“Please…no,” Mary Jo protested. “I’m fine. Really, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
A moment later, the assistant behind the front counter hurried over to join Grace and Mary Jo. “The fire department’s on the way.”
Mortified beyond words, Mary Jo leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Needless to say, she’d become the library’s main attraction, of far greater interest than any of the Christmas displays. Everyone was staring at her.
“Here, drink this,” Grace said.
Mary Jo opened her eyes to find someone holding out a glass of water—again. Her mouth had gone completely dry and she accepted it gratefully. Sirens could be heard roaring toward the library, and Mary Jo would’ve given anything to simply disappear.
A few minutes later, two firefighters entered the library, carrying their emergency medical equipment. Instantly one of the men moved toward her and knelt down.
“Hi, there.” The firefighter’s voice was calm.
“Hi,” Mary Jo returned weakly.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“I just got a bit light-headed. I wish you hadn’t been called. I’m perfectly okay.”
He ignored her comment. “You stood up?”
She nodded. “The room began to sway and I thought I was going to faint.”
“I think she did faint,” Grace added, kneeling down next to the firefighter. “I somehow got her back into the chair. Otherwise I’m sure she would’ve crumpled to the floor.”
The firefighter kept his gaze on Mary Jo. He had kind eyes and, despite everything, she noticed that he was attractive in a craggy, very masculine way. He was about her age, she decided, maybe a few years older.
“My name’s Mack McAfee,” he said. “And that guy—” he pointed to the other firefighter“—is Brandon Hutton.”
“I’m Mary Jo Wyse.”
Mack smiled, maintaining eye contact. “When’s your baby due?”
“January seventh.”
“In about two weeks then.”
“Yes.”
“Have you had any other spells like this?”
Mary Jo was reluctant to confess that she had. After a moment she nodded.
“Recently?”
She sighed. “Yes…”
“That’s not uncommon, you know. Your body’s under a lot of strain because of the baby. Have you been experiencing any additional stress?”
She bit her lip. “A little.”
“The holidays?”
“Not really.”
“I’m new to town. I guess that’s why I haven’t seen you around,” Mack said. He opened a response kit he’d brought into the library.
“Mary Jo lives in Seattle,” Grace said, now standing behind Mack as the other firefighter hovered close by.
“Do you have relatives in the area?” he asked next.
“No…” She shook her head, figuring she might as well admit the truth. “I was hoping to see the father of my baby…only he isn’t here.”
“Navy?”
“No…I understood his family was from Cedar Cove, but apparently they’re out of town, too.”
“Ben and Charlotte Rhodes,” Grace murmured.
Mack twisted around to look up at Grace. “The judge’s mother, right? And her husband. Retired Navy.”
“Right.”
“David Rhodes is the baby’s father,” Mary Jo said.
“We’re not…together anymore.” David had told her one too many lies. She knew intuitively that he’d have no desire to be part of the baby’s life.
Mack didn’t speak as he took out the blood pressure cuff and wrapped it around her upper arm. “How are you feeling now?” he asked.
“You mean other than mortified?”
