Oh, hell no, you're not going anywhere," Jack said. "My sister's having a baby, her first, and this is the cheering section." "Wait a minute here," he said. "I'm not real big on babies. We've been over this-I have no idea what to do with them." "Well, for God's sake, we're not going to make you do anything." Jack laughed. "You know how to eat, raise a glass, smoke a cigar? The delivery team is taking care of the messy stuff." "Shouldn't it be real quiet around here? Fewer people?" "We'll be quiet, we'll stay out of the way." Preacher handed Jack a bottle for David. "This guy's going to break in the new crib. Say good-night, David." The boy had the bottle in his mouth that fast, leaned his head against Jack's shoulder sleepily and opened and closed the fingers of one pudgy little hand, holding his bottle with the other. "What if she…" Luke couldn't go on. "What if she what?" "Screams or something," he said squeamishly. Jack put his free arm around Luke's shoulders. "See, you need to be here, buddy. It's time you learn about the cycle of life. You never know, this could happen to you someday." "This is not happening to me someday. I'm way past all this." A few male heads came up. There was some subdued laughter. "Is that so?" Jack said. "Cry me a river, pal, I was over forty when Mel tripped me up. We're all about the same age around here, except Preacher. He's still a pup, even though he looks older than the rest of us." Walt handed Luke a drink. "I was forty-four when Tom was born. I think I'm holding up all right, to tell the truth." "You're going to have to come up with a better excuse," Jack said.
( Robyn Carr )
[ Temptation Ridge ]
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