Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
The Ranch
“Show me the ring,” my mother squealed through the screen.
I held up my hand. “Lenni helped pick it out.”
“Gah, it’s so beautiful. They did good,” she stated. “Didn’t they?”
“Beautiful,” Dad agreed. “Good man. He even called and asked for my blessing.”
“Where are you right now?” Mom asked.
“I’m at Salem and Hadley’s,” I stated. “We just had chocolate chip pancakes and hot chocolate with a bit of chili powder. How are you guys? How are Morfar and Bestefar?”
“Your grandparents are full of piss and vinegar,” Dad said. “And akvavit.”
“He’s not wrong,” Mom said with a laugh. “But we’re having a wonderful time. Everyone misses you and they hope you and the family will come for Christmas next year.”
“I’d love that,” I said, taking a deep breath, “but it might be kind of hard to travel to Norway with a baby only a few months old.”
Mom’s eyes filled with tears. “You’re having a baby?”
When my father didn’t say anything, I looked at him. “Dad?”
“I’m going to be a grandfather,” Dad murmured, his own eyes looking suspiciously bright.
My throat tightened.
“Have you set a wedding date?” Mom asked.
“You’re still wanting to visit in the summer, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” Dad said. “Definitely.”
I smiled. “We decided whatever day we get married is the day Lenni changes her name to Keel. It’s going to be a big celebration. You can stay with us in the spare bedroom.”
“Won’t you be needing that for the nursery?” Mom asked.
“Oh. Well, yeah, but maybe you could stay with us and help me figure that out too? Or if you’d be more comfortable at The Regal Beagle—”
“We’ll stay with you,” Dad said.
“Archer gets up at five for work,” I said. “And he’s not the quietest, even though he tries to be.”
They looked at each other.
“The Regal Beagle then,” Dad said with a smile.
There was a knock on the bedroom door before it opened.
“Wyn?” Lenni asked, poking her head in.
I waved at her to come toward me. “I just told my parents you’re going to be a big sister.”
“You excited, Lenni?” Dad asked.
She nodded and smiled. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” Mom replied.
“We’re getting ready to open presents,” Lenni said to me.
“I’ll come down now.” To my parents, I said, “Gotta go. Love you guys.”
“Love you too, Winnie,” Dad said.
Mom beamed. “Congratulations again.”
I clicked off with them and got up off the bed.
“Winnie?” Lenni asked.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warned.
She grinned. “I wasn’t gonna.”
“Liar liar, pants on fire.”
I followed her out of the room.
“Fine, I was . . . but Winnie and Lenni, they have a nice ring to them. Don’t you think?”
“I agree.”
“We should keep the theme going for the baby.”
“Oh yeah?”
She hit the stairs first. “Gigi, Vivi—”
“Bebe, Stevie—” I echoed.
Mildred greeted us at the den doors. Lottie and the other pets were roaming the room, looking for attention.
“There you are,” Muddy said. “You ready to open gifts?”
Because there were so many of us, we’d decided to do a secret ornament exchange. It would be simple, easy, and everyone would get one. We’d pulled names out of a jar.
“Lenni should go first,” Poet insisted.
“Does that mean my gift is from you?” Lenni asked.
Poet nodded and handed her a small brown bag with tissue paper.
Lenni reached into the bag and pulled out a stuffed dachshund that was light in color like Mildred. Lenni bounded to Poet and hugged her. “Thank you! I love it!”
We were halfway into opening gifts when Hadley made a noise and shifted her body. She placed a hand on her belly and gritted her teeth.
“Is your stomach upset?” I asked.
“Did you eat cookies with mustard again?” Lenni wondered.
“No, she’s in labor,” Muddy announced, rising. “Aren’t you?”
“Yeah.” Hadley let out a slow breath. “I’ve been having contractions on and off since early this morning, but that one was a doozy.”
“Okay, Bear Snack, time to get you upstairs,” Declan said, helping his wife rise.
“Upstairs?” Lenni asked. “Don’t you mean a hospital?”
“We’re doing a home birth,” Declan explained.
“Good thing too,” Mr. Powell announced, raising his cell phone. “The pass is closed due to visibility. Getting to a hospital would take a while.”
“You’re not allowed to look,” Hadley informed her husband. “The only people who are seeing the money shot are Muddy and Jane. They’re my doulas, just like we talked about.”
“I love you, Hadley,” Declan said and then kissed his wife before letting her go.
“Dude, how the hell are you so calm?” Cas demanded. “I’m going to be a wreck when Salem gives birth.”
Declan grinned. “I’ve birthed horses. A baby can’t be that different, can it?”
“You’re birthing, nothin’,” Hadley groaned as another contraction hit her. “Okay, I’m gonna go have a baby.”
Eight hours later, Muddy and Jane delivered Hadley’s baby girl. Everyone in the den smiled when we heard the baby’s boisterous wail.
Declan flew up the stairs, and then a few minutes later he came down, face radiant. “She’s perfect. And Hadley’s a champ.”
“We got a name, Dad?” I asked with a smile.
Mr. Powell poured Declan a glass of scotch. The rest of the men—aside from Brooks—had already been imbibing for hours.
Declan raised his glass. “To Aurora Sullivan Brewer. We’re calling her Rory.”
“To Rory,” Mr. Powell stated, lifting his glass.
Declan looked at Salem. “Thanks for the use of your bed.”
Suddenly, everyone was hugging everyone, tears streaming down our faces.
An hour later, Poet, Salem and I crept into Salem’s childhood bedroom. Hadley was propped up against the bed, looking exhausted but glowing.
Muddy and Jane quietly retreated, giving the four of us privacy.
“Well?” Salem asked. “You willing to do that three more times?”
Hadley looked down at her sleeping daughter. “I think I can be convinced.”
“I’m just in disbelief,” Poet said. “She came right on time. And fast. How did you do that?”
“Coconut oil. She slipped right out of me.” Hadley chuckled and gently took her daughter’s hand in hers. “Look at how small her fingers are. She’s got little nails and everything.”
“She’s beautiful, Mama,” I murmured, staring down at the baby who was all pink and squishy.
“Who wants to hold her first?” Hadley asked.
“Salem should,” I stated. “Being Rory’s aunt and all.”
“You’re all Rory’s aunts,” Hadley informed us.
“I prefer to think of us as the three good fairies,” I said.
“Dibs on Merryweather,” Salem said as she lifted the baby from Hadley’s arms. “Okay, Miss Rory, we gotta have a talk here. I’m your Aunt Salem and I’m going to spoil you so rotten that your parents will want to give you away.
You come from good stock, kid. But if you need anything, you come talk to me. ”
“My turn,” Poet said, holding out her arms for the baby who didn’t appear at all put out at changing hands.
“Piggybacking on what Aunt Salem said, I’m your Aunt Poet.
I’m the one you come to if you need a good cry.
We’ll go to Sweet Teeth and get a Hadley’s Hooch—named for your awesome mama—and you’ll pour out your heart to me. Okay? Okay.”
“Hand that beautiful thing over here,” I said, itching to hold the baby.
I peered down into her sleeping face, marveling at something so perfect.
“I’m your Aunt Wyn. And I’m the one you come to when you need advice about boys.
Because I’ll teach you how to protect your heart, and I’ll tell you that you’ll find the right one when the time is right and never to doubt it when the time comes.
You’ll get your great love, little Rory. I promise.”
After a deep breath, I gave her back to her mother who looked to be in danger of falling asleep.
“That’s our cue,” Salem said.
We tiptoed from the room, letting baby and mother sleep.
“Holy shit,” Salem whispered in the hallway. “She fucking did it.”
“You’re next,” I quipped.
“Don’t remind me. It sounded painful,” she joked.
“But look at the reward,” Poet said wistfully.
We headed back to the den where everyone was quiet and nibbling on leftovers from the night before.
“She’s asleep,” Salem said to Declan.
He finished the rest of his scotch in one swallow and then went to join his wife and daughter.
“Some Christmas,” Archer said. “Am I right?”
“Not sure how we top this one,” I said.
Muddy beamed. “Oh sugar, this is just the beginning.”