Harm's Way

A long time between drinks I know. I couldn't believe how much time had gone over since I updated this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please check out my new release on Amazon Leading The Way by Constance Masters. It's part of a cool new series by ten authors about a town called Corbin's Bend.

Chapter 40

Oh my GOD!" Mattie yelled. "Really? An actual little baby is going to be living here." She couldn't get her mind around it. She'd always wanted to be a big sister but obviously you had to have a Mom and Dad. She really didn't think that Mac and Harm would want to have anymore.

"Ahhh!" Chloe screamed. "Are you serious?!"

"Yep." Harm said. "Not just any old baby. THIS baby will be your brother or sister."

"Oh man. Can I babysit?" Chloe asked, excitement oozing from her. Having a baby in the house would be great but having a baby all to herself while someone else was out would be even better.

"Maybe, when it gets a little older." Mac said. Life of late flashed though her mind, and honestly leaving a baby in this house of mayhem without an adult present probably wouldn't happen. She did her best not to laugh.

"Will you pay me?" Chloe asked, realising that she may have just happened on a gold mine."

"Chloe!" Mattie said. "I'll babysit for nothing." she said to Mac.

"You're quiet Josh." Harm said noticing that Josh hadn't said a word.

"It's great. Congratulations." he said. Josh wasn't feeling the girls excitement.

"Ok something's wrong." Mac said.

"No there isn't." Josh really didn't want to ruin Harm and Mac's moment but something was bothering him.

"Yes there is." Harm said. "Now spill, that's an order."

All eyes were on him and Josh knew he wasn't going to be able to hide what was forcing it's way into his concious thoughts, even though he was doing his best to push it away. More embarrassing than having to say what he was feeling were the tears that were threatening to fall.

"What's wrong?" Mac said immediately perching next to him and wrapping her arms around him.

"I am happy." he tried to say, angrily scrubbing away the stupid tears that were now running down his face freely. "It's just..."

"Tell us." Harm said. He sat in front of Josh and lifted his chin so he'd look at him. He just knew that if he didn't get the kid to admit his feeling right now that they would fester and turn into a major problem.

"This is going to be your real kid."

"What do you think you are?" Chloe said. "Pretend kids? The ones we were practicing on until we got the real thing?" She thought they were past all this, but she couldn't blame the child for feeling this way. He'd been on shaky ground for so long that it would be easy for him to assume that the rug was about to be pulled out from under him again.

"No, I just think that maybe you won't be able to help loving this baby more than us." There, he'd said it.

"That won't happen." Harm said.

"Of course it won't." Mac said. "I love all three of you and not because you are like my real kids but because you ARE my real kids. We're a family. Aren't we Harm?"

"We sure are, and a tiny little baby isn't going to change any of that. If anything, it will bring us closer. We are all busy people. We're going to have to really pull together to be able to do this successfully."

"Do you believe us?" Mac asked, kissing her son's cheek.

"Yeah." Josh said. He didn't say anything for a minute and then he added. "Do you think it might be a boy Harm? You and I are seriously in the minority here."

"We sure are." When he noticed the girls glaring at him he grinned. "Of course a house can never have enough princesses."

Josh rolled his eyes. "Well maybe we can keep the baby princess and get rid of one of the big ones."

"Ha, ha very funny." Mattie said. "Sooo, does this mean we are going to be moving up the wedding?"

"I guess it does." Mac said looking at Harm. They hadn't even considered that. "Maybe we might have to just have something a little smaller."

"Man, I was looking forward to a big party." Chloe said.

"There'll be a party, we may just limit the amount of guests." Harm said. "We'll see. For tonight, I think we should celebrate. I know we already had pizza, but who would like to go out for a bite to eat?"

"Me!" they all yelled.

"Where would you like to go Mac? After all, you're the one that's carrying this miracle child."

"Definitely Italian." she said. "I'm starving." She could almost taste the fettuccine that she would choose with a rich creamy sauce...garlic bread and salad...

"Me too."

XXX

An hour later they were sitting down to a very late supper. Mac was the first to order and she waited impatiently, munching on a bread stick.

"This was a bad idea." Harm said. "I should have made you something."

"I'm fine." Mac said. "Just plain old hungry."

"Where's the baby gonna sleep?" Mattie asked.

"We could have it in our room." Chloe said.

"Not at first." Mac said. "I'll need to feed him or her and of course there's the night feeds."

"I don't mind taking a turn of a night feed or two." Mattie said.

"Me either." Chloe added. "It'll be fun."

Harm chuckled. "And of course there'll be the dirty diapers that need changing."

"Your room." Chloe said.

"Yeah, maybe you can change the baby Harm and THEN bring it in to us."

"I think I might just visit the baby in your room. I don't do diapers." Josh said.

"I have a little surprise for you Josh." Mac said. "The thing about being a real family is...they share. We ALL will do diapers. You girls as well."

"Nice. Could I maybe change my order from the spaghetti and meatballs to something else?" Chloe giggled.

"Gross Chloe!" Josh said, a disgusted look on his face.

The waiter brought their food. Mac was so happy to see and smell her fettuccine, but as the smell wafted under her nose, her stomach turned and she had to run. "Sick!" she yelled.

The other looked at their food as Harm ran after Mac.

XXX

"That went well." Harm said as they climbed into bed when they got back.

"The food didn't go down that well, pardon the pun, but the kids took the news of the baby well." Mac said. "I was proud of them."

"Me too."

"So, about moving up the wedding."

"Yeah. What do you want to do?"

"Honestly Harm? Right now I want to go to bed. I can't keep my eyes open."

"Yeah, me too."