Free Indomitable Spirit by Bernadette Marie Page A

back to thank Malory for the coffee when she noticed her face was red and she was panting.
    “Malory, what’s wrong?”
    The door opened and John stepped through. He took one look at Malory, dropped the bucket, and rushed over to her. “How far apart?”
    “They just started moving in faster,” Malory answered and let out a few controlled breaths.
    John took his cell phone out of his pocket and hit a few buttons. “You’re time is up buddy,” he said as he helped Malory to her feet. “I’ll meet you at the hospital. Wil is in labor.”
    He threw the phone down on the table and Kym disconnected the call. She sat helplessly as John swept Malory off her feet and started for the door.
    “Get her coat,” he called back to Kym.
    There was a coat rack by the door and hanging on it was one coat with a purse tucked up under it. It had to be Malory’s. She grabbed it and hurried out the door toward the truck.
    John was already helping Malory into the seat when she reached them. He ripped the coat from her hands and covered Malory with it. Then he took the purse and tucked it at her feet.
    Just as quickly, John shut the door and hurried to the other side of the truck.
    Kym moved back to the building as John backed up and sped out of the parking lot.
    She stood alone outside in the cold, her coat long forgotten inside, and tried to catch her breath.
    So many things ran through her head. The pain in Malory’s face was the first thing she thought about. She’d never been around a baby or even a pregnant woman, but John hadn’t even given it another thought. He knew she needed him. He’d scooped Malory up as if she were a doll and carried her out to his truck. She couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if Malory’s labor had progressed further. Tears were freezing in her eyes. Kym realized she was good at taking kids and teaching them how to be ready for anything and yet she wasn’t ready for anything. She wasn’t ready to take care of Malory had she needed her. And she certainly hadn’t been ready to deal with the crush her heart was going through. Pity had enveloped her when she’d learned about Abigail. John was a crushed man.
    Her heart ached for him and even more now she’d wished he’d finished that kiss. But not having known then what she was faced with now, she would have probably come to her senses and dropped him to the ground.
    No, she wouldn’t have. She’d been paralyzed by his hands on her. His dark eyes had softened so that she had no defenses against them.
    But now, now he’d seen her when she wasn’t ready for anything. Oh, she’d been stupid to tell him that when he’d dropped that wrench. But he’d needed to be put in his place.
    Kym bowed her head. Now she’d been put in hers.
    When her limbs had gone numb from the cold she headed back inside. Someone would come to take over or lock up, she was sure. But she’d stay until they arrived.
    A car started up the road toward the bakery. That moment made her realize that she was there to help now. She’d had enough practice during the morning rush, she could help anyone that came into the shop.
    A few minutes later an enormous man climbed out of a mini-van and headed for the door. She wanted to laugh. Was it the water in the town that made the men here so gigantic?
    “Oh, hey,” he said as he let the door close behind him. He let the zipper down on his jacket a little and a tiny head peeked out. “Got damn cold out there this morning, didn’t it?”
    She wasn’t sure if he was talking to her or the baby he’d bundled up in his jacket.
    The man looked up at her. “You own the karate school don’t you?”
    She smiled. “Yes. I’m helping out this morning I guess. Malory went into labor.”
    The man’s eyes grew wide. “No kidding.” He laughed a deep laugh. “I’ll have to give Chris hell now. Wait till that little guy pukes on him one time. Poor Wil. She’ll have her hands full.”
    Kym now knew this man was an Aspen