“Yes, Mom, I’ll be there Saturday. First cookout of the year. Wouldn’t miss it.” Marissa had the phone on speaker as she hustled about getting ready for work. “I’ll bring the potato salad.”

“That will be great, Missy. Don’t be late. We’ll see you then”

“Okay, Mom. Love you.”

Marissa disconnected and smiled to herself. Her mom was like a general organizing the troops when it came to family gatherings. Of course, she really had to be with four kids, two daughters-in-law, and a half a dozen grandkids to keep in line.

She finished her makeup and got dressed. It was going to be a busy day so she wanted to be comfortable and still look professional. She had a closing this morning, a showing in the early afternoon and Aaron’s closing at three. She chose a simple periwinkle knit dress and a pair of nude sandals that should do the trick.

She dreaded the closing on Aaron’s home. That would mean he would officially be her neighbor and that thought made her uneasy. Having the good looking ex-quarterback cum author living next door was not good for the nervous system.

She grabbed her briefcase and her purse and headed out the door. No matter how badly she wanted to avoid the closing this afternoon it was going to happen so no use wasting time even thinking about it.

She arrived at the first closing and greeted her clients. Pat and Sherry Byers were a cute young couple that were excited about buying their first home. Sherry was quite pregnant, due any day. Their closing had been delayed three times already, but it looked like it was going to happen for sure this time. Lord, she hoped so.

When Marissa finally turned to hand the Byers the keys to their new house she froze. Sherry’s face had gone pasty white and shock painted her expression.

“What’s wrong?” Marissa moved to the woman’s side and laid a hand on the little blonde’s arm.

“My water just broke.” Sherry Byers clutched her abdomen as a contraction gripped her. “Oh, God, I’m in labor.”

Oh, wow. Now what should they do? Well, to start with, she needed to stay calm.

“Okay, Sherry, that’s okay. We just need to get you to the hospital, right?” Marissa patted Sherry’s hand and turned her gaze on Sherry’s husband. “You’ve got your car, right, Pat?”

Pat stared back at her like a man in catatonic shock.

“Pat! Do you have your car?” Her sharp voice apparently broke through the man’s consciousness and he jerked to attention.

“The car, yes, I have a car.” His voice was breathless, his cheeks colorless. “We need to get to the hospital. Come on, Sherry, let’s go. Take it easy now. One step at a time.”

Marissa hid a grin as she watched Pat lead his wife across the room, Sherry leaning heavily on his arm. When she let out another agonized groan he jumped several inches, his eyes growing wide. Wow, he was so nervous she was worried about him driving to the hospital.

She quickly gathered up their paperwork and followed them through the office to the parking lot. Pat solicitously helped his wife into the car and Marissa leaned in and gave them the deed and other papers she’d gathered.

“Congratulations, you two, and drive carefully on the way to the hospital. I’ve heard first babies are always slow to make their appearance so you’ve got plenty of time.”

Marissa had her hand on the entrance door to the office building when she heard it. The sound of squealing brakes and a resounding crash filled the air. Her heart sank as she realized what it was before she even turned around.

The sight that greeted her eyes sent her stomach dropping. The Byers’ car was sandwiched up against a delivery truck that had been turning into the parking lot. Smoke rolled from the smashed front end and the fenders were buckled like accordions.

Holy crap! Marissa ran towards the disabled car and flung the passenger door open.

“Are you guys okay?”

Sherry sat with her head flung back, her eyes closed. Her breath came in fast pants, her hands clutched on top of her protruding abdomen.

“It’s coming. The baby’s coming.”

Surely not. She’d only been in labor for a few minutes.

“No, Sherry, no. It just feels like it’s coming.”

“You’re damn straight if feels like it’s coming because it is!” Sherry’s voice screeched at Marissa as she bent over the sprawled woman. “This baby is coming!”

Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God. What the hell was she supposed to do?

“Sherry, can you make it inside?”

“I’ll try.”

Marissa grabbed the woman’s hands and tugged her up out of the seat. The moment she was standing she grabbed her around the waist and Sherry flung an arm over her shoulder. Pat moved to the other side and together they began to waddle towards the building.

They just made it inside when a long, low howl started from Sherry, quickly building into a high -   pitched scream.

“I can’t go any farther,” she gasped.

“In here.” Marissa practically carried the woman into the first office they came to. A bespectacled man looked up in shock as the trio burst through the door.

“We need to borrow a desk.” Marissa didn’t bother with please and thank you. There just wasn’t time. “Up you go, Sherry.”

Sherry collapsed on the desk, her breath coming in pants. Marissa quickly bent her knees and inspected the area. Oh, God, there was the top of a head coming out.

“Call 911.” She ordered the man as she prepared Sherry for the birth. “Now. And give me that newspaper.”

“What should I do?” Pat asked, wringing his hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

That makes two of us, Marissa thought frantically.

“Prop up her shoulders and help her grab her knees.” That was all she could think of. God, she needed help.

“The 911 dispatcher wants to talk to you,” the older man hollered.

“Well, put him on speakerphone. I’m a little busy here.”

Marissa felt a little relief when the voice came floating through the air. At least she didn’t feel quite as alone.

“Okay, there’s an ambulance on the way. Do you think it will be a couple minutes before the birth?”

In reply Sherry let out another agonized groan and began to push. A little more of the scalp came into view.

“I don’t think so. I think this baby is coming now.”

“Okay, we’ll get through this. Just stay calm.” The dispatcher sounded completely confident. Marissa wished she felt the same.

“It’s a girl.” Marissa’s voice was barely a whisper. She was awestruck with the little miracle before her. She looked up and spoke louder. “It’s a girl.”

Sherry and Pat clutched each other while tears coursed down Sherry’s face. A jubilant shout was heard from the dispatcher on the phone and Marissa felt her own cheeks grow wet as she cuddled the tiny squalling bundle against her.

OMG. She, Marissa Marie McCall, had just delivered a baby.