Kasey Michaels - Maitland Maternity - Triplets, Quads and Quints

“I need you to drink your milk.”

His calm words acted like a brick wall. An awkward silence filled the room. Drawing a deep breath, she said, “Of course.” Picking up the glass, she added, “I’ll take it with me and drink it while I’m working.”

“I’d rather you drink it here while you finish the muffin. I want to be sure that the girls get their nourishment.”

Bri shot a frantic look at Abby, but her doctor and friend nodded in agreement with him.

“I think Hunter’s right, Bri. You look like you need to take a break.”

Feeling trapped, Bri sank back into the chair and closed her eyes.

“I don’t think she slept well last night,” Hunter murmured to Abby, as if Bri suddenly couldn’t hear.

“I’m still here,” she said without opening her eyes. “I haven’t left the building.”

“Did you have a bad night?” Abby asked.

Bri licked her suddenly dry lips. “Yesterday was a little stressful.”

Abby said, “I still think we should run some tests, put you in a hospital bed for a couple of days.”

Bri’s eyes popped open. “No, I’m fine!”

“Multiple-birth mothers frequently can’t sleep well for long periods of time. Naps are necessary. That’s why I suggested Bri start working half days. Then she could go home and take a nap,” Hunter said.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Abby murmured.

Bri drew another deep breath to calm herself. “I appreciate your concern, and possibly I will do so before my delivery date, but I’d prefer to keep going as long as I can.” She shot a pleading look at Abby.

“I think you can do so for a while longer without endangering the girls,” Abby agreed.

“Good. Then I’ll get back to work,” Bri said and started to rise.

“The milk and muffin,” Hunter reminded her, his blue eyes keeping her seated.

She struggled to hold on to her temper. “I’m not hungry!”

“I’ll bet the girls are.” He continued to stare at her, waiting for her to comply with his orders.

Finally, Bri grabbed the muffin and tore off a big bite, shoving it in her mouth. As soon as she’d chewed it, she took a long drink of milk. She repeated the process several more times until the muffin and milk had disappeared.

“Anything else, Dr. Callaghan?” she snapped, glaring at him.

“Not right this minute, Ms. McCallum. I’ll let you know, probably around lunchtime.” He smiled as if he were pleased with himself.

He might as well have waved a red flag in front of a bull. Bri felt her blood pressure rise, but she fought any response. “Then I’ll return to my office. Thanks for stopping by, Abby.” She hurried from the office before she lost the battle with her temper.

“I DON’T THINK there’s a problem with Bri, except maybe her blood pressure,” Abby said in a considering manner as she stared at Hunter.

He felt guilty. He knew he’d upset Bri and caused her blood pressure to go up. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have pressed her as much as I did, but I could tell she hadn’t slept well last night. I was concerned.”

“I’m sure Bri will appreciate that concern when she calms down. I’ll check on her later today. If anything, she has too many people concerned about her. Even the mail boy checks on her when he delivers the mail. Everyone’s kind of adopted her as our poster patient.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed. I had no idea it would upset her so much for me to read her file. Good thing I didn’t mention that I would observe her delivery.” He was already determined to be there when his daughters entered the world. Emily, Eleanor and Elizabeth.

“You’re right. I’m glad you didn’t mention that. It might make it hard for Bri to face you after that.” Abby stood, but she didn’t start toward the door. Her gaze remained fixed on him.

Hunter stood also. “I appreciate your coming so quickly.”

“No problem. Uh, did you and Bri know each other before you accepted the job?”

Hunter stood frozen, not sure what to say. He knew he didn’t lie well, but how could he tell Abby the truth? It wouldn’t take much to put together the time of the conference and seven months later.

“If I’d met Bri before, I can assure you I’d remember,” he finally said. “She’s a beautiful woman.”

“True. She’s special, too, warm and giving, which is why so many of us want her pregnancy to be a great success. She deserves happiness.” With a nod and a smile, Abby left the office.

Hunter fell back into his chair, giving thanks that he’d found a way to answer Abby’s question. Bri would be furious that he hadn’t believed her story about her old boyfriend fathering the triplets. She’d definitely explode if she found out he’d shared his belief that the babies were his, with anyone.

Like everyone else in the building, he wanted Bri’s pregnancy to have a happy ending. That’s why he’d drop by her office about lunchtime to check on her.

“Bri, do you want me to bring you some lunch?” Lisa asked, interrupting Bri’s concentration.

“No, thanks, Lisa. My dad is taking me to lunch.”

“Okay, I’ll switch the phones to voice mail until I get back.”

Bri muttered “Okay” without looking up. She was trying to find a solution to the head nurse’s rotation problem. It looked like it was going to cost more money and the budget was already tight.

Several minutes later, someone knocked on her open door. “Just a minute, Dad,” she said, again not looking up.

“I didn’t know we were that friendly, Bri. Besides, I’m older than you, but not all that much.”

She looked up to find Hunter standing at her door.

“What are you doing here?” Not exactly a gracious response, but he made her nervous.

“Wondering what you were doing for lunch. Surely you weren’t planning on skipping it?”

“No, my father—oh, hi, Dad,” she said as her father appeared behind Hunter.

Hunter turned around and extended his hand. “Mr. McCallum, I was hoping to meet you soon. I’m Dr. Hunter Callaghan, the new head of obstetrics for the McCallum Wing. It’s a fine facility.”

“Dr. Callaghan! I’m glad to run into you. I apologize for missing the party yesterday, but I had an emergency come up at my company and couldn’t get away.”

Bri watched the two men uneasily. She didn’t want her father getting too chummy with Hunter. “Are you ready, Dad? I can go now.” The sooner the better.

“You’re taking your daughter to lunch?” Hunter asked, an easy smile on his face. “I was just checking to see if she’d share lunch with me. I don’t know too many people yet.”

Bri froze. He managed to inject a lost-puppy tone in his voice, and she knew what was coming next.

“Well, feel free to join us. I’d love to have a chance to visit with you. You don’t mind, do you, Bri?”

Oh, she minded. But it would make her father suspicious if she insulted her new boss.

“Um, why don’t the two of you go ahead, and I’ll take a rain check, Dad? I have a lot to do.”

“No way,” Hunter said. “I’m not going to ruin your lunch. I’ll—I’ll go down to the cafeteria.”

She wanted to tell him to quit acting. But her father immediately insisted they all three go, leaving her no choice.

“I’ve noticed Bri works too hard. I’m trying to talk her into working half days until the babies are born,” Hunter said with a smile, as if he was only concerned with her health.

Of course, she couldn’t think of another reason why he’d want her to work half days, but there had to be one.

“Not a bad idea. Come on, Briana. I’m hungry for a juicy steak,” Jackson McCallum said, motioning for her to join them at the door.