Beyond The Breakwater

She opened her eyes. Reese was in a chair by her bedside, her head back, eyes closed. There were circles under her eyes. She wore jeans and a scrub shirt. She was gorgeous. “Sweetheart?”

Reese jumped, her lids flew open, and she blinked. Then she grinned, a blazing smile that set every worry in Tory’s mind at ease.

“Is she all right?”

“She’s great,” Reese exclaimed, sitting forward and taking Tory’s hand. “She weighs almost four pounds. The doctor says her lungs are mature, and she’s absolutely perfect.”

Tory bit her lip but she couldn’t stop the tears. Reese eased onto the edge of the bed and put her arm behind her lover’s shoulders. She kissed Tory’s forehead, her eyes, her lips. “You want to go see her?”

“God, yes.”

Reese rang the bedside bell and when a nurse appeared, she asked for a wheelchair. Very carefully, the two of them helped Tory from the bed and into the chair.

“Ready?” Reese asked as she leaned down and smiled at Tory.

“Let’s go lights and siren for this trip, Sheriff.”

Reese laughed. “Anything you say, Dr. King.”

Reese squatted on her heels, scarcely breathing. There were some things in life so beautiful they hurt to look at. Tory’s face as she gazed at the baby in her arms was one of them.

When Tory finally raised her head, her eyes were filled with wonder. She reached out her free hand and stroked Reese’s cheek. “Can you believe it?”

“No,” Reese whispered. She edged closer, resting one hand on the baby’s back as Tory cradled her. “I can’t. If I look at her too long, I’m afraid something is going to explode inside of me, the feelings get so big.”

Tory brushed her fingers through Reese’s hair. “I love you so much.”

At that moment, the infant’s eyes, unfocused but a brilliant blue, opened wide.

Tory stroked the baby’s cheek. “Hello, Regina.”

Reese grinned. “Hey, Reggie.

EPILOGUE

August, Provincetown, MA

Nelson looked up as the door opened, then frowned in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Chief?” Reese appeared equally confused.

“I thought you were going to get the baby.”

“Oh!” Reese grinned. “We are. But they aren’t signing her out until after morning rounds, so I’ve got a few hours. Bri around?”

He hesitated. “Took Caroline to the airport.”

“Right,” Reese said quietly. “She leaves…what? For Boston now, then tonight for France?”

“Uh-huh.” He cleared his throat. “I already said my goodbyes early this morning. Hate to watch the plane take off.”

Reese checked her watch. “You think I have time to catch them? Things have been so busy since Reggie was born, I completely forgot Caroline was leaving so soon. What with Tory needing to be at the hospital so much of the time, and then the pediatrician telling us that the baby was going to be able to come home two weeks sooner than we thought, I don’t know which end is up.”

“You should make it if you use the siren.”

She stood and grabbed her hat. “I’ll call in later.”

A few minutes later, Reese pulled her cruiser into the tiny airport parking lot beside Tory’s Jeep and sprinted toward the small terminal. Once through the doors, she easily picked out the group she was looking for. Tory and Kate stood with Bri and Caroline on the far side of the room. Bri and Caroline appeared to be glued together.

“Hey,” Reese called as she hurried over.

“You just realized, too, huh?” Tory remarked as she kissed Reese on the cheek.

“Yeah.” Reese turned to Caroline. “You all set?”

“Yes.” Caroline’s eyes were red-rimmed and her voice feathery. One arm was wrapped tightly around Bri’s waist, her thumb hooked over Bri’s belt at the hip.

The PA system crackled to life and the flight to Boston was announced.

“That’s you, babe,” Bri said unnecessarily, since it was the only departing flight scheduled. She had her hand on Caroline’s neck, stroking her softly.

“Well,” Tory said with a smile, stepping forward and sliding an arm around Caroline. “Have a wonderful time, sweetie. Send us pictures.”

To Reese’s surprise, Caroline released Bri and threw her arms around Reese’s neck. In a voice too low for anyone else to hear, Caroline murmured, “Take care of Bri, okay?”

Reese hugged her, then kissed her cheek. “You bet I will. Don’t worry.”

Then Bri and Caroline were in each other’s arms, and Tory, Kate, and Reese all studied the tarmac while the two young lovers kissed. Finally, Bri stepped away and reached for one of Caroline’s bags. “I’ll walk you out.”

“Don’t forget how much I love you, baby,” Caroline whispered as they approached the small plane.

“I won’t. You neither, okay?”

“I’ll miss you so much.”

Bri bit her lip, then forced a grin. “The time will go fast. You’ll be so busy. Work hard…and have fun. Okay?”

At the base of the steps leading up to the cabin, they faced one another.

“Ill be home for Christmas,” Caroline stated.

Bri held her gaze, then traced a finger down her cheek. “I’ll be right here waiting.”

“Are you sure she’s okay back there?” Reese asked anxiously as Tory slid into the passenger seat of the Jeep.

They both turned and surveyed the tiny bundle in the car seat belted into the rear. The pale yellow blanket moved faintly as their daughter kicked and stretched her miniature limbs.

“She’s fine.”

“Maybe you should sit with her,” Reese muttered. “In case she needs…anything.”

“I just fed her.” Tory rested her palm on her lover’s thigh. “She’s fine, sweetheart. It’s safer back there, and she’s going to go to sleep as soon as you start driving.”

“Okay.” Reese pulled out onto 6 and wished for the hundredth time that she’d brought the patrol car so she could put the lights on and make the traffic ahead pull over. She didn’t like having moving vehicles anywhere near them, not with Reggie in the car. What if some idiot ran into them? “This is awful.”

Tory laughed. “Honey, she’s not made of glass. She’s one strong little girl. Look how quickly she made her minimum safe weight. Almost three weeks early.”

“You think she’s gonna do everything early?” Reese dared a quick glance at Tory. “Cause I’m still playing catch up. Am I ever gonna be prepared?”

“Probably not. That’s part of the fun.” Tory linked her fingers through Reese’s.

“Yeah, right.” But Reese was smiling.

“I was thinking that Women’s Week might be a nice time,” Tory mused. “Regina will be settled in by then.”

“For what?”

Tory brought their joined hands to her lips and kissed Reese’s fingers. “For the wedding you promised me.”

“Oh.” Reese slowed for a light, then met Tory’s eyes. Her voice was husky when she added, “That.”

“Mmm hmm.” Tory’s face was soft with love and contentment. From behind them came a small hiccough, and then what sounded very much like a tiny laugh.

“And they say honeymoons don’t last forever,” Reese whispered.