okay, were both back on the rise. Riling her up in high school had provided him with hours of entertainment. Riling her up when she was pregnant and in the hospital? He needed to be more careful. âIâm sorry,â he said, forcing as much sincerity as he could into his tone, because he was sorry, for real, and for more than teasing her in that moment.
âWhy is he even here?â Kira asked. âWhat would make you pick Spencer Penn, of all people, to be your babyâs godfather?â She looked over at him. âNo offense, Spencer. But last I remember, Krissy didnât think all that highly of you.â
She probably didnât think all that highly of him now, either. Justifiably so.
âBecause thatâs what Jarrod wanted,â Krissy said.
âJarrod?â Kira asked. âWhatâs he got to do with this?â
âThis is his baby.â Krissy caressed her large belly over the monitor straps, looking down at it, her expression soft and loving and so unexpected, as was the warmth that spread through him when he saw it. âA little boy,â she said, with a small smile. âNot to jinx anything, but Iâve already decided to name him Jarrod Junior and call him J.J.â
J.J. Spencer liked it. Jarrod would have liked it too.
He imagined a little boy with Jarrodâs mischievous smile and dimples running around and getting into trouble. Between that little bit of imagery and the babyâs heart beating loudly through the monitor, reality gave Spencer a second punch to the gut. Like it or not, Jarrodâs baby would soon be coming into the world. And heâd need a good man in his life.
Spencer glanced at the bed, at Krissyâs hands in particular. No wedding or engagement ring. Did she already have a man in her life? If so, she didnât call him to tell him she was in the hospital. And sheâd put Kira down as her emergency contact.
Not that it mattered. Spencer would be there too. To tell little J.J. all about his dad, to introduce him to the banana splits with chocolate sprinkles his dad had loved, to take him to baseball games and introduce him to rock music and teach him all the things he knew Jarrod would want his son to know.
âThis is Jarrodâs baby?â Kira asked.
Surprising that Krissy hadnât shared that bit of information with her sister.
âWait a minute,â Kira added. âYour artificial insemination was done with Jarrodâs sperm? He had his sperm frozen before he died? And you...â
Krissy nodded.
Spencer had been cruel to insinuate Krissy would try to pass off another manâs baby as Jarrodâs. Deep down, he didnât believe sheâd do such a thing. But Kira mentioning Krissyâs artificial insemination put an immediate halt to any lingering question he may have had.
Krissy yawned, a big, totally exhausted looking yawn. âIâll tell you everything. Later. I promise.â She repositioned herself in the bed. âRight now, I really need to close my eyes for a few minutes.â She found the bed controller and lowered the head of the bed.
âIâm going to go track down her doctor,â Derrick said as he left the room.
âIâm going to go grab a cup of coffee,â Spencer said, knowing Kira would be in the room if Krissy should need anything. But when he left the room, he didnât go to grab a cup of coffee. He followed Derrick, hoping to listen in on his conversation with Krissyâs doctor.
CHAPTER THREE
O N M ONDAY MORNING , Krissy sat at the reception desk at Derrickâs office, helping Sara with answering phones and checking in/checking out patients, while Kira covered most of her nursing duties in the back. It was that or use a valuable sick day to stay home alone and rest, which would no doubt give her too much time to think about all she had to do before the baby came and worry about the actual giving birth part, which would be anything