Christmas in Texas by Rebecca Winters, Tina Leonard Read Free Book Online Page A

said you’re sniffing around my flower shop.” Capri’s gaze
was on him, accusing. “Do you think somebody close to me may be involved?”
    He was on the ropes here—he could hear it in her voice. “I
can’t say, honey.”
    “You didn’t tell me,” Capri said.
    “Keep soothing her, Mr. West. We need to keep Mom calm,” a
nurse said, glancing at a monitor.
    He leaned close to his wife. “Let’s talk about this later.”
    “I need to know,” she said, her gaze on him, haunted.
    “I don’t know what you want me to say,” Seagal said, “I’m
simply following orders.”
    Capri’s eyes widened. Belatedly, Seagal remembered that the
night of their worst argument, he’d said the same thing. It had effectively
ended their marriage.
    “Capri,” he said, “no one knows exactly who is involved. But
this I do know. I’m about to be a dad. All I want to do is take care of you and
my children.”
    “That’s better,” the nurse said, her tone approving. “Whatever
you’re saying, keep saying it. We need to keep your blood pressure down, Mrs.
West.”
    “Snow,” Capri said, and the nurse glanced at her. “My name is
Snow.”
    “Now wait,” Seagal said, his voice low so the nurses and doctor
couldn’t hear. His blood pressure felt as if he needed someone to say soothing
things to him. “You’re still Mrs. Seagal West for
another two weeks.”
    She closed her eyes.
    “You’re doing fine,” the nurse said. “The doctor is almost
finished prepping you, and then it will be time to meet your new babies.”
    Capri released his fingers. He tried to catch her fingers back
but she put her hand under the covers. So he stood beside her, staring down at
her pale face, wishing he knew what to tell her to make her happy, to keep her
his forever.
    “Okay, Capri,” Dr. Blankenship said. “I’m about to make an
incision. You’ll only notice some tugging sensations. If you notice anything
more than that, let me know, all right?”
    Capri nodded. Seagal felt all the blood rush from his head.
    “Get Dad a chair,” Dr. Blankenship barked, and the elderly
nurse led him over to the side.
    “Breathe,” the nurse commanded. “Doc’s done this a thousand
times. Capri’s in the best possible hands.”
    Wasn’t he supposed to be a fearless, tough guy?
    Then why was the very idea of his wife being in pain making him
weak as a kitten?
    “I’m failing at being a birth coach,” he told the nurse.
    “We keep this chair in here for dads,” the nurse said, her tone
kindly. “You’ll feel stronger in a bit. Don’t worry. Your wife is in good
hands.”
    She patted him on the back, then turned to stand by Capri.
Seagal took another deep breath, braced himself, and went back to being there
for his wife.
    * * *
    C APRI KNEW THE SECOND Seagal left her side. She
felt alone as soon as he’d gone, and reminded herself that she was destined to
be alone in the future anyway.
    Then he came back, and she felt better again.
    “Are they going to be all right?” she asked.
    “Of course,” Seagal told her. “The babies are doing fine.
You’re doing fine.”
    “Where’d you go?”
    He glanced toward the elderly nurse. She wasn’t paying any
attention to him. “I didn’t look under the sheet, if that’s what you’re
asking.”
    Capri turned her head to look at him. “I know.”
    “Although, didn’t the sheet rule only hold when the babies were
supposed to make a different exit?” He took her fingers in his, and she was glad
for the warmth.
    “The sheet is off-limits anyway.”
    “I’m good with that.”
    He’d agreed too quickly. She looked at her husband. “Are you
all right?”
    “I’m fine. Pretty eager to get started on the Dad of the Year
award.”
    She tried to ignore what the doctor was doing. Once she’d heard tugging sensation, she hadn’t wanted to focus on
her stomach at all.
    She was grateful Seagal was by her side.
    “I should have told you sooner,” she suddenly said, and Seagal
squeezed her