Middle River Murders Read Free Page A

down in the lobby with Claire’s two young ones. Adam
is watching them,” Beth said as she walked back into the room. “I need to get
back down there so he can come up to see you. You don’t mind, do you?”
    “Of course, not.”
    “I know you’re about to fall out, but could you just hold on
a little longer? You know Adam thinks the world of you. He says you’re perfect
for Billy.”
    “He’s a good man.”
    She leaned down and whispered in my ear, “We’re going to have
a baby. I haven’t told anyone yet, so don’t say anything until I get a chance…”
    “You don’t actually think your husband can keep a secret, do
you?” Sarah said as she walked back into the room. “I found out the minute he
did. He told me to keep it hush-hush until you had a chance to tell me, but you
know how that goes. He’s so proud that he just couldn’t wait to tell someone,
and I was the lucky one he told.”
    “She hears everything,” Beth said, looking from me to her
mother. “I guess that means everybody knows, huh, Mom?”
    “Sure does,” Billy said. “I found out last night but I was a
little too busy at the time to call you. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you
and Adam.” He gave Beth a hug. “I know that both of you have wanted a child for
a long time. Now you’ll have one.”
    “Two,” Beth said. “We’re having twins.”
    “Oh, my goodness,” Mom said, walking into the room. “Twice as
much fun!”
    “I think one at a time is enough for me,” I said, adding my
two cent’s worth. “I don’t know what I’d do with two infants.”
    “What do you mean? You have two little ones,” Beth said.
    “I don’t consider Maisy an infant anymore. She’s a toddler.
There’s a big difference.”
    “You have that right,” Billy said. “She’s like a miniature
adult. She really keeps us on our toes.”
    “I must run,” Beth said. She looked at her mother, Sarah.
“After Adam comes up for a visit, we’ll meet you back at the house.”
    Thirty minutes later, everyone had gone home except Billy. It
was all I could do to keep my eyes open as he talked to me. Just when I was
about to fall asleep, the nurse came in pushing a cart with our baby in it.
    “Someone’s hungry, Mama,” the nurse said.
    I perked right up. It was time to breast-feed Ethan. The
first time I tried, he didn’t want to cooperate. He took a couple of gulps and
then fell asleep. This time I was determined to get him to feed. Women do it
all the time, and if they can do it, so can I. This was something I was looking
forward to. I’ve been told that nothing brings a mother and child closer
together than this.
    Billy picked up Ethan and handed him to me.
    I put Ethan to my breast and he latched on like a pro. I
cried the whole time.
    The nurse looked over at Billy and noticed the concerned look
on his face. “Don’t worry, Mr. Blackhawk. It’s normal for a new mother to cry.
It’s their maternal instinct kicking in. She’s bonding with her child.”
    “Thank goodness,” he replied. “I thought something was
wrong.”
    “Don’t you remember what it was like when Ruth had the boys?”
I asked him.
    “I don’t remember her crying, but then again, I wasn’t with
her the whole time. Remember, I told you that I wasn’t around a lot. I was busy
making a living for my family.”
    “This family has enough money to survive without your being
gone all the time.”
    “That’s true,” Billy replied. “Besides, I made a big chunk of
change, as you would say, on the last case I worked.”
    “Oh, yeah,” I said. “That’s the one you wouldn’t let me work
on with you.” I looked up at the nurse and said, “I finally get my P.I. license
and just because I’m pregnant, my husband wouldn’t let me work on a case with
him. He said it was too dangerous. What do you think of that?”
    “She didn’t tell you that she was eight months pregnant at
the time and could barely get out of the chair let alone run around