Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels

And Alice was coming every day. She sighed again.

      She guessed she owed Hunter a thank-you for Alice, too, but she was getting tired of having to thank him all the time. Though she hadn’t really gotten around to thanking him today.

      Oh, well, she’d thank him tomorrow. If he didn’t irritate her first.

      THE HOSPITAL was abuzz the next morning. The first multiple births had occurred at 3:00 a.m. that morning. Twin boys were sleeping in the nursery, and most of the staff had taken time for a visit to look at the two small babies. They’d weighed in at 5 lbs. 9 oz. and 5 lbs. 4 oz.

      As soon as Lisa told Bri about their arrival, Bri hurried to the first floor, where the nursery was located, to see them.

      “Aren’t they darling?” she asked without even looking to see who had come up beside her.

      “Yes, they are,” Maggie McCallum agreed, sadness in her voice.

      “Maggie! I didn’t even realize that was you. How are you doing?” Bri knew her sister-in-law wanted a baby badly.

      “The same as ever,” she said, offering a smile that wasn’t very sincere.

      Bri hugged her. “Dr. Sheppard is very good at her job. I’m sure if you give it time, you’ll be all right.”

      “She says we will…if Adam cooperates.”

      Bri gave Maggie all her attention. “Is that brother of mine being difficult?” She knew Adam could be stubborn.

      “He has to be tested and…you know how men are about that macho stuff.” Maggie’s cheeks turned pink. “I’ve tried to tell him it’s probably all my fault but—”

      “Maggie McCallum, don’t you let him push you around. It’s not either of your faults. Neither of you would keep from having a baby on purpose. Let Dr. Sheppard help you and soon you’ll have one—or more—of your own.”

      Maggie’s eyes filled with tears. “I hope so,” she whispered.

      “Admiring our new residents?” Hunter asked as he stepped to Bri’s side.

      “Yes, of course,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t notice Maggie’s distress.

      He stuck his hand out and introduced himself.

      Maggie took his hand and explained that she was Adam McCallum’s wife.

      “I haven’t met Adam, yet, though I’ve had a couple of conversations with Caleb,” Hunter explained.

      Bri turned to stare at him. “Oh, really? A couple? When were they?”

      She knew she’d just discovered his source for Grace’s telephone number, but she didn’t know what his other conversation with Caleb had been about. And she wanted to know.

      “Um, just, er, casual conversations. He’s a security consultant for the hospital, you know.” Hunter tried a smile, then he turned to Maggie. “Do you work here, too?”

      “No. I have an appointment with Dr. Sheppard.”

      “Great. She’s a good doctor.”

      “You’re not changing the subject, Dr. Callaghan,” Bri said. “What else did you talk to Caleb about besides Grace’s telephone number?”

      Hunter replied, “Just this and that. How long have you been married, Maggie?”

      A man stepped forward, one with hazel eyes and brown hair. “Long enough to know better than to flirt with strangers.” His tone of voice told everyone he wasn’t happy.

      “Adam,” Maggie said hurriedly. “This is Dr. Callaghan, the new head of obstetrics. Dr. Callaghan, this is my husband, Adam McCallum. He and Bri were just talking about his conversations with Caleb.”

      Though he still frowned, Adam seemed a little friendlier. “You had lunch with Dad and Bri the day before yesterday, too.”

      “Yes, I did. A nice lunch.”

      “So what have you been talking to my brother about?”

      “Just what I want to know, too,” Bri said, her arms crossed.

       Chapter Eleven

      Hunter took his time giving an answer. “I like to talk to adult members of a multiple birth. I think it helps give me perspective. After meeting Bri and Caleb, I’m really glad I finally get to meet you.”

      “You think there’s something wrong with people of multiple births?” Adam demanded.

      “Not at all. In fact, sometimes I envy the bonding that children do in the womb. It seems to last a lifetime.” He kept his gaze on Adam, but he could feel Bri bristling beside him. “Bri, for instance, is fiercely independent, but very close to both her brothers.”

      “That’s true,” Adam agreed. “How you doing, sis? Are the babies all right?”

      “They’re fine.”

      “Is Dr. Callaghan going to handle the delivery?” Maggie asked.

      “Yes,” Hunter said calmly.

      “No!” Bri screamed at the same time. Adam and Maggie stared, and she hurriedly added, “Abby is my doctor. She’ll handle the delivery.”

      Hunter smiled at her. “But I’ll be there, too. I intend to attend all the multiple births until I become very familiar with my staff.”

      “You don’t have to worry about Abby. She’s the best.”

      “I’m sure she is,” Hunter replied.

      “I might have them at an inconvenient time,” she added, realizing she hadn’t convinced him.

      “More inconvenient than three in the morning?” he asked, grinning. “That’s when these guys put in an appearance.”

      “Who delivered them?” Bri asked.

      “Dr. Beaumont. And he did a great job.”

      “Didn’t he resent being watched?”

      “I don’t think so. We had breakfast together afterward.”

      “Bri,” Adam added, his voice calm and reasonable, which only aggravated Bri more, “I’m sure Dr. Beaumont understood. After all, Dr. Callaghan has a job to do.”

      “You’re just siding with him because you’re a man! You and Caleb always did that!”

      “Watch your blood pressure, honey,” Hunter said softly.

      But not softly enough.

      “Honey?” Adam asked, frowning again.

      “I have to go,” Bri announced abruptly and left them all standing there, staring at her as she walked away.

      When she reached her office, Lisa greeted her. “Hi, Bri. I didn’t know you’d met Dr. Callaghan before he arrived. Why didn’t you say so?”

      Bri’s hands flew to her temples to massage the headache beginning to make itself felt. “We didn’t become good friends. We just met, that’s all. No big deal.”

      “But I guess that’s why he’s so friendly with you. After all, you’re the only one he knew before he got here,” Lisa said, beaming at Bri. “So, I guess you’ve got the inside track.”

      Bri stared at her. “The inside track for what?”

      “Dr. Callaghan. Half the staff wants to marry him. But when they hear you knew him before, they may all give up.”

      Bri took a deep breath. “Tell them not to give up, because I’m abandoning the track right now. I’m not exactly the shape for long-distance running.”

      Bri started to walk past her, but Lisa raised her eyebrows