CHAPTER 171: THE ULTIMATE HANDYMAN

Doug gathered himself and limped back to his cottage. There was no doubt he was pregnant with a human’s child for what he had done to young Richie.

No one came to Doug’s defense. They all tipped their hats to Malcolm out of respect—he had gotten retribution for young Richie.

Malcolm walked back into the cottage. "Mr. Zack, I’m sorry sir, but it had to be done. I will collect my child when he’s born and I will raise him myself along with Richie’s."

"Young man," Zack said, "I said it earlier and I say it again—you have my utmost respect."

"He is going to make one hell of a brother-in-law for you and excellent husband for Richie," Constantine added.

Malcolm went to check on Richie to make sure that he was okay. He sat down beside the bed and stroked his hair, then reached over and gently rubbed Richie’s belly. "Our son is going to grow big. He’s going to grow strong. He will have a brother also—they will be raised together as siblings. He will be the first of many children that we will have together." He leaned down and kissed Richie deeply.

Constantine looked in on them one more time and closed the door behind him. "Eli, sleep on the sofa tonight. I know this is not normal, but you have my permission."

"Not a problem, Constantine. I understand they need their special time together to know each other—after all, they’re having a kid."

Lex’s paging system went off. It was Stephen—his water had just broken and Clark was carrying him to the clinic. He excused himself and headed out.

Constantine eased into the room and knelt down by the bedside. "I thought I’d let you know, Richie—uncle Stephen is headed to the clinic. His baby is on the way. Lex says you need to stay in bed, but I’ll try to sneak in a recorder so that he can be just like you were there. I know you want to be there for his birth process, but you have more important things to contend with, such as the development of your own child."

Malcolm, who was sitting on the bedside, responded, "I always carry him there and bring him back so that he can be with his uncle, if that’s okay. After all, he’s my responsibility and anything that he needs, I will break my back to do it."

"Malcolm, that’s very noble of you, but with all the bruising and rough treatment over the last few days, he needs his rest and the baby needs his rest now."

"Tell uncle Stephen I’m sorry, but maybe I’ll catch him on the next one," Richie said groggily. "I’m just too tired to attend the birth."

Constantine left the room, picked up Rusty, and told Eli to follow them. They would head over to the clinic so that they all could be there when uncle Stephen and uncle Clark had their baby.

It had been years since Jake had witnessed the birth process, and this new birthing chair—he had to see it for himself.

The hallway to the birthing room was full of family members, all hoping to get a peek. Stephen waved to everybody through the glass as he took his place in the birthing chair.

There was a little bit of pressure and a little bit of stretching, but Stephen suffered no pain. With a couple of grunts, young Stephen Clark Wooten was born, weighing in at 18 pounds 7½ ounces. He had dark hair and ice blue eyes. His parents were delighted with his birth. Stephen rested after the birth until he could come home.

The next few weeks went along just fine. Donnie’s time was getting short. The soda shop had been completely renovated and was open for business—Chas and Constantine were very busy. In fact, the soda shop had never been busier since it had been opened. The new menu, affordable prices, and delicious food didn’t hurt the business one bit.

Sonja’s place was getting a once-over: new façade, new lighting and plumbing, plus paint went a long way to make the place even more successful. The Z1 market was getting ready to open any day. The construction office was busy—they had a very nice young lady waiting on everyone as the receptionist. The motor lodge was going through a complete renovation. It was going to be top-notch accommodations the area had never seen before, but yet pricing had to be affordable for everyone, so there were different levels of rooms within the 65-unit complex. The newly revamped travel plaza was a hit with all of the travelers on the bus lines. In fact, the bus lines themselves allowed more time at the plaza so that travelers could partake at Constantine’s Soda Shop.

Constantine and Jake were an item—you never saw one without the other when they weren’t tending to business.

As far as the Z1, construction of the museum and information and education center was wrapping up quite quickly. Maybe 3 to 4 months at the max and they would be open for everyone to attend.

Donnie was as big as the side of a house, but he wasn’t slowing down. He was still baking and cooking just like he had always done. But one morning during the breakfast preparation, things came to a screeching halt.

"Okay, which one of you two boys spilled something on the kitchen floor? I almost slid down."

"Dad, I’m changing Xavier’s diaper and Constantine just walked to the door, so if anybody spilled anything, you did," Chas hollered from the living room.

Donnie came walking into the living room, very pale. "Chas, I need to get to the clinic. My water broke—it was me that spilled. I just hope I make it because holy shit, he’s pushing."

Constantine put his head out the door and hollered as loud as he could for Malcolm to get his ass next door—there was an emergency and he needed to carry Donnie to the clinic as fast as he could run.

Malcolm didn’t have a shirt on. He had his blue jeans and boots on and ran out the door. He picked up Donnie in one fell swoop and was out the door running. "I apologize for the rough trip, but it couldn’t be avoided unless you want to have that baby in the middle of the yard."

No sooner than Malcolm helped Donnie into the birthing chair, a young man made his appearance. Donald Malcolm was born weighing in at 14 pounds 3½ ounces—blonde hair and blue eyes and a set of lungs. Lex didn’t have time to make it into the delivery room. Malcolm delivered Donnie’s baby, and as he held the baby, he was so proud. He brought Donald to Donnie and helped him attach the baby for his first nursing.

Lex checked Donnie out, and everything was fine. "You need to rest for about an hour before you go back home with the baby, and if your personal carrying service will take you, it would be fine," he told him.

"I will walk him back and put him back in bed so that he can rest and that precious child can get to know his dad," Malcolm said, more than accommodating.

By the time the preliminary opening of the new center was happening, little Donald was almost 3 months old. Richie’s baby bump was very defined—in fact, he was already huge, and his father was the proudest man on the ranch.