The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

furious glare he aimed at her when he whirled around. But she also saw sheer male fear behind his eyes, and was touched by it. “It’s just a part of carrying, that’s all.” She moved to the bed to sit and pat Jude’s hand. “My mother used to lie right down on the kitchen floor when she had a spell, especially with Alice Mae.”
    “I feel fine.”
    “Of course you do. But a little rest doesn’t hurt. Why don’t you fetch our Jude some water, Shawn?”
    “I think she should have the doctor.”
    “Aidan’s likely to make her.” Because Jude looked so unhappy at the thought, Brenna gave her a look of quiet sympathy. “Oh, don’t take on now. Ma says that Dad did the same with her when she carried me. By the time the others came along, he was used to it. A man’s got a right to panic, after all. He doesn’t know what’s going on inside you the way you do, does he? Shawn, let’s have that water now.”
    “All right, I’ll fetch it. But don’t let her get up.”
    “I’m fine, really.”
    “Of course you are. Your color’s back, your eyes are clear.” Brenna gave Jude’s hand another squeeze. “Do you want me to go out and head Aidan off, try to calm him down?”
    “If you think—” She broke off as she heard the front door slam like a gunshot, and then footsteps rushing up the stairs. “Too late.”
    Brenna got up and made it halfway across the room before Aidan came flying in. “She’s fine. Just a little expectant-mother spell. She’s—” Then she only sighed as Aidan dashed right past her.
    “Are you all right? Did you faint? Did someone call the doctor?”
    “We’ll leave it to her to calm him down.” Giving Darcy a little wave, Brenna nudged her out of the room and shut the door.
    “Are you sure she’s all right? She looked so pale for a minute.”
    “She’s fine, I promise you. And Aidan’ll likely keep her in bed the rest of the day no matter how she argues.”
    “Bad enough a woman has to get fat as a cow with a baby. But add to that the hanging over the toilet every morning and fainting without a moment’s notice.” Darcy blew out a breath and ordered herself to calm down. “It’s a sorry state of affairs what a woman goes through. And you—” She stabbed a finger at Shawn as he walked down the hallway with a glass of water. “All the lot of you have to do is have your pleasure, whistle away nine months, then pass out smelly cigars.”
    “It just goes to proving God’s a man,” he said with a weak smile.
    Darcy’s lips quirked at that, but she shook her head. “I’m going to make Jude some tea and toast.”
    She sauntered away, leaving Shawn staring at the bedroom door.
    “Let’s give them a bit of privacy.” Brenna took his arm and tugged him toward the stairs.
    “Shouldn’t I take her the water?”
    “You drink it.” Feeling kindly toward him, Brenna reached up and touched his cheek. “You’re white as a sheet.”
    “Scared ten years off my life, she did.”
    “I can see that. But you acted fast and did just the right thing.” She slipped into the next room, picked up her measuring tape again. “She’s got all those changes going on inside her, and likely isn’t resting as much as she might. She’s all caught up in her plans,” she added, taking a measurement, writing it down in her little book. “So much new in her life in so short a time.”
    “I guess it’s easier for women to take such matters in stride.”
    “I suppose.” Brenna continued to measure and take notes. “You must remember when your mother was carrying Darcy.”
    “Some.” He sipped at the water, as his throat was still dry with nerves. Brenna was calm enough, he noted, moving gracefully around the room in those thick old boots, taking measurements, writing things down, making little pencil marks and noting numbers right on the wall.
    Some of her hair was falling out of her cap. Just a few long, spiraling red curls, loosened, he supposed, by her dash into the bedroom.
    “What do you remember best?”
    “Hmm?” He’d lost the thread somewhere, and now shifted his gaze from the red curl that teased her shoulder back to her face.
    “About when your mother was pregnant with Darcy? What do you remember best?”
    “Laying my head against her belly, feeling all those kicks and movements. It was like Darcy was fretting to get outside and get on with things.”
    “That’s a nice one.” Brenna put her tape and notebook away, lifted her toolbox. “I’m sorry