In Death 23 - Born in Death

doesn’t have anyone until Aaron gets here.”
    Since Eve was prepared to treat both women as she would a dangerous, wounded animal, she patted Mavis’s white-knuckled hand. “Sure, no problem. I’m on it.”
    She walked over, pushed open the door, and found herself staring at a completely naked, enormously pregnant woman being helped into a short blue gown.
    “Jesus.” Eve slapped her hand over her eyes. “Sorry. Mavis wanted to be sure you were okay.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about me.” Tandy’s voice was cheerful and bright. “You need to be with her now.”
    “No problem. I’m going.”
    “Oh, oh, Dallas. Do you think you could reach Aaron again? Make sure he’s on his way.”
    “You bet.” She turned, went back over, and was flashed with a naked Mavis. “Please, in the name of all that’s holy and good, will someone cover these women?”
    Mavis giggled as Dolly slipped a gown in mad swirls of blue and pink over her head. “Is Tandy all right? Is Leonardo coming? Is Aaron?”
    “She’s fine. I’ll check.”
    Desperate to escape, Eve darted into the hall. There she determined that Aaron had finally gotten into a cab, and Leonardo had just completed the check-ins.
    “Courage,” she reminded herself, and went back into Mavis.
    “Hey! I’m wired!” She was sitting up in bed, flushed with excitement. “See, that’s the baby’s heartbeat, and that one’s to measure contractions.”
    Dolly snapped on a protective glove. “We’re just going to do a cervical check.”
    God have mercy. “I’ll be in the hall.”
    “No, don’t leave!” Mavis shot out a hand. Resigned to the idea there was no God, Eve took it as Mavis assumed the position.
    “Leonardo’s on his way up,” Eve told her, careful to keep her eyes trained on Mavis’s face.
    “About three centimeters,” Dolly announced. “You’ve got plenty of time, so be comfortable. Let me know if I can get you anything. And you, Dallas, is that right?”
    “Yeah.”
    “What can I get you?”
    “A huge glass of wine.”
    Dolly laughed. “Now, now, no alcohol until the toast after baby. How about a nice cup of tea?”
    Eve started to ask for coffee, then remembered hospital sludge was as bad as cop coffee. “Got Pepsi?”
    “Of course.”
    “Moonpie!” Mavis called out when Leonardo came in, carrying an emormous vase of yellow roses. “Aw, you brought me flowers and I haven’t even had the baby yet.”
    “They’re like sunshine, so you can focus on them until the bag gets here.” He leaned over, kissed her gently on the forehead. “Are you all right? Should I get you ice chips, the stability ball? Do you want music?”
    “I’m mag. Three centimeters and counting. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m so glad you’re all here. It’s just like I pictured it. Summerset, would you be an abso angel and be with Tandy until…Oh! Here comes a little one.”
    Since Leonardo was there to hover, Eve stepped away to stand with Roarke. “I saw them naked, both of them, and now I’m scared for life. The human body isn’t meant to stretch like that.”
    “I’m more concerned about other areas of their body stretching.”
    “Oh, please.”
    “That wasn’t so bad,” Mavis said cheerfully, then she gave Leonardo a gooey look. “Honey bear? You know what you asked me before. Last week, and last month, and the month before that?”
    He had both of her hands in his, and pressed them to his heart. “Angel Eyes!”
    “Yes.”
    Eve averted her own eyes as they engaged in the sort of intense liplock that had likely been the precursor to the current situation.
    “We’re getting married!” Mavis sang out.
    “No shit?” Eve responded.
    “Absolutely none. We’re going to be totally hitched.”
    “I’ve been asking her for months.” Leonardo’s face shone like a copper moon. “And finally! I’m going to design you the most fantastic wedding gown.”
    “Oh, but no. Honey-pie, we have to do it now. Before the baby comes.”
    “Now?”
    “I just know it’s right. The baby’s coming, and I want to be your adoring wife when we see him, or her, for the very first time. Up close and personal. Please?”
    “But we don’t have a license, or any arrangements.”
    Her bottom lip trembled. “But it has to be now.”
    “Hold on.” Eve held up a hand before the waterworks could start. “I think we can handle this one. Give us a few.”
    She stepped out with Roarke. “I’m hitting up the mayor,” she said as she pulled out