Weeping Willows

Small Wonders

Chapter 56

Everyone watched Elliot as he began fumbling with his phone. He began freaking out as he looked for his keys in a panic. Clayton walked up catching his attention as he tried to get Elliot to calm down. It clearly wasn't working as Elliot moved about in a panicked daze. Clayton looked to the others for help and Jan ran up to assist.

"Hey big guy, what's going on?"

"The baby, she's having the baby, we're having a baby!" He bellowed in a panic. Fanny stormed over to him grabbing a hold of his arms to stop him.

"Pull yourself together. I'm assuming Addison is in labor right now. She needs her husband not a bumbling fool." Elliot took a few deep breaths nodding his head quickly in response. Fanny looked around the room before seeing Lauren heading their way.

"I'll take him." She said coming to stand beside Fanny.

"Are you sure?" Fanny asked her as she looked Lauren over.

"I'm just doing hair and I'm sure Jenny can do that just fine without me. Everyone else is busy right now and I wouldn't want him to miss it." Fanny nodded in approval holding her hand out to Elliot.

"Keys." She demanded wiggling her fingers in impatience. Elliot handed them over in a daze as he looked around the room not really seeing anything.

"Perhaps ask them for a mild sedative when you get him there?" Fanny suggested when she dropped the keys into Lauren's hand. Lauren gently took hold of Elliot's arm, but he was too out of it to follow her lead. Fanny scowled at him in annoyance.

"Boy you had better not leave my great niece to have that baby on her own. If you don't snap out of it right this second, I'll slap you so hard your next kid will feel it." The threat worked as Elliot physically shook his head before looking Fanny in the eye.

"Thanks, I needed that."

"I'm here any time, now off with you." Elliot nodded while Lauren dragged him out of the room. It wasn't long before the sound of his truck could be heard roaring to life. Clayton took over for Elliot working the backdrop for the photos they had left to do. And while Elizabeth wasn't a beautician nor anywhere near Lauren's skills, she went over to help Jenny with hair.

After they were finished at the senior center Clayton and Mikey packed up the larger pieces to load into the two trucks while Elizabeth helped Jenny and Jan pack up their things. It was decided they would all head over to the hospital to check on Addison before doing anything else. Once they walked in, they were greeted by Lauren who was out in the waiting room playing on her phone.

"Anything yet?" Jan asked while the rest of them waited to hear the answer.

"Nope. The doctor thinks it's going to be awhile. She's not even close to being fully dilated so it could be hours yet." They all plopped down into chairs as well frustrated that it was taking so long. A few hours later there wasn't much progress and it looked like it was going to be an all-night deal. Clayton and Jan offered to go on a food run for Elliot while everyone else went home to get dinner and comfortable clothes on. Lauren got in with Elizabeth and Jan decided to catch a ride with Jenny. Mikey looked longingly at Lauren as she pointedly ignored him when she got into the car. Elizabeth sent an apologetic smile his way before he slumped into his truck and drove off.

Once back at the house Elizabeth looked at her porch curiously by the door where a package sat. Lauren squealed in excitement when she saw it and rushed up the steps leaving Elizabeth back at the car in her haste. Joining her friend on the porch Elizabeth glanced curiously over Lauren's shoulder to see the box she was holding.