. He took Rosie from her, carefully laying a diaper and then the baby on his broad shoulder.
Lacey found herself staring at his fine, large hands, thinking how small-and how safe-their daughter looked cradled in them. Her love was an ache right then. It filled her with warmth-and it hurt, too. ”Great,” Lacey said brightly. ”I'll be dressed in a flash.” * * * Tess let Lacey use the phone in Zach's office, off the dining room, where she could close the door and enjoy complete privacy.
Her sister answered on the second ring. Just the sound of that soft, clear voice brought tears to Lacey's eyes.
”h.e.l.lo?”
”Jen. It's me.”
”Lace. h.e.l.lo.”
Lacey closed her eyes, picturing her big sister's gorgeous wide-open smile. n.o.body smiled quite like Jenna. n.o.body in the world.
Lacey said, ”So tell me. How are you feeling?”
Jenna laughed. ”Great. Considering I'm as big as a house. How about you?”
Lacey breathed deep. ”Well, let me put it this way.I'm not quite as big today as I was yesterday.”
Jenna gasped. ”The baby? You had the-”
”Yes. This morning at about two. A baby girl. Seven pounds, two ounces.”
”OmiG.o.d. I can't believe it. How do you feel? Are you okay? You're calling from the hospital, then? And the baby. How is the baby?”
”We're both fine. I'm at the main ranch house now. Tess brought me over, to call you. We never made it to the hospital. I had the baby in the cabin.”
”Oh, dear Lord. You didn't.”
”I did. It all happened really fast. I went to sleep at around eleven last night and I woke up when my water broke, two hours later. And an hour after that, I was holding my baby in my arms. And she's perfect. Absolutely beautiful ... even if she is the ugliest thing I've ever seen.”
Jenna was laughing and sighing at the same time. ”Oh, Lace. I ... I don't have the words. Hold on. I have to tell Mack.”
Lacey heard her sister call her husband, then the excited exchange of information. Then Mack came on the line. ”Congratulations, sister-in-law.”
She smiled. ”Thanks, Mack.”
”Take it easy, now. Get lots of rest.”
”Yeah. With a newborn. Right.”
”Well, get as much rest as you can, at least-and I have to go now. Jenna's trying to rip the phone out of my hands.”
”Bye, Mack.”
”Take care.”
”Tell me you named her after Mother-” it was Jenna again ”-that you didn't forget what we agreed.”
”How could I forget? If I had a girl, she'd be Margaret. If I didn't and you did, then my niece would be Margaret. I did. So she's Margaret. Margaret Rose. We're calling her Rosie.”
”Rosie. I like it.”
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