Chapter 19

19

Bridger North slumped in his chair, the carvings on its back digging into his shoulder blades. The dark, heavy furnishings felt suffocating, the old-world grandeur a stark contrast to the tension coiling in his gut. He blinked hard, trying to focus on the cards Tai was dealing.

Poker had been the team's way of handling the pre-mission nerves for going on a decade now. Tonight, it wasn't working very well.

The mission was stressful enough, without the thread of worry for his wife, Jane, constantly in the background now. He hated not being there with her. Not being able to assess her condition for himself.

Soon.

His hand trembled slightly as he reached for his cards, fatigue making his movements clumsy. The ceramic mug of hot chocolate teetered, then toppled, sending a wave of steaming liquid across the table.

"Whoa there, butterfingers," Tai quipped, snatching up his cards before the chocolatey tide could reach them.

Normally, Bridger would have fired back with a zinger of his own, but his brain felt like it was stuffed with cotton. He managed a weak smile, letting Tai's teasing slide off him like water off a duck's back. His friend's eyebrow arched, a silent question in his eyes, but Bridger shook his head minutely. He couldn't voice his concerns about Cody and the mission. Not yet. And as for the other stress gnawing at him ... well, that was a whole other can of worms he wasn't ready to open.

Across the table, Fenn's gravelly chuckle punctuated the air. "Kate, darlin', your poker face is about as convincing as a three-dollar bill."

Kate's indignant splutter was drowned out by the clatter of M&Ms as Graham raked in another pot. His pile of candy was growing into a small mountain, a colorful testament to his poker prowess.

Bridger's gaze drifted to Paige, noting the tight set of her shoulders, the distracted look in her eyes as she tossed another M&M into the pot. Her usual competitive spark was conspicuously absent, her pile of candy dwindling to match Bridger's own meager stash.

He got it, he really did. This whole situation was a perfect storm of stress for her: forced to work with Lassiter again, her father's work resurfacing like a bad penny. But they needed Paige at her best, now more than ever. The thought settled in his chest like a lead weight.

As Tai dealt another hand, Bridger made a decision. He and Paige needed to talk. But first, he had to survive this poker game without losing his shirt ... or what was left of his chocolate stash.

Tai's voice cut through Bridger's reverie. "Earth to Bridger. You planning on playing that hand or framing it?"

Bridger blinked, focusing on his cards. "Just lulling you into a false sense of security, pal." He opened his mouth to place his bid when his cell phone buzzed. Jane's name flashed on the screen, and instantly, the world narrowed to that small device.

"Gotta take this," he mumbled, pushing back from the table. A chorus of good-natured ribbing followed him down the hallway.

"What, the game too rich for your blood, North?"

"Don't forget to bring back snacks!"

"Roger that." He responded automatically, his entire being focused on his wife's voice as he answered. "You good?" he asked, flopping onto his bed.

Her laugh, warm and familiar, filled his ear. "I was going to ask you the same thing." There was a pause, and when she spoke again, her tone was more serious. "This mission ... it's getting heavy, isn't it? I know you're close to finding Jason, but ..." She took a breath. "Be careful, okay? I need you around."

"Good to hear," he teased, but the silence that followed made his stomach clench. "Seriously, babe. Is everything okay? How was it at the doctor's?"

The silence stretched, each second feeling like an eternity. He plucked at the bedspread, his mind racing through worst-case scenarios. "Babe, you're killing me," he pleaded. "Tell me. What's up?"

"It's nothing," Jane insisted, though her voice sounded ... off. Dazed, maybe? "We can talk when you get back. You'll just be another day or two, right?"

He squeezed the phone until he heard the case crack. "Copy that. We'll be home Wednesday. Thursday at the latest. But Jane, I can't wait. Tell me how it went today."

She cleared her throat, and his pulse shot higher. "Really, Bridger, we can talk when you get back. I'm fine. Everything's fine."

"You are a terrible liar, woman. Always have been."

She made an exasperated sound. "I wanted to tell you in person. See your face ..."

His jaw tightened. So it was bad. Okay. He could handle this. "Tell me."

"We're having twins."

The world stopped. Restarted. "Are you—" He choked on the words. "We ... We're what?"

"Twins." Her laugh, shaky but joyful, washed over him. "We're having two babies, Mr. North."

Bridger felt laughter bubbling up in his chest, mingling with tears of joy. He sent up a silent prayer of thanks, asking for protection for Jane and their two—two!—unborn babies.

"Is that why you've been so sick?"

"The doctor thinks so. Women often have higher hormone levels with twins. That's why she wanted to do an early ultrasound. We're only at eight weeks," Jane reminded him. "Still way too early to tell anyone."

"Yes, ma'am. My lips are sealed."

They talked more, marveling at the idea of needing two of everything. Two names. Two cribs. Two car seats. And only two adults to manage three small lives.

Bridger stared at the ceiling. Finding out Jane was pregnant two weeks ago had sent him over the moon. This news? It had catapulted him straight through the universe. Now, more than ever, he needed this mission to succeed. He had a family to protect—a bigger one than he'd ever dreamed possible.

His euphoria dimmed slightly as Jane's voice took on a more somber tone. "Any news about Jason?"

He hesitated. Normally, he'd give her the unvarnished truth—Jane was tough, she could handle it. But now, with the news of twins still ringing in his ears, his protective instincts surged. She didn't need the stress of every little up and down.

"We're making progress," he said carefully. "The mission's ... interesting. Fenn and Kate are going undercover as plumbers, if you can believe it. Paige and I have our own roles too."

He could almost hear Jane's eyebrows raising. "Plumbers?"

"Don't ask," Bridger chuckled. "The important thing is, we're safe. We're well. And I'll be home in two days, with a solid lead on Jason. I promise."

They said their goodbyes, and he turned onto his side, his mind reeling. Two weeks ago, he'd learned he and Jane were going to be adding to their family. Father of a newborn. A helpless infant. Now? Two more additions to the family.

He closed his eyes, offering up another prayer. For Jane, carrying their precious cargo. For the twins, so tiny and vulnerable. For Kellen, their adopted son, soon to be a big brother. For Jason, the uncle these children might never know. And for Paige, carrying her own burdens into tomorrow's dangerous mission.

He had more reason than ever to see this mission through, to make the world a little safer for his growing family.

With a deep breath, Bridger pushed himself up. Time to get back to the game, to his team. They had a world to save, after all. And now, he had twice the reason to make sure they succeeded.