Summer on Lovers' Island (Jewell Cove 3)

He picked up a magazine and started to flip blindly through the pages when his cell buzzed in his back pocket. He took it out and checked the screen and felt a little burst of pleasure when he saw a text from her.

Any news?

He put down the magazine and used both thumbs to type back:

Nothing yet. Shouldn’t be long.

He hesitated and then typed:

Did you get any more sleep?

Not really. Went for a run on the beach. Don’t worry about the clinic today.

Thanks. I’ll check in later.

He put his phone down for a moment and deliberated. Realistically he should probably back right off where Lizzie was concerned. He reached for his coffee only to realize it had gone completely cold and put it back down on the table.

They were consenting adults. And last night … damn. Could he really just walk away from that entirely?

He picked up the phone again.

Hey, can I see you tonight?

The response seemed to take a long time coming, and he wondered if she’d left to do something or if she really didn’t want to answer him.

I don’t know, Josh. Can we talk about it later?

He really shouldn’t feel let down by her response. Maybe it was just that she didn’t want to talk about it in texts. It was easy to miss tone, nuance. He checked his watch. It was just after seven. Maybe she was getting ready for work. Maybe he was analyzing the shit out of the situation and he should just chill.

Of course. Will txt with news.

He felt like an idiot, but he added a smiling emoji to the end. God, what was he, sixteen?

And then he let out a breath and smiled to himself. Of course he wasn’t. At sixteen the sex would never have been as good as it was last night.

* * *

It was another half hour before Rick came down the hall, looking utterly exhausted and completely thrilled. “It’s a boy,” he said proudly. He ran his hand through his hair. “Holy crap. I’m a dad.”

Everyone got up and congratulated him with hugs and smiles. Josh shook his hand and asked after Jess.

“She was a real trooper,” Rick said, pride filling his voice. “Apparently this was fast for a first birth, and he’s over eight pounds. I always knew she was strong. But I had no idea.”

Josh clapped him on the shoulder. “She has a good partner. Makes a big difference.”

Indeed. Partnerships made the best marriages, to Josh’s mind. Not that he’d really know. It wasn’t from lack of trying … but looking back, he saw it seemed his marriage had been best when they weren’t in the same country. What a sad statement.

Rick looked at Meggie. “Well, Grandma, Jess has asked for you. Once she’s cleaned up a bit, you can all come for a visit.”

Rick disappeared with Meggie, and Abby and Sarah decided to dash to the cafeteria for tea and a quick bite now that it was over. Josh went along simply for something to do and bought the girls their tea and an assortment of muffins to tide everyone over until they could have a proper breakfast. When they returned to the maternity unit, Jess had been moved into her room and the nurse walked them down the hall, past the nursery with babies, and up to a closed door.

She gave a tap on the door and opened it a crack.

“Some people here are awfully curious about a new baby boy. Should I let them in?”

Jess must have said yes, because the nurse opened the door for them to enter.

Josh had never seen his sister look so beautiful.