Hearts Awakened: Hearts of the South 6 by Linda Winfree

Author:Linda Winfree
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Police
ISBN: 9781605043203
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Published: 2009-06-30T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Clinging to her mother’s hand, Tori held her breath. Tick, clad in disposable scrubs, pulled the surgical cap from his dark hair. He passed a wrist over his damp eyes and grinned. “Hey, Grandma.”

Their mother’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh.”

He stepped forward to envelop her in a hug. His shoulders shook with relieved laughter. “It’s a boy, Mama. A little small, just over four pounds but healthy. Cait’s in recovery.” His voice cracked and he took a deep breath. “They put her under, but she’s good. She’s going to be fine.”

Smiling, her own tears spilling over, Tori glanced back at Mark. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

Thumbs tucked in his belt, he nodded. “It’s great.”

Mama held Tick’s face in her hands and kissed his cheek. “I’m so glad, Lamar. So very glad.”

Tori touched Tick’s arm and embraced him when he released their mother. Relieved joy spread through her, and she hugged him tighter. “Congratulations. Can we see him?”

He pulled back and scraped a hand through his already disheveled hair. “In a minute. He’s going to the NICU, but one of the nurses said they’d come this way so Mama could see him.” He chucked her under the chin. “Hey, you’re supposed to be in Florida.”

She laughed, but her gaze lingered on his face. He looked more than tired—fatigue dragged at his pale features and dark circles under his eyes spoke of several sleepless nights. “I think this takes precedence over a conference any day.”

“Yeah.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and extended his right hand to Mark. “Good to see you, Cookie. Thanks for taking care of her.”

“Anytime, man. Although she really didn’t need me. She’s more capable than you give her credit for.” Mark glanced at Tori before the men shook hands and she suppressed a smile, warmed by his words. “Congratulations.”

Tori jabbed her elbow into Tick’s ribs, hard. “Would you please not make me sound like a brainless nitwit who needs a babysitter?”

Wincing, Tick rubbed at his side. “I never said you were a brainless nitwit.”

Irritated, she shrugged from under his arm. “No, just implied that I can’t go anywhere or do anything alone.”

The opening of the doors behind them forestalled his reply. A pair of nurses accompanied a mobile warming table which held a squalling baby, legs and arms thrown wide, froglike. Tori glanced up at Tick, his proud grin dispelling some of the weariness.

Their mother stepped closer and caressed the top of the baby’s tiny head, covered in swirls of wispy dark hair. A card taped to the radiant light identified the infant as Baby Boy Calvert. A nurse held an oxygen mask over the baby’s mouth and nose, so his cries sounded muffled and tinny. She glanced up, kind reassurance lighting her face. “It’s just a precaution.”

Tori brushed a fingertip along the back of one tiny hand. Minuscule blue veins showed beneath the red, wrinkled skin. She looked at Tick. “Does he have a name?”

He shook his head, the weariness descending again. “Not really, not yet.

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