Free McCallum Quintuplets by Kasey Michaels

start? Any cramping? Discomfort of any kind?”
    â€œNo, no, nothing like that,” Adam told her, stabbing his fingers through his hair. “We had an early dinner at the country club, then came home, popped in a video. Maggie was fine, fine. She just went into the bathroom to get ready for bed, and all of sudden I heard her crying, calling out for me. I brought her right here.”
    â€œWhich was exactly the right thing to do. She’s in good hands.”
    â€œYeah, then tell me, Dr. Sheppard, why am I still so scared?”
    â€œMadeline. I’d be honored if you and Maggie began calling me Madeline. After all, we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other over the next seven months.”
    â€œThank you.” It had been the right thing to say, and she watched as Adam McCallum’s shoulders dropped slightly and his body relaxed. “But are you sure we’re going to have the next seven months, Madeline?”
    â€œNothing’s a sure bet, Adam, but Maggie’s very healthy, the babies are developing nicely, and this is probably just a small speed bump we have to get over, that’s all. Now, if you’ll stay out here for a few moments, I’d like to go talk to Dr. Beaumont and Maggie.”
    Ten minutes later, Madeline was sitting in a chair pulled up beside Maggie’s bed, with Adam standing on the other side, holding his wife’s hand.
    â€œSpeed bump,” Adam said, his smile shaky. “Is that the medical term?”
    â€œIf not, maybe it should be,” Madeline told him, “because that’s what this looks like to everyone. There’s been no increase in bleeding. In fact, there’s been no more spotting since Maggie was admitted to the unit. She isn’t cramping or in any pain. Temperature, normal. Blood count back, and good. Blood pressure, normal. And she’s hungry. As a matter of fact, if you’re this good tomorrow morning, Maggie, Dr. Beaumont is going to kick you out of here.”
    Maggie McCallum dabbed at her moist eyes with a pile of the ridiculously small tissues all hospitals handed out to their patients. “I was so frightened, Madeline. I’ve never been so frightened in my life.”
    â€œAnd we’re going to avoid that in the future, aren’t we?” Madeline said, looking at Maggie with some intensity. “You and Adam are prepared to do anything and everything possible for your children, right?”
    â€œOf course,” Adam said, sounding not only confident, but a little angry at being asked the question. “And you said Maggie hadn’t done anything wrong.”
    â€œNo, she didn’t. And I’d hoped Maggie could continue her normal routine for a while longer, but tonight’s episode tells us that we’re going to have to go into full pamper-mommy mode now. And that, Maggie, means that you’ll be handing in your resignation at school, effective Monday morning.”
    â€œBut—but my students. They won’t understand. I can’t just desert them, just not show up. Can I?” she asked, looking at Adam.
    â€œShe can’t go in and say goodbye?” Adam asked Madeline.
    â€œNot Monday, no. When Maggie goes home, she goes home to bed rest. No lifting, no driving, no cooking, no vacuuming—that’s the worst, you know—and no emotional farewells at the school. In a couple of weeks, once Dr. Beaumont okays it, you can visit your class, Maggie, maybe have a little party, if it’s allowed.”
    Adam bent over his wife, kissed her forehead. “I’ll call the principal tomorrow,” he said with a reassuring smile. “It’ll be all right, sweetheart. And I’ll enjoy spoiling you, although I will tell you that it amazes me, the lengths you’ll go to get breakfast in bed.”
    Maggie sniffled, laughed weakly, nodded her agreement. “We said we’d do anything, didn’t we, darling? I guess we just hit our