Becca's Baby

“You okay?” he asked her when he’d finished with the balloons and sought her out.

She was manning the Shelter Valley Information booth while the mayor’s secretary ran to the portable bathrooms set up on the outer edge of the town square. “I’m fine,” she said, smiling at him.

She looked happy. And tired.

“Don’t overdo things, Bec,” he warned. Not just for the baby’s sake. Or even just for her physical health. But for her peace of mind, as well. He knew now how much she feared losing this baby. He was going to do everything in his power to see that didn’t happen.

“I won’t.”

“Yes, you will.” He stood his ground. “You’ve been running nonstop since six o’clock this morning, and it’s 110 degrees out here.”

“I’ve been in the trailer a lot,” she told him. The town had an air-conditioned mobile office and firstaid center stationed in the middle of the carnival. “They’ve got Krispy Kremes in there.” The glazed doughnuts were made in Phoenix and were becoming world-renowned for their sinful sweetness.

“Your face is flushed.”

“Quit nagging.”

He leaned his hands on the table, shoving his face directly in front of hers. “I’ll make a deal with you.” She smelled damn good—inciting a brief flash of her moving silently on top of him the night before.

“What deal?”

“I’ll quit nagging if you’ll agree to go home for at least an hour this afternoon and have a nap.”

She frowned, stacking brochures that were already in neat rows. “I have to be here for the unveiling of Samuel,” she said.

The statue, still in its crate, was holding the place of honor in the middle of the town square.

Another council member waved as he passed the booth. Becca waved back.

“That’s not until four o’clock,” Will said. “I promise to have you back by then.” And before she could protest further, he added, “Don’t worry about the play. Martha’s got everything under control, and it doesn’t start until seven, anyway, so if there’s a last-minute problem, you’ll be back in plenty of time to fix it.”

Becca’s face wore a saucy grin when she looked up at him. “Did you know John Strickland’s in town for the holiday?”

“No.” But he was damn glad to hear it.

“He’s helping Martha move the sets.”

Rose walked by, a foot-and-a-half-tall Follies hat on her head, the perfect complement to the red silk flapper dress she was wearing. She was busy talking to the ladies on either side of her and didn’t even notice Becca and Will.

“She’s looking good.” Will smiled.

“With two babies on the way, she’s happier than she’s been in years,” Becca agreed, smiling, too.

But Will wasn’t going to be sidetracked. “Is it a deal?”

“You’ll come with me?” Becca asked.

“Yes.”

Will was kind of pleased that it mattered. He’d intended to stay with her, anyway, to make sure she did indeed get some sleep. He had reading he could catch up on while she rested.

“Okay.”

RELAXED AND GLOWING from the success of Samuel’s unveiling, in spite of the absence of all three of the living Montfords, Becca looked beautiful to Will as she slid into her seat beside him just before the curtain rose on The Hero. Wearing a sleeveless denim jumper and tennis shoes, she could have passed for one of the students about to perform. Except for the belly.

That made her Will’s.

“They’re ready to go backstage,” she whispered. “Martha’s running around like crazy, but the props are in position and all the kids know their lines. They’re really excited.”