Discovering Pride (Pride Series) (23 page)

“Just my intuition.” Smiling back, she gave Megan a hug and knew everything was right in her world.

It was after the party, when Lacey was cleaning up in the back room, she had that nagging feeling. Stopping what she was doing, she looked around the now empty room. Setting down the tray of dishes she headed into the main dining room just as someone shouted for help. Rushing into the front dining area, she saw Betty, leaning over a figure on the ground.

Running over, she saw Dr. Stevens Sr. on the floor.

“
I think it’s his heart.” Betty said, looking up at her.

“Quick! Call Aaron.” Lacey said as she knelt down.

“Dr. Stevens, can you hear me? It’s Lacey. Do you have some medication for your heart?” Lacey searched his coat pockets. Finding a bottle, she held it up. “Is this for your heart?”

The old man was conscious, but looking ragged. She realized he was having a hard time breathing. Kneeling over over him she placed her head on his chest and listened.

“I think he’s choking!” Sitting him up with her kneeling behind, she squeezed his chest in rapid succession. It took several times before a piece of chicken was dislodged and he took a large breath.

“Just lie still. Aaron’s on his way.” She told him.

She looked up at Betty who was still on the phone. Betty shook her head in affirmation. Holding his hand still, she leaned down and made sure he was breathing fine. Just then, the front door opened and Aaron rushed in. He saw his grandfather on the floor with Lacey leaning over him. His grandfather’s color was off and for the first time in Aaron’s life, he looked frail.

“Grandpa, how are you feeling?” Aaron leaned down and placed his stethoscope against his grandfather’s chest.

“He was choking.” Lacey said as her hands began to shake.

Owning and working in a restaurant most of her life, she had seen several people choking before, and had even helped a few out. But, this time it was different. Maybe it was because it was Aaron’s grandfather. Or, maybe because Dr. Stevens had always been more like a grandfather to her.

“I’m feeling better now that I can breath. Thank you Lacey.” Dr. Stevens grabbed her hand. “Get me up off this cold floor would you boy? I’d like to go home.” He started to sit up.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Lacey said trying to hold him still. “Not until you get checked out. You aren’t going anywhere until he says you’re clear.”

Aaron smiled down at the old man. “I agree and as your doctor, I would like to examine you before I release you out into the wild.”

He smiled over at Betty, who at this point was still shaken. Maybe giving her a task would help calm both of them down. “Betty can drive you over to the office.”

“Come on Gerard. You might as well not argue with those two.” Betty smiled and helped him up.

“Fine, fine. Just a quick stop.” Dr. Stevens when he was on his feet.

As Betty lead him out, Lacey could have sworn she saw him smiling at Betty.

Shaking her head, she realized she was still kneeling on the floor, she started to get up. Aaron’s hand was there, waiting for her. When he helped her up, he pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you.” he whispered into her hair as he held onto her. He was still shaking. “I don’t know what I would do without him. Or you.” he released her, turned and left to follow his grandfather.

When she arrived home that next evening, she was welcomed with a wonderful smell, the house was full of flowers. They were everywhere. On the coffee table, covering the kitchen counters, the kitchen and dining room tables. The place was full of a variety of a colorful splendor.

The whole town had been talking about her. Some people had stopped in and talked to her personally, others had called. She was the local hero, one that had saved Dr. Stevens’ life. She didn’t mind the attention for a while, but by the time she left the restaurant, she was over it. She just wanted to get home, relax and get off her feet. The flowers were beautiful, lifting her spirits up, making her feel wonderful. Standing in the doorway she inhaled the wonderful smells.

“I just wanted to say, Thank you.” Aaron stood by the fireplace. “Grandpa sends along his thanks as well. He’s home resting. The one’s on the table are from him.”

“How is he?” She walked over to the coffee table and pushed her face into a bunch of lilacs. Enjoying the smell.

“Fine, he’s just fine.” Walking over he took her hand and pulled her into another hug. “Thank you Lacey. I don’t think I can ever say it enough. I’m so glad you were there.”

“I’m so glad he’s okay. He gave me quite a scare.”

“He is my only family, family that matters to me anyway. I don’t know what I would do…”

“Don’t think about it Aaron. He is healthy and strong.”

“You don’t understand. Grandpa is the only person who has ever cared. He was the one that was there for me growing up. Every other summer was all I had with him. But, he was more of a father to me than my own.” Aaron walked back over to the fireplace, looked into the fire that was warming the room.

“Actually, I saw him more then my own parents. He was the one that helped me through medical school.” Shaking his head clear, he focused on Lacey across the room.

Walking over to him, she reached up, kissed him and said. “I can’t imagine my life without him. He was a huge part of my life.”

She pulled him to the couch and sat next to him.

“He was there after Iian’s accident, and we lost our father. Not to mention, he was always there to bandage us up when we grew up. I always thought of him more like my grandfather.”

“Lacey,” he pulled her into his lap, kissed her some more. “Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. How can I ever repay you?”

“Aaron,” she took his face in her hands. “You can start by taking me to bed.”

A
aron and Lacey had just finished eating dinner. They were sitting bundled up on the back porch watching Bernard and Cleo playing in the fresh snow.

“I had an interesting patient in the office today.” he said.

“Mmm?” Lacey replied lazily.

“Yes, Stacie Walberg. She says she went to school with your brothers.”

Lacey’s back stiffened. Her eyes turned towards Aaron.

“She’s quite the talker, that one.” he murmured looking out over the yard at Bernard was rolling in the snow.

“What was wrong with Stacie?” Millions of images flooded Lacey’s brain.

Just then the phone rang and Lacey jumped.

Aaron was about to hit the button to send the call to voice mail when Lacey grabbed his arm and said. “Get that!” She had such a funny look on her face, he picked up the phone.

“Hello, Dr. Stevens.” he paused. “When? How far apart? Yes, we can meet you, yes, she’s here.” Aaron handed her the phone.

“Hi sis.” Todd’s voice was muffled. “You ready to be an aunt?” Lacey let out a squeak and jumped up from her seat.

“We’ll meet you there.” She hung up and grabbed Aaron’s arm to pull him up. “Well, come on. What’s taking you so long?” She tugged his arm and had him laughing.

“We have time yet; her contractions are only ten minutes apart. Come here.” he said and had her sprawled across his lap, his mouth was on hers before she could blink.

Pushing her hands up and between them she pulled back. “How can you sit here and be so calm. A baby is coming! A Jordan baby,
come on
let’s go!” she pushed harder against his chest.

“
One more kiss, and I promise we’ll go. Just one more… mmm” he leaned over; he hadn’t realized he had needed it, but he soften the kiss taking his time to run his lips over her soft mouth, while his hands reached up and pulled her hips against his arousal.

Pulling slowly away she looked down into his eyes.

“This is no time to be starting something.” she smiled into his eyes.

“Right.” he stood up abruptly setting her on her feet next to him. “Let’s go have a baby, shall we.”

Matthew Steven Jordan was born at two thirty two AM. on February 10th, he weighed seven pounds eight ounces and had blonde curly hair with blue eyes, which Todd swore would turn to sea green just like Megan’s.

Lacey had never seen Megan smile so much. She laughed and cuddled their new son. Lacey almost had to fight her to hold Matthew for a half hour. Between her two brothers and Megan, she was lucky she got that much time.

A few hours later, just as the sun was rising, Aaron carried Lacey into the house. It was becoming a habit of his to carry her, one she didn’t mind.

“I never thought having a baby would be so draining and I wasn’t even the one giving birth. It was amazing, I have never seen anything so… I don’t know how to express it… There are no words…” she sighed into his shoulder. “Matthew is the most precious baby I have ever seen, he looks a lot like Megan, but I can see some of Todd in there as well. He looks a little like Iian when he was brought home from the hospital.” Was she running on?