Holiday Homecoming (Nashville Nights Next Generation) Read online

  Elaine rubbed Alisa’s back, as though she could sense her granddaughter’s discomfort. “Every woman feels that way toward the end. It’s perfectly natural.”

  “You mean I’m not a terrible person because I just want this to be over already?” Alisa just prayed it wouldn’t be today. She didn’t need an audience of fifty of their closest friends and family hovering, hoping to witness the big event.

  “Honey, I haven’t met a woman who doesn’t feel that way by this stage of the game.”

  Alisa had hoped to talk to her grandmother about her concerns for weeks, but with the holiday rush at her boutique, she couldn’t sneak away. That she insisted on working so hard this close to her due date drove Liam to distraction, but she needed to know that Lena, her best friend and manager, could handle things when she took some time off after the baby was born.

  “Nana, can I ask you something?” She grit her teeth and tried to smile as pain ricocheted through her abdomen, stealing her breath.

  Elaine frowned. “Honey, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Braxton Hicks contractions, I’ve been getting them for a couple of weeks now.” She wasn’t going to alert anyone, least of all her elderly grandparents, until she knew this was the real deal.

  Elaine didn’t look convinced, but she asked, “You said you wanted to ask me something?”

  “It’s about the delivery. How do you feel about me having my baby at home with a midwife instead of going to the hospital?” She sighed when she caught her father’s eye across the room. He was engaged in a heated conversation with Liam, no doubt trying to change his mind about their delivery plan. “I know Daddy’s dead-set against it, but do you think there’s anything wrong with it?”

  Elaine laughed. “Honey, there was a time when we didn’t have a choice. Heck, I practically delivered my own nephew.”

  “Really?” Alisa was surprised she had never heard this story before. Of course, if it ended badly, that may be the reason her nana chose not to talk about it. “Was everything okay? I mean, there weren’t any complications, were there?”

  Elaine patted her hand. “No, my sister gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. We were living in a pretty rural area at the time and we got snowed in. Most people, including my parents, couldn’t afford a car in those days, so we had to make do. Fortunately, my mama had given birth to six babies of her own, so she knew what to do.”

  Alisa bit her lip when she would have preferred to release an unabashed moan. She glanced at her diamond wristwatch. How long had it been since the last… contraction? She had to face facts. She may not have done this before, but her body was sending her a definite message. She was in labor. She tried not to panic. It would probably be countless hours before her baby made his grand entrance, still…

  “Sweetheart, are you sure you’re all right?” Elaine asked, pressing a hand to her forehead. “You look kind of pale, and you feel a little clammy.”

  “I’m fine, but I think I need to use the restroom. Excuse me, Nana.” Alisa took several minutes to get up and make her way down the long hallway to the powder room. By the time she closed and locked the door, she barely sat down on the commode before she felt the rush of water escape. Oh God, my water broke! No question about it, this baby was coming.

  Alisa took a few minutes to wash her hands and collect herself before she called down the hall for her mother.

  Sierra was there in seconds, but her smile slipped as soon as she saw the tear on her daughter’s cheek.

  Alisa promised herself she would be strong when the time came, but she feared the pain may be more intense than she could handle. “Mom, I…” She squeezed her mother’s hand as Sierra brushed the hair off her forehead.

  “Honey, what is it? Is it the baby?”

  “My water just broke,” she whispered. She looked down the hall, hoping to find her husband. “Can you help me to a bedroom? Then tell Liam I need him. Oh, and someone will have to call Maria.”

  Sierra gripped her hand and slipped an arm around her waist as she led her to the bedrooms in the opposite wing of the house. “Honey, are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

  “I thought you supported my decision to have this baby at home?” Alisa cursed the tears sliding down her cheeks. She didn’t know if they were prompted by pain, fear, or indecision, but she wished they would stop. She wanted to be strong, for her husband and baby, not a weak, sobbing, screaming mess.

  She watched television shows and saw women giving birth under water, welcoming their baby into a calm and soothing environment. That’s what she wanted. Okay, maybe she could live without the water, but she wanted to know her baby was being born in a comfortable environment, surrounded by people who loved him or her, not a cold, sterile hospital room being passed around by doctors and nurses wearing surgical masks.

  “I do… if you’re sure that’s what you want,” Sierra said, ushering Alisa into her childhood bedroom.

  “We should put something down on the bed,” Alisa said, looking at the plush duvet and decorative pillows with concern.

  Sierra laughed. “We’ll worry about that later. Your water already broke, and my guess is we have a little while to go before the big event.”

  “My purse is on the table by the door. Maria’s number’s in there. Can you call her for me and ask Liam to come in?” Alisa eased onto the bed and sighed as she leaned back against the pillows.

  “Of course, and don’t worry about a thing,” Sierra said, plumping the pillows behind her head. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

  “Mom, could I have something else to wear?” she asked, looking down at the expensive designer dress she’d bought in honor of the evening.

  “Sure, I’ll bring in one of your father’s old t-shirts.” Sierra laughed. “They always hit your knees. Remember you used to wear his favorites as sleep shirts and he’d get so mad when he couldn’t find them?”

  Alisa smiled as she reached for her mother’s hand. “Daddy’s not going to like this, is he? He’s going to want me to go to the hospital to have the baby.”

  Sierra winked. “You let me worry about your father. If anyone can talk him down, I can.”

  Alisa was lying in bed, trying to breathe through another contraction while gripping a stuffed white teddy bear her father had given her after one of his tours, when her best friend, Lena, appeared at the door.

  “Hey.” Lena paused in the doorway, looking uncertain. “Your mom looked a little stressed. I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”

  Alisa reached out her hand, inviting her friend into the room. Lena had been a part of her life since Trey and Sierra welcomed the homeless, pregnant teen into their family at the tender age of fifteen.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Alisa whispered. “I could use a friend.”

  Lena sat down in the chair beside the bed and took her friend’s hand. “Are you sure you don’t want me to get Liam?”

  “My mom is going to tell him.” Alisa tried to shift her body to relieve the pain in her lower back. “God, it hurts so much.”

  “I remember,” Lena said quietly, fixating on their joined hands.

  “Oh, honey,” Alisa said, squeezing her friend’s hand. “If this is too hard for you, you don’t have to stay.”

  “No,” Lena said, shaking her head. “It’s okay. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now.”

  Lena had given her own baby up for adoption the day she was born. Jay and Victoria Spencer raised her daughter, Ava, and Lena felt blessed to remain a part of her life as a friend and confidante.

  “Do you ever think about it?” Alisa asked. They didn’t talk about Lena’s pregnancy often. She knew from experience some events were too traumatic to relive, even with your best friend.

  “Of course I do. Sometimes I’m sitting there with Ava, eating popcorn and watching a girlie movie, and wonder what it might have been like if I’d tried to raise her.”

  Alisa couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live with
those questions plaguing you. “You did the right thing. Allowing Jay and Victoria to raise her was the most selfless decision you could’ve made.”

  Lena smiled and blinked back the tears. “In my mind, I know that’s true, but it’s my heart that’s still having a hard time accepting it.”

  “Ohhhh, here comes another one.”

  “It’s okay,” Lena said, gripping her hand tighter. “You can do this. Just remember to breathe.” She inhaled and exhaled with her friend. “That’s it. Good job.”

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I wanted to ask you to be with me when the baby was born, but I was afraid there would be too many painful memories.”

  “I’ll never forget, Ali. It doesn’t matter whether I’m sitting here beside you to welcome your beautiful baby into the world or driving down the interstate. It’s always there. She’s a part of me, no matter what.”

  “She’s so lucky to have you in her life.”

  Lena shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I think she has the perfect parents to help guide her, but if I can be there to support her in any way, I will be.”

  “Just like you’re going to be here to support me tonight?”

  Lena smiled. “You better believe it.”

  Liam watched Sierra going through Alisa’s purse, and he felt angst like pin pricks on the back of his neck. Something was wrong. He could sense it. He nodded and smiled politely as Luc Spencer told him about a stock deal that earned him a bundle. He suggested Liam contact his broker for the details, but money was the last thing on Liam’s mind when he saw Trey make his way over to his wife. Liam watched them, deep in conversation, and the look on his father-in-law’s face told Liam everything he needed to know.

  “Excuse me, Luc. I need to have a word with Trey and Sierra.”

  “No problem,” Luc said, raising his glass. “We’ll catch up later.”

  “Is there a problem?” Liam asked, slapping Trey on the back.

  “You’re damn right there’s a problem,” Trey said, raising his voice. “My little girl—”

  “Why don’t we take this into the study?” Sierra said, reaching for her husband’s hand.

  Liam followed them down the hallway, fear and dread tightening his gut. He hadn’t seen Alisa in a few minutes, but he assumed she was taking one of her frequent bathroom breaks. Obviously, he was wrong. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Liam asked as Sierra closed the door behind them.

  “I’ll tell you what’s wrong,” Trey said, pacing across the Persian area rug in front of the stone fireplace. “My little girl is about to have a baby… without a doctor.” He glared and pointed at Liam. “You need to do somethin’ about that. Now!”

  Liam took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He suffered from high blood pressure and had a heart attack shortly after he and Alisa met. She needed him now. He wouldn’t be of any use to her or their baby if he landed in the hospital because he let stress get the best of him. “Listen, Trey, I already told you, this is Alisa’s decision. I’m going to support her, no matter what you think.”

  Trey raked his hands through his thick black and silver hair and scowled as he continued to pace. “You should’ve talked some sense into her back when she first brought up this hare-brained idea. What the hell was she thinkin’, wantin’ to have this baby at home? That’s just askin’ for trouble, if you ask me.”

  “Well, we didn’t.” Liam stuck his hands in his pockets and met Trey’s glare with one of his own. His father-in-law had tried to intimidate him the first time they met. It didn’t work then and it wasn’t going to work now. The world may see Trey as a famous country singer, but to Liam, he was just a man like any other. He liked and respected him, but he wouldn’t be dictated to by anyone. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to see my wife.”

  “Not so fast,” Trey said, taking a step toward him. “I’m not finished talkin’ to you about this.”

  Sierra cleared her throat. “Trey, I’ve told you before, this is their decision, not ours.”

  He looked at his wife a long time before his eyes filled with tears and he cleared his throat. His voice was husky with emotion when he said, “You and I both know better than anyone that things can go wrong in a heartbeat, baby. I don’t want that for them.”

  Sierra crossed the room and slipped her arms around his waist, as she leaned her head on his chest. “I know that. But you can’t assume the worst. We have to believe everythin’ is going to be fine.” She tipped her head back and looked him in the eye. “Alisa is almost full term. There’s no reason to believe there will be any complications.”

  “But what if there is?”

  Trey looked so tortured, it almost made Liam feel guilty. But he would always side with his wife above anyone else. Her happiness was the most important thing in the world to him. “Trey, everything’s going to be fine. This has been a very uneventful pregnancy, thank God. There’s no reason to believe there will be any complications during the delivery. If I thought for a second Alisa or the baby was at risk, I’d drive them to the hospital myself, no questions asked.”

  Trey gave his wife a quick kiss before he said, “Do you mind if I have a quick word with Liam, sweetheart? You go on in and sit with Alisa. We’ll be right there.”

  Sierra looked back and forth between her husband and son-in-law, looking uncertain. “Okay, but don’t be too long. Alisa needs you, both of you.”

  Trey waited for his wife to close the door behind her before he turned to Liam. “Look, you know I wasn’t too crazy about you marryin’ my daughter, but during the past couple of years, I’ve come to know you and respect you. You’re more than my son-in-law, Liam. I consider you a good friend.”

  Liam shared the sentiment. Trey had become someone he could count on, unlike his own father, who was more interested in amassing wealth than raising a family. “I feel the same way.”

  “I’m askin’ you now, as a friend, please don’t let her do this.”

  Liam sighed as he sank into one of the leather guest chairs in front of the desk. “Listen to me. I’m not getting any younger. This may be the only child Alisa ever has. I want this to be a beautiful memory for her.”

  Trey claimed the chair next to Liam and dropped his head into his hands. “You assume everything will go smoothly, but there are no guarantees.” He looked up with a pained expression. “You can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to hold your baby in your arms as she takes her last breath. Nothin’, and I mean nothin’, can ever prepare you for that. It’s like a part of you dies, right then and there, and no matter what you do, or how long you live, you know you’re never, ever gonna get it back.”

  Liam swallowed the lump in his throat. As a father, he couldn’t imagine what it was like for Trey and Sierra to lose their premature newborn. “I’m sorry for what you had to go through. I know it must have been hell for you, for both of you, but this isn’t the same thing. Alisa’s almost full-term, and there’s no reason to believe there will be a problem.”

  “Really?” Trey sat back and folded one leg over the other. “What if the baby’s breech, is in distress, or Alisa starts hemorrhagin’ and that goddamn midwife can’t stop the bleeding because she’s not a doctor and she doesn’t have the medication she needs to take action? Are you willin’ to take that kind of risk with your wife and baby? ’Cause I sure as hell ain’t.”

  Liam didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t allowed himself to consider the worst possible scenarios. He hadn’t built his empire worrying about what could go wrong. He took action and dealt with consequences when and if problems arose. But this was different. They were talking about two people who meant the world to him. If anything happened to either one of them, he didn’t know how he’d go on living, knowing he could have done something to prevent the tragedy if he heeded Trey’s warnings.

  Sierra tapped on the door and stuck her head in. “I just got off the phone with the midwife. The roads are a bit slick because of the snow, so she didn’t feel comfortable drivin
g. Ryan and Brianna are on their way to pick her up now.”

  “Thanks, Sierra,” Liam said, feeling numb. What the hell am I supposed to do now?

  Chapter Three

  Ryan Spencer didn’t argue when his good friend Brianna Cooper offered to drive his Audi to pick up her cousin’s midwife. His all-wheel drive handled much better than hers on the slick roads, but since he’d already had two drinks at the party, she said she had no intention of letting him get behind the wheel.

  He loved that she cared so much. Even though he’d dated countless women, he never had a better friend than Brianna. They grew up together, their families were the best of friends, and as the years passed, Ryan began to question whether his feelings for her were evolving into much more than platonic friendship.

  “You okay?” Ryan asked, looking at her hands.

  They clenched the wheel so tightly her knuckles were turning white. “Yeah, sure.” She turned up the volume on the country music station filtering through the speakers. “I love this song.”

  “Clint Davis is our client,” Ryan said, tapping his fingers against his leg in time to the music. “He’s a great guy, and if his debut album is any indication, he’s got one hell of a future in this business.”

  Ryan and his brother, Evan, took over their father, Luc’s, company, Titan Records, earlier that year, and Clint was one of the artists his brother had signed. They knew the first time they heard his demo they had to have him on their team.

  “There’s something unique about his voice. It’s so sexy and raspy.” She laughed as she fanned her face. “I checked out his website the other day. My God, is he gorgeous, or what?”

  They had always talked to each other about their dates, but now Ryan felt a twinge of jealousy every time he heard her mention another man’s name. “I think he has a girlfriend.” Ryan didn’t know why he blurted that out. She hadn’t asked whether the man was available; she merely said she found him attractive. He knew he was crazy to let it bother him, but no one ever accused him of being rational.