Overdue Read online

  Overdue

  Lorhainne Eckhart

  Contents

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  The Friessen Family Series Reading order:

  Overdue

  Overdue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  What’s Coming Next

  Other Works Available

  About the Author

  Links to Lorhainne Eckhart’s Booklist

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  The Friessen Family Series Reading order:

  The Outsider Series

  The Forgotten Child (Brad and Emily) with bonus short story A Baby And A Wedding

  Fallen Hero (Andy, Jed, and Diana) with bonus short story The Search

  The Awakening (Andy and Laura)

  Secrets (Jed and Diana)

  Runaway (Andy and Laura) with bonus short story Overdue

  The Unexpected Storm (Neil and Candy)

  The Wedding (Neil and Candy)

  The Friessens: A New Beginning

  The Deadline (Andy and Laura)

  The Price to Love (Neil and Candy)

  A Different Kind of Love (Brad and Emily)

  A Vow of Love, A Friessen Family Christmas

  The Friessens

  The Reunion

  The Bloodline (Andy & Laura)

  The Promise (Diana & Jed)

  The Business Plan (Neil & Candy)

  The Decision (Brad & Emily)

  First Love (Katy)

  Family First

  Leave the Light On

  Overdue

  An Outsider Series Short (JED & DIANA)

  Overdue

  An Outsider Series Novella

  OVERDUE

  Jed & Diana

  Runaway to The Unexpected Storm bridge short story

  Diana and Jed are expecting a baby, a week ago. And when this overtired couple finally reach their breaking point, it’s Jed’s mother, Becky, who steps in with a creative solution.

  Chapter 1

  “Jed, I’m stuck!” Diana shouted from the bathtub, where the water was beginning to cool. For the life of her, she had no hope of standing gracefully and climbing out. Being pregnant had its challenges, but she was a week overdue and so large that every part of her ached and she could no longer do the simple things she took for granted; like putting on her shoes, bending over, or getting out of the bathtub without help.

  “What are you doing?” Jed laughed from the doorway, putting his large hand on the door frame and leaning in, looking as sexy as ever in a pair of worn jeans and a plaid blue shirt.

  At least he didn’t have to worry about his body getting all stretched to hell, being tired and cranky, and having to pee every five minutes. “I can’t get out. Please help me.” She gave him a pathetic doe-eyed look, pouting her lower lip.

  Jed’s expression turned to one of sympathy as he strode toward her and leaned down, lifting her from the bathtub. He put her down, taking his time, running his hands over her very rounded belly.

  “Ouch.” She pressed her hand to her ribs.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, leaning over and draining the bathtub.

  “The baby pressed his foot in my ribs,” she said, struggling for breath. Even breathing now took great effort, as the baby was shoving all her insides up, crammed under her lungs.

  Jed reached for the towel and started drying Diana; taking care and lingering over her large, very sensitive breasts. He leaned down and touched his lips to hers.

  “Jed, I feel about as sexy as a beached whale. Look at me—I’m not even attractive anymore, and you haven’t tried to touch me in…” She could feel the tears about to start again. She couldn’t help it. Lately, everything made her cry. “I couldn’t even get out of the bathtub,” she said, sobbing.

  Jed hung the towel up and slid her bathrobe around her; dressing her as if she were a child and not his wife. “It’s okay, Diana. You may not believe this, but carrying my child…you’ve never looked more beautiful.” He touched her cheeks with both hands and kissed her again before guiding her out of the bathroom.

  Diana felt the pinching across her belly and down the front of her legs. “Oh, Jed!” She reached for his arm and stopped in the hallway.

  “It’s all right. Are you having a contraction?” He reached around her shoulders and rubbed down her arm.

  “Yes! Please, God, let this be it.” Diana breathed out and glanced up at Jed, smiling this time because the day was finally here.

  “Come on. Sit down in the living room, put your feet up, and we’ll time them.” Jed settled her into the rocker and shoved the stool under her feet.

  “Your mom will be so happy. She won’t have to ask me every morning how I’m feeling, when she really means ‘Still no baby?’” Diana sighed, and another contraction swept in, clutching her belling low and squeezing. It wasn’t so hard that she couldn’t think, but it was starting to get uncomfortable. She looked up at Jed, and he checked his watch and noted the time. “How far, Jed?” she asked, willing the seconds to pass, praying for a fast delivery.

  “We have a while yet, honey. That’s ten minutes,” Jed said, offering her a smile of encouragement.

  “Call Doctor Caldwell. Tell her I’m finally in labor. She better not make plans to do anything tonight, because I’m having this baby,” Diana said sharply.

  Jed rested his hands on the back of the sofa across the room and watched her with his light brown eyes. She could tell he was considering what to say. He sighed and dropped his head as he strode to her, lifting her feet from the stool, where he sat down and put them in his lap. “Honey, I know you want to hurry this baby, but you can’t. He’s going to come when he’s ready. I’ll call Doctor Caldwell soon, but let’s just sit here and wait. As soon as they’re a little closer together; I’ll call her.” He lifted her foot and pressed into her arch, massaging it.

  She leaned her head back and sighed. “Okay.”

  The contractions were getting stronger and closer together. Diana held Jed’s hand as the last one passed.

  “That’s five minutes,” he said.

  “Jed, can you call her, please?” she pleaded. She’d been sitting with Jed, timing contractions, for hours. It was late, and Danny had been asleep for a while. Jed’s parents were in the loft above the barn, having flown in the past week; two days before Diana’s due date.

  He didn’t say a word as he went into the kitchen; picking up the phone to dial. “Hey, Doctor Caldwell, Jed here. Diana’s in labor.”

  Diana watched her husband, and the one-sided conversation, as he listened to whatever the doctor was telling him.

  He nodded. “Hmm. Well, we’ve been timing them for the last few hours. They’re about five minutes apart.” He glanced up sharply over at Diana and then said, “No.” He shook his head. “Well, I think you should tell her that.” There was laughter from the other end. Jed sighed. “Look, I’ll bring her in. Okay, thanks, Doc.” Jed hung up the phone. “She said to call her again when the contractions are closer together, but if you really want to go to the hospital now, she’ll meet us.”

  Diana pushed out of the chair as another contraction clutched at her belly, this time harder. It was really starting to hurt.

  Jed touched her arm and rubbed her back. “Breathe through it; just like we learned.”

  Her legs were shaky when i
t finally passed. “I want to go now,” she said.

  “Okay, I’ll go wake up Mom and Dad. You get dressed.” Jed kissed her cheek; then went out the front door. Diana waddled down the hall to their bedroom to put on some clothes so she could finally have this baby.

  Chapter 2

  “How could my labor have stopped?” Diana asked quite sharply from the hospital bed in the labor and delivery room.

  Dr. Caldwell ripped off a pair of rubber gloves after she had examined Diana and glanced at Jed. “Well, Diana, it happens. This baby isn’t ready to come just yet.”

  Diana tried to speak, but nothing other than a sputter would come out of her mouth.

  Dr. Caldwell rested her hand on Diana’s leg where the sheet covered her. “You’re only one centimeter dilated. Listen, go home and rest up, because it won’t be much longer.”

  Diana wanted to cry when she glanced at the end of the bed and up at Jed. He winced, and she burst into tears. She couldn’t help it. She was tired, the sun was coming up, and she was still pregnant. It seemed as though the baby was never going to arrive.

  “Hey there, Diana, it’s going to be fine.” Jed sat beside her on the bed and swept her into his arms; pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Hey, Doc, is there nothing you can do?”

  “To what?” the doctor snapped in a way that implied Jed had asked the most stupid question.

  Diana dried her eyes and stared up into the round, dark face of her doctor. She was pretty and strong, and short dark hair was sticking out from the ponytail she had shoved it into.

  “Look, we don’t induce unless you get to a point where it’s necessary,” Dr. Caldwell said. “We’re not there yet, and I’m not like some of those doctors out there who’ll cut you open just because the calendar said this is when the baby’s due. That’s not the way it works, Diana, Jed. Babies have their own timetable, and this one isn’t ready to come yet. You’re healthy, and so’s the baby. The heartbeat’s strong. Go home,” she said sharply as she patted Diana’s leg. “Go for a walk when you get home. Relax. It’ll happen. If labor doesn’t start again; I want to see you in my office tomorrow. Jed, you can call to book an appointment.”

  Diana wiped her tears and sniffed. “I’m just tired. I can’t breathe, and my back hurts.”

  “I know, Diana, I know. Now go home,” Dr. Caldwell said again, patting Diana’s leg.

  Thirty minutes later, Jed had Diana in his truck; driving through downtown North Lakewood on the way home. It was early morning, and the stores were just opening up. “Jed, let’s stop at the store. We’ll pick up a few groceries while we’re here.”

  “Sure you’re up to it?” Jed turned the wheel and pulled into an empty spot in front of the store. He parked and shifted in his seat toward Diana—he looked so tired.

  “I’m sorry, Jed,” she said.

  He opened his door and stepped out; waving to an older couple on the street as he came around to Diana’s door and opened it. “Honey, stop saying you’re sorry. You heard the doctor: You can’t make this happen any faster.” He put his hands around her waist and lifted her out, guiding her onto the curb. “Watch your step,” he said. With his arm around her waist, he helped her up on the sidewalk, as she couldn’t see her feet.

  “Oh, Diana, you’re still pregnant,” Mrs. Harris, the short, squat, wife of the grocery store owner said, as she pushed open the glass door. “You look like you’re about ready to have that baby. When are you due?” she asked.

  Diana stiffened, and Jed rubbed her arm over the sweater she’d thrown on to go to the hospital. “Five days ago. I’m overdue,” she snapped.

  “Yeah, just on our way home. Hopefully any day now,” Jed said, trying to smooth things over.

  “Oh, well, maybe you didn’t get your dates right, is all,” Mrs Harris said. She firmed her lips, punctuating the point with a sharp incline of her head.

  Diana felt fire surge through her, and Jed’s arm tightened around her as he hustled her into the store and tossed out over his shoulder, “Nice to see you, Missus Harris. We gotta go.” He turned back to Diana. “Just keep walking,” he said.

  Diana let Jed grab a cart, as she walked beside him; stopping in the produce aisle. She was so mad that she tossed a bag of carrots into the cart a little harder than necessary.

  “Come on now, Diana. Cool off.”

  “Are you kidding? Did you hear what she said? Didn’t get my dates right! What the hell does she think, I’m such a stupid twit that I can’t calculate and—”

  Jed put his hand over her mouth to stop her and shook his head. “Don’t go there. Come on. I know how hard it is.” She shot him a look she knew would have had anyone else withering away. Jed just winced graciously. “Sorry, honey. Bad choice of words.” He stopped the cart and slid his arm around her shoulder; holding her to him. “We’re in this together. Stop listening to everyone else.”

  “Jed, I just want to have this baby. I feel like I’m being a burden.” She blinked because she thought she was going to cry again.

  “Whoa, stop right there.” He didn’t let go of her shoulders as he lifted her chin with his finger. “I love you. You could never be a burden—not to me. You’re carrying my child. You have no idea what that means to me.” He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her deeply; right in the middle of the grocery store aisle.

  A man coughed. “Excuse me. Looks like you’ve already had your fun. This store is G-rated.” The cowboy chuckled as he walked past.

  Diana blushed and hid her face against Jed’s chest. “Come on. Let’s finish up and get out of here. I think we could both use some sleep when we get home.”

  Half an hour later; Jed pulled up in front of their home and parked beside Andy’s black truck.

  “Andy’s here. Wonder if he brought Laura and the babies,” Diana said.

  Jed opened his door with an odd look on his face. He waved his hand in the air. “Andy,” he called as he shut his door and walked around the truck.

  Diana waited for her husband to open the door as she leaned her head back, wanting to shut her eyes and sleep for a few hours. She was wrung out after being up all in night in false labor, and she dreaded seeing Becky.

  Jed opened her door. “Come on, you can’t hide.”

  “I don’t want to talk to anyone and have one more person ask why I’m still pregnant, because at this point; I’d want to kill them.”

  Jed leaned around and unfastened her seatbelt, sliding it off her shoulder and lifting her out just as Andy approached. He was unshaven and wearing just a plain blue shirt and jeans, nothing fancy. His hair appeared freshly cut. Rodney, Diana’s father-in-law, looked distinguished standing right beside him. Both men stared at Diana’s large belly and frowned.

  “I thought Diana was in labor,” Andy said. By the look in Jed’s eyes; Diana could tell her husband probably wanted to kick him.

  Rodney rested a hand on Andy’s shoulder just as Becky hustled out of the house with Danny perched on her hip and stopped. Her eyes widened, and she winced before starting toward Diana again.

  Maybe it was the pathetic look she knew she had pasted on her face; but Diana felt as if she wasn’t doing something right, and she couldn’t help it when she burst into tears.

  Jed was exhausted; and having Diana cry at the drop of a hat…well, he remembered what the doctor had said about her hormones soaring. Add in no sleep, and weeks of restless nights; and it was no wonder she was a mess.

  His mother, thankfully, understood, because she quickly passed Danny to Jed and slid her arms around Diana. “Oh, there, there. It’s going to be okay, Diana.” Becky guided Diana toward the house. “Come inside and go to bed. You have to be absolutely exhausted,” she said; though she glanced back at Jed and mouthed, “What happened?”

  “Diana, I’ll be in soon,” Jed said; but Diana kept walking with his mother into the house, as Danny squeezed Jed’s shirt between his tiny fists. Jed kissed his little redheaded boy on the cheek. “Did you eat breakfast?” he asked
.

  “Uh-huh,” Danny gibbered away. “Daddy, down.”

  “Okay, bud, but stay here. Go get your big trucks over there.” Jed put his two-year-old boy down; who then raced right for the small wooden sandbox Jed had built for him at the front of the house.

  “So, what happened, son?” Rodney asked. His white hair was cut short, and his eyes danced with sympathy. He was still a tall man, although he was starting to hunch a little in the shoulders.

  “Labor stopped. The doctor said the baby is just not ready to come. She sent us home, and Diana isn’t happy. She’s tired of everyone asking when she’s going to have the baby. I know she’s uncomfortable, and I’m trying to make this easier,” Jed said. Maybe it was because he was so tired that he didn’t pick up on how tense Andy seemed. “So, what’s going on?” he asked his cousin before glancing over at his father, who wore a grim expression.

  “You have enough to worry about with your wife. Go look after her,” Andy said.

  But Rodney said, “Andy here has just been filling me in on his mother’s exploits.” He exchanged a dark look with his nephew.

  “Something else happen, Andy?” Jed asked.

  Andy shifted uncomfortably. “No, nothing for you to worry about. You and Diana have done enough.”

  Jed studied both his father and Andy. Something was being shared; and if he weren’t so tired, he probably would’ve demanded to know what was happening. “If it’s because of Diana, I would appreciate you not bringing it up with her. We’re family, Andy. Not much I can do for Diana right now but be here with her. We’re in a waiting game, and she’s wound pretty tight. I could use a distraction,” he said.

  Rodney faced Andy; standing a little taller, with a fire in his bright eyes that Jed hadn’t seen in a long time. Not since he and his brothers had been hauled home by the sheriff as teenagers. It was a moment he’d never forget. His dad’s expression was grim. “No, Jed, go look after your wife. It seems it’s past time that I have a word with my dear brother. After I track him down.” Rodney glanced up at the house. “Not a word to your mother or Diana, Jed.”