Epilogue
Five Years Later
Valerie Woods
As I slide my butt down in the seat to get comfortable, the pain radiates across my back.
I blow out a breath and hope the contractions will ease up soon.
Ahead of us is a police escort making way for us to maneuver through city traffic.
As we run through the stop lights, I’m reminded of the chaos and loss from the tornado that descended upon the town.
There was so much destruction; my friends came to help with relief efforts.
The first time our city was bombarded with out-of-town people, I remember it like it was yesterday.
It was when Layla’s husband, Cameron Shaw, came here for a book signing appearance a few weeks before they got hitched.
He aimed to raise awareness of the impact of tornadoes on small towns and to support the restoration of our library.
Drones of people came in to have him sign their Pierce Stone novels.
Abby was amazed to learn that I knew her favorite author.
Another contraction began, and my Lamaze breathing techniques had kicked in naturally.
The police escort wasn’t crucial to us getting to the hospital.
However, Wyatt demanded that we reach our destination quickly and safely, especially given my current situation.
I wasn’t going to argue with him since I was going to deliver at our new state-of-the-art hospital, which opened a year ago.
I was proud to be a part of the team that made building the hospital possible.
We passed the town square, and to calm my mind and drown out the sound of the police siren, I thought back to mine and Wyatt’s first kiss as we stood in the pouring rain. I also reflected on Rae’s benefit concert in the square, and our small town was once again filled with crowds.
After several years, my friend Rae McCarthy released a single for the first time.
She volunteered to perform at the concert out of kindness and dedication to helping the community, without requesting payment.
The venue raised significant funds and brought much needed hope to many.
Rae’s generosity inspired others to contribute, making the relief efforts a success.
“Val, you need to let me know how close those contractions are. I don’t want to have to deliver the baby in the truck.”
“Wyatt. It wouldn’t be the first time.” I tried to smile, but the contractions were getting harder and closer together.
“Besides, who else can say they delivered their own baby?” I panted in between contractions.
Then Wyatt pulled into the hospital parking lot and drove over the speed bump too fast. “Wyatt, honey. Calm down!” His tires screeched as he came to a complete stop in front of the emergency room.
He jumped out, came around, and helped me out of the truck and into a wheelchair, where a hospital staff member was waiting for us.
As the elevator doors opened to the maternity ward, you could hear a woman screaming in agony.
Her screams reverberated down the hallway and sounded as if she were having an exorcism performed.
I was definitely calmer and more composed compared to her.
My last baby was delivered without an epidural on the side of the highway.
This time I’m not freaking out, or screaming unnecessarily, maybe because I know what to expect.
They were quick to change me into a dressing gown.
The pressure on my abdomen didn’t let up.
I heard the woman down the hall wail like a banshee.
“Gosh, she must be close to delivery,” I remarked to the nurse assisting me getting into bed.
She laughed. “Nope, she’s barely five centimeters. She’s got a while to go.”
I was hooked up to several pieces of medical equipment. An electronic fetal monitor for the baby’s heart rate and contractions. Then a blood pressure cuff was wrapped around my arm. I was surprised that Wyatt stood by and didn’t try to order anyone around. “So, how far apart are the contractions?”
“The contractions occur every four minutes, lasting about a minute, and have been ongoing for an hour.” Wyatt bit his thumbnail and waited for the nurse to examine my cervix.
But before she was able to, I felt a gush of water as if I had peed myself.
The nurse looked under my covered legs, and her eyes went wide.
Very calmly, she said, “I’ll be right back, I’m going to get the doctor. ”
“Wyatt, is something wrong?”
“No, honey, the baby’s head is crowning. We have a very inpatient kid.”
“Well, we know who they take after.” We both said ' you ' at the same time. “Do you think they’ll let Emily in here after I deliver? I want her to see the baby.”
“Don’t worry, she’ll have plenty of time to see the baby. She’s already loving being an older sister to her brother Chase.”
“I feel bad that we kept the baby’s gender to ourselves.”
“She’ll learn the sex in due time.”
The nurse quickly changed the chuck pad beneath me, while other nurses hurriedly entered and began moving things around.
My physician came in and greeted both of us.
“I hear your baby doesn’t want to wait. Let me take a look for myself.
” She had an astonished look on her face.
She pulled a gown over her scrubs and gloves.
“Valerie, whatever you do, do not push.”
I wanted to laugh but knew the muscles in my stomach would contract and push the baby out.
I clenched my teeth and tried to focus on breathing, hoping to stall the inevitable.
The room buzzed with urgency, and I could sense tension as the nurses prepared for what was coming.
“The baby’s not going to wait,” I said between panting breaths.
“How are you feeling?” Wyatt asked as he held my hand.
“Okay…even though this kid wants to shoot out of my vagina.”
The doctor and nurses were finally ready.
“Valerie, I want you to give me one good push.” I nodded, and Wyatt helped me sit up a little.
I barely pushed, and the baby was out. They took the baby to clear her airway, and finally, I heard her cry.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Woods, it’s a baby girl!
She is five pounds, three ounces, and nineteen and a half inches long. ”
We spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks going through a book of baby names. We finally decided to name her Sophie Jessica Woods, because we thought it had a nice ring to it. After they cleaned her up, the nurses brought her over and placed her in my arms.
“Hello, Sophie.” She immediately stopped crying.
Wyatt took hold of her little hand, and she gripped his finger. “Wow, she’s got a pretty good grip.”
Her dark hair is similar to Emily’s, and I can’t wait to see the color of her eyes. Yes, I know they can be one color at birth and change over the next few months. I only wonder if they are brown like Wyatt’s or if she’ll get one of mine.
“Can I get you something, some water maybe?”
“Yes, that would be nice.” He poured me a glass from the bedside table and extended his hand. I took a small sip from the straw. “Would you care to hold your daughter?”
He scooped her into his arms and sat down. “Hello, precious, it’s daddy.” She opened her eyes. It figures he gets to see her eyes first. “Wyatt? ”
“Yes, darling.”
“Do you remember when we first met?”
“Of course. You hated me.”
“That’s true. I wanted to throat punch you.”
“And now you love me.” A smirk formed on his clean-shaven face.
“I could still throat punch you at times, but yeah, I love you.”
Eight weeks later, we had everyone over for a barbecue after the baby's christening.
It was nice to have family and friends show up.
My mom and stepdad Steven, flew in from a vacation where they were spending time in France.
Who knew that spark they had meeting here in Skybrook would have led to their happiness.
“Hi mom.” I gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Hey, boss! How was the vacation?”
“It was great! Your mother and I were ready to come home and see our new grand baby.”
“She’s sleeping right now. I’ll bring her out in a little bit, and you can pass her around like a hot potato.”
“No one is passing her around until I get to hold her first.”
“Yes mom.”
The back screen door slammed, and Emily and Chase came down the steps hand and hand. Emily was growing up to be a young lady, she was nine going on ten the next month. She stood tall and had her own fashion trends. Her hair was long and cascaded down to her waistline.
Chase's dark hair matched Emily’s. He was three and was going to grow up and be a heartbreaker with his hazel eyes. When he saw my parents, he ran down the rest of the steps.
“Nana, Grandpa!” Emily ran behind him and followed suit, hugging them both. My heart felt full, and I was grateful for my family. The backyard was filled with my best friends and extended family. Layla and Cameron stood over at the grill talking with Wyatt and Abby.
Rae was arm in arm with her husband Caleb.
Their children were running around with our dogs.
My eyes fell on Toni and Rhonda, who were in a heated discussion about the baseball players and who was the best pitcher for the Bay Area Rebels.
Then they changed their topic to which was better, creamy peanut butter versus crunchy.
They talked about trivial things while they waited to see Sophie.
I walked inside and up to the second floor.
I opened the door, to peek in to see if Sophie was awake.
Her eyes were wide open. “Hi sweetie, mommy’s here and there’s lots of people to see you.
” I changed her diaper and put her in an outfit.
Out of habit I picked up a baby blanket and took her downstairs.
When I went outside, I head past Devin and Samuel and straight for my mother. My mom took the blanket first and wrapped the baby up, then sat down. “Wyatt?”
“Yes, momma.”
“Can you tell me, does Sophie look like Emily did as a baby?”
“She’s the spitting image.”
“Emily, you must have been precious. Give grandma a hug.”
It was nice to see them so close. My mother took to Emily as if she was my own child. I love Emily with my entire heart. I’m her stepmother, but I would never replace her mom, nor would I ever want her to forget Lauren.
Our house still has pictures of her, and that was my suggestion as I could never try to erase Lauren from existence.
Every other Saturday, I walk with Emily and place a flower on her grave.
I always believed in a higher power, and maybe it was Lauren that somehow had the tree falling on my rental car that day and we had to run on foot back to the house.
Later on, I found out the bridge I drove over earlier that day had been taken out by the tornado. Who knows what would have happened to us if we had gotten into that car. I have to believe that everything happens for a reason.
The sun shines through the trees and the temperature is in the mid-seventies. There are multiple conversations going on. It all seemed like chaos, but I loved every minute of it. There’s no place I’d rather be than with the man that I love, and my children.
The end.