Kasey Michaels - Maitland Maternity - Triplets, Quads and Quints

“Oh. Did you discuss it with Bri?”

“Yes, I did, but she’s stubborn. She admitted it sounded wonderful to have some help, but she’s afraid everyone will think she’s lazy, which is ridiculous.”

“Yeah, it is. Okay, here’s Grace’s number, but you do realize Bri is going to be furious that you’re interfering, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but I’m going to try to get Grace on my side. So keep our conversation to yourself.”

“You got it, doc.”

Hunter wrote down the number.

When he dialed the number, a sweet feminine voice answered.

“Is this Grace?”

“Yes. Who’s speaking?”

“You don’t know me. I’m the new obstetrics head at the McCallum Wing.”

“Dr. Callaghan? Of course I know who you are. Is there a problem with my volunteering? I do love it so. I hope I’m—”

“I didn’t know you volunteered.”

“I usually volunteer in the preemie nursery in Maitland, but when you get babies in your nursery, I’m transferring over there. I’m coming in today for a tour.”

“You are? What time?”

“My tour is at one.”

“Come at eleven and I’ll explain why I need your help. Then we’ll both go take Bri to lunch. Is it a deal?”

“It’s a deal. I’m very interested. Everything’s okay, isn’t it? I mean the babies and all?”

“I’m trying to make sure of that. But you know how stubborn Briana is.”

“Oh, yes. I’ll be there at eleven.”

Then he buzzed Helen. “I want you to call Bri and tell her that I expect her to join me for lunch today. I have a special guest I want her to entertain. And don’t take no for an answer. Tell her we’ll drop by her office at noon to pick her up. We’ll eat in the cafeteria.”

“What if she refuses?” Helen asked, frowning.

“It’s your job to make sure she doesn’t, Helen.”

She stared at him. “I don’t want to upset her.”

“Helen, Briana’s former nanny is coming to lunch today. She’s going to volunteer in the nursery as soon as we have some customers. Her presence is a surprise for Bri, so keep it a secret, but it’s a surprise Bri will enjoy.”

After Helen withdrew, Hunter sighed. His secretary thought he was a bully. That was a fine state of affairs. And he was trying to be so tactful.

Right on time, Grace arrived at his office. She was elderly, he’d guess in her seventies, but she looked healthy and had the most serene expression on her face he’d ever seen.

“Dr. Callaghan, I’m anxious to hear what you want to discuss with me.”

“Bri mentioned that you were going to recommend someone to help her with the babies.”

“Why, yes, a very nice, experienced woman.”

“Is the woman prepared to do housecleaning and cooking, also?”

“Of course,” Grace replied, a puzzled look on her face.

“Well, I’d like Briana to go ahead and hire the woman now. She goes home exhausted. I’m worried she’s not eating properly because she’s too tired to cook. She admitted she’s too tired to do housecleaning, and she worries that if she hires someone now, everyone will think she’s lazy.”

“That’s ridiculous! The poor child is carrying three babies. After what happened to her mother, I worry about her all the time.”

“Could you convince her she should go ahead and hire the woman so they can get to know each other before the babies come? Tell her she’ll be happier if she knows who’s taking care of her babies from the word go?”

“That’s a very good idea, Dr. Callaghan,” Grace assured him with a smile. “Of course I can do that.”

“Good,” he said, smiling.

“And with you recommending it, I don’t see how she can resist.”

“No! Don’t mention me!”

Bri sat hunched over her desk, irritation coursing through her. A special guest! Hunter needed her to entertain the person! Right! All he was doing was supervising her eating habits. Dr. Hunter Callaghan was an interfering, bossy man. How were they going to stop the gossip if he didn’t stop this silliness?

It was almost twelve. Helen had made it clear in her phone call that the invitation wasn’t one Briana could refuse. So, where was the big man? He seemed to think he could order her life around. The least he could do was be on time!

Just as the hands on her watch reached straight-up twelve, a soft knock sounded on her door. She called, “Come in,” ready to be difficult.

The door opened and Grace, her darling Grace, appeared. Bri struggled to her feet and went to the door to wrap her arms around her true mother. “Grace! What are you doing here? Is everything all right? Oh, I have to go to lunch with someone, or I’d take you—”

“Calm down, child. You’re going to lunch with me. Hunter arranged it all. Isn’t he a darling man?”

Bri tried to stifle her groan. Another person singing his praises? She didn’t think she could stand it. “Yes, fabulous,” she said, trying to dredge up enthusiasm. “Why are you here?”

“I’m taking a tour of the nursery. Once you start having babies there, I’m going to volunteer. I’ve had experience with multiple-birth babies, you know,” she added with a beaming smile.

Bri hugged her again. “I know you have. And you’re a terrific mother substitute.”

“Bless you, child,” Grace responded, tears in her eyes. Then she stepped back from Bri. “Now, how are you managing? Let me look at you. My, you’ve gotten quite a bit bigger since the last time I saw you.”

“Yes,” Bri agreed with a sigh.

“That’s good, child. You want these babies to grow so when they’re born, they’ll be okay.”

“Of course,” Bri agreed, smiling.

Grace frowned. “But you also need to take care of yourself. How are you managing?”

“You two ladies ready for lunch?” Hunter called. He’d stopped at Lisa’s desk and talked to her. Now he stepped to the door of Bri’s office.

Bri stared at him. “Yes, of course, but we don’t want to take up your valuable time. I’ll take care of Grace.”

“Oh, no, you don’t. Grace is my date. I’m just being nice, letting you come along. Let’s go. We don’t want to be at the back of the cafeteria line. They’ve got chocolate pie today.”

Grace took her hand and pulled her toward Hunter. Before Bri knew it, they were in the elevator. She was going to share lunch again with Hunter. With another family member. Grace might not be a blood relative, but she certainly was part of Bri’s family.

It seemed to Bri that everyone in the cafeteria was staring at them as they went through the line. Hunter and Grace kept up a rambling conversation about their food selections. Grace added several vegetables to Bri’s tray. When Hunter added the chocolate pie, Bri finally protested, but he ignored her. He was too busy waving to the cashier to charge all three meals to his account.

Oh, good, that wouldn’t cause any talk!

“Hunter,” she whispered. “Let me pay for me and Grace. It will cause less talk.”

“Honey, you’ve got to quit worrying about gossip. It’s not important.” Then he raised his voice. “Pick wherever you want to sit, Grace. We’ll follow.”

Grace selected a table for four right in the middle of the room where everyone would see them.

Bri took a seat next to Grace, hoping Hunter would sit down on the older woman’s other side, which would give her a little breathing room. She should’ve known better. He, of course, sat down next to her.

“How did you know Grace was coming today?” Bri suddenly asked.

“She knows Helen and called to ask her to lunch. When Helen told me who she was, I included the two of us.”

Bri turned and looked at Grace. “I didn’t know you knew Helen that well. Weren’t you going to at least come see me? ”