One Saturday morning Sam woke up to the site of his wife rubbing her belly. Now seventh months along she had that pregnancy glow about her. "Good morning sweetie."
"Ooh," cried Madison.
"Is everything okay Maddy?" asked Sam, concern evident in his voice.
Madison grabbed Sam's hand and placed it on her stomach. "She's kicking."
A smile spread across Sam's face as he felt the small fluttering across his wife's stomach. "I think we've got a future power forward for the USC girl's soccer team."
"Or a future dancer for the San Francisco ballet," replied Madison as she started to slip out of bed.
Gently Sam pulled his wife close to him preventing her escape from the bed. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To get in the shower." Madison gave a small giggle when Sam started kissing the ticklish spot behind her ear.
"Stay here with me," whispered Sam.
"Sam, I'd love to but…" Madison gave a small moan when Sam nipped at her earlobe.
"But nothing." Sam gave another small nibble to Madison's earlobe relishing the moan she made. "I don't have to be at the bookstore until this afternoon. We have all morning to ourselves."
As much as Madison was tempted to give in to Sam and she was very tempted to give in, she already had plans for the morning. "Sam, sweetie, remember I'm meeting Lindsay this morning to go shopping for a bassinet."
Sam gave a small groan. He had completely forgotten about that. He and Madison had decided that they were going to wait until after the baby was born to go shopping for a house. Since they would still be in the apartment for awhile after she was born they decided to a get a bassinet because it would take up less room than a crib. Plus they could have the baby right next to them in case she needed anything during the night. Sam conceded defeat. "Okay Maddy."
Madison leaned in and gave her husband a quick kiss. "What do you say we pick this up tonight?"
"Absolutely," replied Sam.
oooooOOOOooooo
Citikids was one of San Francisco's hot spots for all things baby. Recommended by a co-worker, Madison fell in love with the store the moment she stepped foot inside. They had everything one could want for a baby. It was all so stylish, just perfect for a baby being raised in the city. There was so much wonderful stuff that Madison didn't know where to begin looking.
"Madison, this is so cute." Lindsay held up a little pink and white baby dress.
"That's adorable," replied Madison. "Everything in here is adorable. I want to buy it all."
Lindsay giggled at that. Even though they had come in for a bassinet, Madison had already picked out a chic black and white diaper bag and several outfits, but no bassinet.
Slowly, but surely they made their way to the back of the store where the bassinets were.
"Wow, there's so many to choose from," remarked Lindsay. "How will you be able to pick one?"
Madison pulled a slip of paper from her purse. "Sam did some research on the Consumer Reports website. This a list of bassinets that got a top rating."
As Lindsay watched Madison inspect the bassinets, she couldn't help, but wonder if this would be her in a few years. She hoped that one day she would be shopping for things for a baby that she would be having with Dean. She was pulled from her thoughts by Madison's declaration that she had found the one.
"This is it," said Madison as she pointed to a lovely cream colored bassinet that had a cute little hanging mobile with lambs.
"It's beautiful," said Lindsay. "Does it rock?"
"Yeah, it converts into a cradle. I think the soft rocking motion will help the baby get to sleep easier."
"My parents used a cradle for Andrew and me. It was one my grandparents brought over from France and my mom slept in it as a baby."
"That's so nice. Did your parents save it?"
"Yep. It's up in the attic."
"Maybe one day you and Dean will use it for your own baby." Madison had definitely been able to see how close Lindsay and Dean were becoming.
A smile spread across Lindsay's face. "I think it's too soon for that, but maybe one day."
oooooOOOOooooo
After finishing up at the baby store and enjoying a nice lunch, Madison and Lindsay decided to visit Sam at the bookstore. Sid had left that afternoon to visit an out of town friend leaving the bookstore in Sam's more than capable hands. The sales clerk, that they had recently hired, was out sick with the stomach flu so Sam was running the store all by himself. With the armed robber still on the loose, Madison hated the idea of her husband being all alone at the store.
Sam looked up from the baby book he had nose in as the hanging bell from the door rang, signaling a customer was entering the shop. It had been an unusually slow afternoon and he had been thinking about closing the shop early. He was pleasantly surprised to see his wife walk in.
"Maddy." Sam smiled at his wife as she walked towards the counter. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Well Lindsay and I finished shopping and we though we'd keep you company at the store for a little while. She's parking the car."
Since there were no customers presently in the store, Sam stepped from behind the counter so he could give his wife a proper hello. They were so caught up with each other that they didn't hear the door open.
Lindsay cleared her throat as she walked into the store. "I believe the romance section is in the back of the store," she joked.
Sam gave a chuckle as he and Madison broke apart. "Curses, foiled again."
"I guess that's my cue to head to the bathroom," said Madison. "Your daughter seems to enjoy sitting my bladder lately."
Sam watched as his wife slowly made her way towards the bathroom at the back of the store before moving behind the counter.
"Has the shop been busy today?" asked Lindsay.
"No. It's been dead all day," replied Sam.
"Sam, since it's slow you should close the shop early, take your wife home and spend the evening assembling your new bassinet," suggested Lindsay.
Closing early and taking Madison home sounded like wonderful to Sam. However he had something else in mind besides assembling the bassinet. But if that's what Madison wanted to then that's what they would do. Sam let out a small sigh.
At the look on Sam's face Lindsay spoke up. "I'm kidding Sam. The bassinet was out of stock. The store ordered one for Madison, but it won't be in till next week."
The little bell over the door tinkled again. Normally Sam loved having lots of customers in the store, but he was really looking forward to heading home with his wife. He hoped that person who walked in wouldn't take too long.
"Welcome to Martin books," said Sam. A funny feeling settled over him when he got a look at the customer. There was something familiar about the guy, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was. The man had short blonde hair that looked like it had been bleached and he appeared freshly shaven.
"Can I help you with anything?" asked Lindsay. Even though she wasn't working she didn't mind helping out.
"Yeah you can," said the man. He reached behind him and pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants. "You can get behind the counter."
Suddenly it hit Sam as to who the man was. His hair was shorter and lighter than in the drawing and he no longer had a beard, but this was the guy from the wanted poster in the window. This was the guy who had robbed three other stores in the neighborhood.
With a gun pointed at her, Lindsay slow made her way behind the counter. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and she hoped the guy didn't have an itchy trigger finger.
"Listen buddy, we don't want any trouble here," said Sam as he moved himself in front of Lindsay to place her out of the line of fire. He began silently praying that his wife would stay in the bathroom.
"We won't have any trouble if you give me what I want," said the robber who was named Caine.
Sam was still praying that Madison didn't come out of the bathroom when he heard her voice. He wanted to warn her, but was afraid that would cause more harm than good.
"Sam, I was wondering if there was anything special you would like for dinner?" said Madison as she emerged from behind a row of books.
Sam's heart was in his throat as the robber turned his gun on Madison. He couldn't remember the last time he been that scared as he watched the man hold a gun on his pregnant wife.
"Sam." Madison's voice wavered slightly. Her arms moved from her sides to in front of her stomach as if they could stop a bullet from harming her unborn child.
"Well, well what do we have here?" asked Caine.
"Leave her alone," growled Sam, his voice concealing the fear he felt. His whole world was in front of him and there was a gun pointed at it.
Caine moved closer to Madison, grabbing her roughly by the wrist causing her to cry out. "Look, if you don't want the little mama to be hurt then I suggest you open the cash register now."
"Okay, just please don't hurt her," begged Sam.
"I won't if you hurry up and give me my money." Caine gave Madison's wrist another hard squeeze.
When Sid had left for the day he took the bank deposit with him leaving less than a hundred dollars in the store. Sam hoped that the robber wouldn't notice that, but luck was not on Sam's side that day. He pulled out the drawer out.
"What the hell!" growled Caine. "Where's the money?"
"This is it," replied Sam. "It's been a slow day."
To say Caine was pissed over the lack of money in the drawer was an understatement. It wasn't even worth his time to come here, he thought. He was beginning to think there was nothing else in the store he would want when he noticed Madison's engagement ring. The big diamond in it must be at least a couple of carats. Turning to Madison he put the gun in her face. "I want your ring!"
Madison's engagement ring had been her grandmother's originally and it meant a lot to her. However it was not worth the life of her unborn baby. If giving him the ring would get him to leave then she would let him have it. Madison tried to slip the ring off of her, but do her pregnancy weight gain her finger had swelled and the ring refused to budge.
"I can't get it off." Madison's voice wavered as she spoke.
Sam could only watch in horror as Caine roughly grabbed Madison's hand. He tried to pull the ring off, but it held tight. He yanked as tight as he could causing Madison to cry out in pain, but the ring wouldn't move. Sam felt utterly helpless.
While Caine was distracted with trying to get the ring off of Madison's finger, Lindsay slowly reached underneath the counter and pressed the store's silent alarm button. Within a few minutes the police would be there, she hoped.
Realizing time was of the essence, Caine gave up on the ring. While keeping his grip on Madison, he turned his gun and Sam and had him put the money from the register into a plastic bag. "Okay, I'm going to leave now and to make sure you don't do anything stupid the little mama's going to walk me out."
"No!" cried Sam. If Caine left with Madison, there was no telling what he would do to her.
Afraid that something bad would happen before the police arrived, Lindsay knew she had to do something. She moved out from behind the counter. "Take me instead."
"Lindsay, what are you doing?" asked Madison.
"Lindsay no!" If anyone should go it should be me, thought Sam.
"Sam, Madison, think of your baby," said Lindsay.
"Fine," huffed Caine. He didn't have time for this. He needed to get out of the area fast. He let go of Madison. Grabbing Lindsay's arm he headed towards the stockroom.
"Where are you going?" Sam was afraid that if Caine took Lindsay out the backdoor into the alley he might shoot her. "There's no exit that way." He could only hope the robber bought his lie.
Still gripping Lindsay's arm tightly, Caine turned around and headed towards the front of the store. He put the gun against her back. "If you do anything stupid like calling the cop this one's gonna pay."
Sam rushed over and pulled a shaking Madison into his arms. "Oh baby."
Madison's emotions got the best of her. Clinging to Sam, she started crying. "Sam, he's got Lindsay!"
Sam stood there with his arms wrapped tightly around his wife. As he watched the robber push Lindsay out the door all he could do was pray for her safety.
More to Come
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