The Escape Clause Read Online Free

her hand in his. “It’ll be nice to see them before I leave.”
    Those words were like a knife to his back. His breath had even caught. He promised himself he wouldn’t pick a fight, he’d let the comment go.
    It had only taken nearly twenty years to make the woman notice him as more than her best friend. He figured it wouldn’t take as long to convince her that she needed to stay in Nashville with him and not move to France.
     

Chapter Three
     
    It was no surprise that almost everyone was at the hospital when Avery walked through the door.
    Her mother hurried to her the moment she saw her and pulled her to her.
    “Clara just went into labor.”
    Avery stared at her mother. “Really? They’re all going to have their babies at nearly the same time?”
    Her mother smiled. “It worked for Regan and me.” She laughed and wrapped her arm around Avery’s shoulders. “Where is Peter?”
    Avery loved that her mother always used his full name. It was endearing.
    “Parking the car. The close lot was full.”
    Her mother nodded. “Church was in session,” she commented about the church just outside of the hospital. “Have you seen Darcy and Ed’s little girl yet?”
    Avery shook her head. “Pete and I left early this morning.” And then ended up in bed together, but she didn’t say that aloud. She was sure her mother would know that the moment Pete walked through the door.
    “We should go see her. She is beautiful.”
    Avery let her mother lead her to Darcy’s room where Ed sat in a chair by the window, asleep with their other daughter Emily on his shoulder.
    Darcy was sitting up in bed holding a little bundle in her arms.
    Avery’s insides went to mush before she ever peered upon the baby. “Oh, Darcy,” she said looking down at her, “she’s beautiful.”
    “Isn’t she? She looks just like her daddy.”
    “Oh, I don’t know. I think she looks like you.”
    “Do you want to hold her?”
    Of course she did, but she didn’t get to answer. Her mother took the baby from Darcy and turned to hand her to Avery.
    She’d held lots of babies over the years, but holding this one, born only hours after her own birthday, seemed to tug at her heart a little more than others.
    The door to the room opened and Avery watched as Pete moved in quietly. Before he even looked at the baby, he moved to Darcy’s side and kissed her on the cheek.
    “How are you feeling?”
    “Like a million bucks,” she said with a weary smile.
    “You look like two million.”
    Avery swallowed hard. He had a way with the charm and the words. She truly had meant it when she said she loved him.
    Pete moved toward Avery. He put his arm around her and looked down at the little bundle she held in her arms.
    “What’s her name?” he asked and Avery realized she’d never asked.
    “Madeline Rae after her grandmothers.”
    Avery looked up at her cousin. “That is very special.”
    “They are very special,” Darcy added and Avery agreed with a nod.
    She looked up at Pete. “Do you want to hold her?”
    He only smiled. “You look so good holding her I think I’ll just watch you hold her. Besides, it looks like you’ll have another to hold soon.”
    Darcy leaned forward from her seat in the bed. “Which one?”
    “Tori. Madeline said her water finally broke.”
    Avery felt the tears sting her throat. Little Madeline Rae and her cousin would share a birthday just as she and Spencer did. It was touching.
    Pete gave her a gentle squeeze. Obviously, he knew that was sentimental to her.
    He looked back at Darcy. “Is there anything I can get for you or Ed? Or little Emily?” he added.
    “I think we’re doing fine. We’ve been surrounded by everyone, of course.”
    “My sisters did everything they could to kick us all out of the hospital. I think they wished they’d have all given birth in other states like Kacey did.”
    Avery thought about it. Kacey’s little boy was the only one of Pete’s nephews or nieces she hadn’t been at