“Okay,” he said, hating the relief he felt at knowing he didn’t have to talk to his father. What kind of man did it make him that he was letting his pregnant wife do his dirty work for him?

“There,” she said with a big victorious smile, “was that so hard?”

He couldn’t help but return the smile. “You’re such a hellcat when you want to be.”

“Why thank you. I may be a hellcat, but I’m also a wife who loves her husband too much to let anyone hurt him ever again.”

“I love you, too, babe. I want you to promise that if he says anything offensive, you’ll hang up immediately.”

“I will. I promise. Now help me out of this bed so I can pee and brush my teeth and then fool around with my husband while our son is otherwise occupied.”

“I do love your agenda, Mrs. Lawry.”

“I do love you, Mr. Lawry.”

Chapter 5

Though he wanted to get back to the island—and Erin—as soon as possible, Slim went with Luke and Sydney to Women and Infants Hospital in Providence. He hoped he could provide some support to his buddy, who was silently freaking out about the possibility of a problem with Syd’s pregnancy.

The doctors asked Luke to wait outside while they evaluated Sydney in the hospital’s emergency department. When Luke put up a protest at being separated from her for even a few minutes, Slim was glad he’d come along. He took his friend by the arm and led him to the nearby waiting room, forcing him into a chair.

“You need to breathe,” Slim said.

“I can’t do anything until I know she and the baby are okay.”

“If there’s anything wrong, they’re in the best possible place.”

“She can’t lose this baby, Slim. She’ll never survive another loss.”

He wanted to assure Luke that Sydney wasn’t going to lose the baby, but he couldn’t know that for sure. “I know it’s hard not to go to worst-case scenario, but at the first sign of trouble, you got her here as fast as you could. There’s nothing else either of you could’ve done that you didn’t do.”

Luke sagged into his chair. “She’s been so happy, making plans, talking about names. It’s like she’s finally allowed herself to hope again.”

Slim ached at the thought of that hope being ripped away from someone who had already had more than her share of heartache, having lost her first husband and her children in a drunk-driving accident several years ago.

“I talked her into trying for the baby. If she loses it…”

“Luke, buddy, you gotta be positive for her.”

Luke bent his head and dropped it into his hands.

Slim rested a hand on Luke’s back, offering what comfort he could and knowing it was nowhere near enough.