Guess that would be a story for another day. I slammed the door and got in the driver’s side. Bee leaned forward. “She’s at the new birthing center.”
I nodded. Our little town didn’t boast much more than a clinic so most of the women went to either the hospital or the new birthing center that had been built, thanks to our little baby boom.
I pulled out of the station and onto Main Street. The lunch rush was still going on so there was a lot of pedestrian traffic as well as cars.
“Ric just texted me—nope, wait, it’s Jake on her phone. Says not to rush, she’s waiting for a room.”
“Not rush? I am not missing a minute of my first nieto.”
Bee sighed. “Ma, we don’t know it’s a boy.”
“I know it’s a boy. She’s carrying low, and she’s been ready to eat everything in a twelve-mile radius.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“The women in our family either throw up if they’re having girls or eat everything if they’re having boys. It’s just how it is.”
“Good to know,” I quipped.
Bee sat back as the animation in her face vanished. I fixed the mirror so I could get a better look at her. The two women were clutching fingers, and Bonnie had pulled a rosary out of the depths of her purse.
I turned off Main and onto a side street that would get me to the highway faster. “Everything all right with Erica?”
Bee nodded. “Yes, just nerves. She can say a rosary in ten minutes flat when she puts her mind to it.”
I didn’t know much about that kind of thing, but I was pretty sure that was a damn lot of Hail Marys and Our Fathers on the beads.
We ended up behind a fleet of school buses. Evidently, today was a half day.
“Great.”
I took the next right I could to get around the suburbs. When another crush of traffic blocked me, I slapped my steering wheel.
Bonnie unbuckled herself.
“Hey.”
We were a small town and didn’t require the guards that some squad cars had in the back seat. Bonnie leaned forward and flipped on the lights and sirens. “Move it, Sheriff. I’m having a grandbaby.”
“I can’t condone the use of lights and sirens for a non-emer—”
I cut myself off at her furious face, then I glanced at Bee who just shrugged. I sighed. It was probably just easier to make an exception.
This once.
The cars ahead slowly moved to the shoulder. I fit my way through the small side road to the next main intersection and rolled my way through a red light, then took the next onramp.
“How’s she doing?” I asked.
Bee looked down at her phone. “He hasn’t answered.”
“I’m sure she’s fine.” I met her gaze in the mirror. “Erica is strong, and that baby will make a grand entrance. We probably have tons of time.”
She nodded. “You’re probably right.” She chewed on her lower lip and twisted her fingers.
I stepped on the gas and flew up the highway. It was only a few exits away, but nerves buzzed in the car like a hive. I turned off the lights and sirens right before we turned into the birthing center. No need to get people upset just because my ladies were.
I pulled to the front entrance and hopped out. Both women were trying to open the back doors. I opened Bee’s side first and pulled her out. “You’re all right?”