Epilogue
Five years later
The Lincoln Navigator pulled up to the Centennial Airport Terminal. One of Nick’s employees met the vehicle.
Rachel watched as Nick got out and tossed the man the keys. “We’ll be back in ten days. I’ll contact you beforehand just to make sure there have been no changes.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Kincaid. I’ll see you then.”
Opening the back door, Nick helped Bailey to the ground.
Jake helped his little brother out of the booster seat. Of course, at three, Wyatt thought he was too big to be helped so he yelled at his brother.
“I do it.”
Ever patient with his baby brother, Jake pulled his hands back. “Okay, you do it.”
Rachel had opened the passenger’s side back door and waited for Jake to get out. “Jake?” She was amazed at how quickly her oldest had grown. He was as tall as her now and at thirteen was still growing. She had a feeling he would take after her side and be as tall as Nick before he was done.
“Wyatt thinks he’s too big for help out of the booster seat. So, I’m letting him figure it out.”
Not a minute later, Wyatt yelled. “Get me out.”
Jake put his hands on his hips. “Are you gonna let me unbuckle the seat belt or are you gonna yell at me again?”
Wyatt’s bottom lip jutted out. “I not yell.”
“Okay.” Jake quickly opened the seatbelt and released the child.
Rachel was thrilled that both of her children were so patient with their little brother. She wondered if that behavior would continue with the new baby. This was their last vacation before the baby arrived. They were spending ten days in Maui. Nick owned a house right on the beach, and the beach was private and far enough away from the hotels that it usually stayed private. Occasionally, surfers or sailboarders would land on the beach, but they didn’t stay long.
Nick’s plane was large, with plenty of room for their family. They could put Wyatt down for his nap in the bedroom, and the older two liked to play games on their iPads, or they would all play a board game in the dining room.
Rachel liked the kitchen was small, but still large enough that she could prepare a meal, if necessary, even with just the microwave.
The flight to Hawaii was about seven hours in the air. They always stopped in Los Angeles and filled up with fuel before the long flight over the Pacific.
They didn’t arrive on Maui until the evening, and a limo was waiting for them. The driver waited beside the limo and loaded all their luggage in the trunk. Mostly the suitcases contained clothes for her and the kids. Nick kept clothes at the house so he didn’t have to pack much.
They had dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants before heading to the house. Rachel simply didn’t feel like cooking.
Nick employed a full staff at the house, but she felt terrible about putting them out for a meal when they arrived so late.
Wyatt had a long nap on the plane and was in good spirits at dinner.
The older two, both thirteen now, were always well behaved and kept each other company more often than not.
After a wonderful fresh seafood dinner, they finally headed to the house.
The driver brought all their luggage in and set in the foyer.
“Is there anything else I can do for you tonight, Mr. Kincaid?”
“No, thanks Kekoa. I’ll call for the car if we go anywhere. But I think we’ll be sticking close to home for the duration. We just want to relax before we stop getting any sleep after the baby comes.”
The young man smiled. “My wife is expecting our first. I’m a little nervous.”
Nick placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t be. You’ll be a great father. It’s not all that hard. You just have to be there for them. Your attention is the most important thing.”
The man nodded. “I’ll remember that.”
“You have a good night.”
“Thank you. You, too.”
Rachel watched the young man as he walked back to the car, then he closed the front door.
“Bailey. Jake.” Nick called out. “Come take your suitcases to your rooms.”
“Dad, do you need help with the others?” asked Jake.
“No, son. I can manage.”
Jake shrugged. “Okay.” Then he picked up a large backpack and headed for the staircase.
“Bailey.”
“Coming, Daddy.” She hurried out from the vicinity of the kitchen and was chewing something.
“What are you eating?” asked Nick. “And did you leave any for the rest of us?”
Bailey grinned. “Mrs. Kirby made the fudge drop cookies that I love so much, but she made me leave them in the kitchen instead of taking them to my room, like I wanted to.”
Rachel laughed. “I can bet you argued about that. I love those cookies too, and a half dozen of those with a large glass of milk sounds wonderful right now.”
Nick shook his head. “Sweetheart, if you eat that many, you’ll make yourself sick.”
Rachel laughed. “I said it sounded good, but even eating for two, I still have my limitations. Let’s get these bags upstairs so I can unpack. Then we can sit by the pool while the kids play.”
He walked over and wrapped his long arms around her. “I think that sounds heavenly.” He kissed her behind her ear.
She shivered.
Then he whispered, “The only thing that sounds better is having you in my bed.”
“That’s what got us in this situation to begin with,” she admonished him, and then she grinned. “But I totally agree.”
“Mooommm. I can hear you,” complained Bailey.
“Oh, go on and take your bag upstairs. Then you don’t have to hear me as I say naughty things to your father.”
“Arrgg. You two are gross.” Bailey lifted her backpack and headed to the stairs.
Wyatt followed her.
“Come on, Dad. Let’s go be gross.” She giggled as she followed her son and daughter up the stairs.
He was slow going up the stairs, practically crawling rather than walking.
That was fine with Rachel, she wasn’t moving very fast up the stairs either. When she got to the top of the stairs, she was winded. This pregnancy had been harder than the other two. She and Nick had opted not to find out the sex of the baby, but she hoped for a girl. A little one who looked like her father and her sister. She thought Bailey sometimes felt outnumbered by the boys. She and Jake usually played well together, but when Wyatt joined them, Jake always took the little one’s side. Of course, Wyatt was a little terror when he didn’t get his way, so that might be Jake’s way of keeping the peace.
She’d been having small contractions since about halfway to Hawaii. She didn’t think too much about them, because they were just an ache in her back more than anything. Suddenly, when she was walking into the bedroom, a bad one hit. Then she felt her water break. Oh, dear. They hadn’t planned on her having the baby yet. Of course, if they hadn’t been on a private plane, the airlines wouldn’t have let her fly. Maybe something about their rules was important.
“Nick. Nick.” She held her belly as the water pooled into the carpet.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“My water just broke, and I think we’re having a baby very soon.”
His eyebrows shot up and he swallowed hard. “Okay. Let’s get you back downstairs. You can sit in one of the recliners. I’ll call an ambulance.”
She shook her head. “We don’t need an ambulance. Call Kekoa and have him bring the car back. He knows the island better anyway. He can get us to the hospital faster.”
“Right. I’ll also ask Mrs. Kirby to watch the kids. We need to tell them what is going on and have Bailey and Jake take care of Wyatt.”
“You get them. I’ll just go back downstairs and we can talk to them together.” Then another contraction hit. This one was stronger. She closed her eyes and grimaced against the pain. “Nick, they are coming faster than they should be. I think this baby is anxious to be here.” She tried not to let the worry sound in her voice.
Suddenly, Nick picked her up in his arms. “I’ll get you downstairs.” He yelled as he went. “Bailey, Jake, bring Wyatt and meet us downstairs. Now!”
He carried her down to the living room, which was closest to the front door. He stood her on her feet and steered her toward a recliner.
“No, I need to walk.” She held her hands at the small of her back. “The more I keep active, the easier the delivery will be. When you get the kids down here, we’ll talk to them together, just like we discussed.”
“Okay.” Facing the staircase, he yelled again. “Bailey. Jake. Now!”
When the kids arrived, Bailey was holding a wiggling Wyatt.
She let him down.
He ran to Rachel.
“Mommy.” He held his arms up.
“I can’t pick you up right now, sweetie. Let Bailey or Jake hold you.” It broke her heart that she had to refuse him.
“No. Mommy.”
“No. Wyatt. Mommy can’t right now.” She wanted so much to hold him and soothe him.
Nick was on the phone with his driver. He ended the call and gazed around the room.
Wyatt began to cry.
Nick picked him up. “What’s the matter, buddy?”
“Mommy.” He leaned toward Rachel with his arms open wide.
“She can’t hold you now, Wyatt. Daddy will have to do,” said Nick.
The child cried in earnest. Fat tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Let me have him,” said Rachel.
“No.” Nick furrowed his brow and his mouth was in a flat line. “You’re in labor. He needs to know that Mommy can’t pick him up whenever he wants it. He needs to wait.”
“He’s a baby. He doesn’t understand that I can’t?—”
“No. He’s three. He needs to learn.” Nick was firm and refused to let Rachel hold Wyatt while she was experiencing labor pains.
She knew he was not only protecting her, but Wyatt. What if she had a hard contraction while she held him? Would she drop him? Squeeze him too tight?
Just then, she had another contraction. The pain was intense. She began to worry she’d have the baby at home. It only lasted a few seconds, but to her, it seemed to last forever. Maybe she should have let Nick call an ambulance. “How long before the car gets here?”
“Probably ten or fifteen minutes.” Nick looked at Bailey and Jake. “I’m taking Mommy to the hospital. She’s in labor right now and we’re just waiting for the car. I need you to be good for Mrs. Kirby and to take care of Wyatt while we are gone.”
“We can do that,” Bailey shot a quick look at Jake.
He nodded. “We’ll be sure and take care of Wyatt so Mrs. Kirby doesn’t have to.”
“Thank you. Your mom and I appreciate you both stepping up. I need to talk to Mrs. Kirby. Wait here with your mother and don’t let her pick up or hold Wyatt right now.” He handed the baby to Jake.
“Okay.” Jake glanced at his mother for confirmation. He held a squirming Wyatt.
She nodded.
Wyatt continued to cry though now it was mostly sniffles. He’d stopped squirming and laid his head on Jake’s shoulder, and put his thumb in his mouth.
Nick left to talk to Mrs. Kirby.
Rachel continued to have contractions and had three in the time he was gone.
He walked into the room about ten minutes after he’d left..
The doorbell sounded.
“That will be Kekoa.” Nick headed to the door and opened it.
Kekoa was on the other side. “Are you ready? I have the limo ready and waiting just for Mrs. Kincaid.”
“Good. I’ll bring her.” He walked over to Rachel.
Kekoa waited in the doorway. “Maui Memorial is only twenty minutes from here.”
Nick bent and picked up Rachel.
She’d long ago given up trying to make him let her walk. Letting him do it was so much easier and she had to admit, she liked being held in his arms.
Kekoa rushed ahead of them and opened the rear passenger door of the limo.
When Nick reached the car, he set her on the ground next to the door that Kekoa held open.
Nick had a wide smile. “I think we are having a new baby today.”
“I hope you’re right. I don’t want this to continue longer than necessary.” She slid into the car.
Kekoa closed the door.
Nick ran around to the other door and climbed in. “Let’s go.”
“Maui Memorial next stop,” said Kekoa.
She saw Kekoa’s smile in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but return it. Rachel was ready to have the baby, even if it hadn’t been planned for right this moment or on this trip. They’d thought they had another couple of weeks before the baby was born. Leaning back against the leather seat, she rested. The baby was coming and she didn’t have anything here for it—no clothes or diapers or furniture.
“Kekoa, do you think your wife would be willing to do some shopping? I don’t have anything here for a baby.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure she’d love that. She’s been doing shopping for our baby already.”
“That would be wonderful.” She gazed over at Nick. “Would you see that he has a credit card?—”
The driver shook his head. “No worries there, Mrs. Kincaid. I already have a company credit card. We’ll just put everything on that.” He looked at Nick in the rearview mirror. “Right, boss?”
Nick didn’t take his gaze from Rachel. “Right. Whatever you can get as soon as possible.”
“We won’t have any problems with clothes and diapers. What do you want in the way of furniture? Bassinett or crib or both? Changing table? Dresser?”
“Yes, all of those items.” Rachel breathed in slowly through her nose and out through her mouth. She’d learned in the Lamaze class she and Nick had taken before Wyatt was born. Another pain hit. She couldn’t help but hold her breath. She knew she should be breathing through the pain, but couldn’t when they were so strong. The contraction didn’t last long, maybe fifteen seconds, but it was an intense fifteen seconds.
The limo arrived at the hospital and Kekoa parked in front of the Emergency Department. He was out of the car and opened the door for Nick. Then he ran into the emergency room and grabbed a wheelchair.
Nick helped Rachel out of the car and into the wheelchair. “Kekoa, you can take the car back. I probably won’t need it anymore tonight but I’ll call you if plans change.”
The driver grinned. “Yes, sir, and congratulations to both of you.”
“Thank you.” Rachel smiled. “Please get those items tomorrow and take them to the house. They are to be put in the bedroom next to the master. Mrs. Kirby can show you where.”
Kekoa swallowed and put his hands in the front pockets of his pants. “Are you sure you trust me to get what you want? What if we pick out something you hate?”
“You won’t. Your wife will know what to get.”
He nodded. “You’re right she will. She’ll be thrilled to go shopping for you.”
Rachel reached over and placed a hand on Kekoa’s arm. “If you two find anything you want for your new little one, get it. Mr. Kincaid doesn’t mind. It can be repayment for helping us. It’s not part of your job to furnish our nursery.” Rachel closed her eyes and grimaced as the pain raced around her stomach and back. She’d had three contractions in the car on the drive, so she figured they were coming about five minutes apart. She and Nick still had a long night ahead of them. She looked up at Nick. “I’m ready to go inside now.”
He wheeled her into the emergency room and up to the desk. “My wife is having a baby.”
The nurse looked over the counter at Rachel. “Yes, I can see that. Do you know how far apart the contractions are?”
Rachel looked up at her. “I estimate about four to five minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll get you checked in.” She handed Nick a clipboard with several forms. “Fill these out and I’ll find a room for her. After I get the forms back I can assign her to a room. The doctor will be in shortly.”
Nick nodded and rolled Rachel into the waiting room to sit while he filled out the paperwork. About fifteen minutes later, he’d finished with the paperwork and returned it to the nurse.
“Okay, Mr. Kincaid, I have a room ready for your wife. Follow me, please.”
She led the way through the double doors into the emergency department and showed them to a room that was basically a bed with all sorts of equipment, a recliner, and two uncomfortable looking chairs.
“You can wait with your wife. The doctor will be here soon.” She pulled the curtain closed.
“How are you, sweetheart?” Nick picked up her hand and squeezed it.
“I’m fine. I think this baby will be here sooner rather than later. I hope they don’t keep me long. I want to be with our other children, and I want them to meet their new sibling.”
“I know, but I want you to stay as long as they want you to.” Nick kissed the hand he held. “When you return home, you won’t get much rest. Neither will I, so let’s take our time and get as much rest as you can. They’ve got a nice recliner here to sleep in so I can be close to you and the baby.”
“The other kids won’t be able to come and stay. They will be able to visit and that will have to do. But I don’t want them to feel abandoned.”
“I’ll go home every day to shower and change. I’ll spend time with them then and I’ll make sure Bailey and Jake get to come and see him...or her...at least a couple of times while you’re here. Wyatt is too young and will probably throw a fit. I’ll have to bring them while he’s taking his nap. But the longest they will likely keep you here is three days. I still think you should let me hire someone to help you.”
“No.” She held her stomach as she laid in the bed. “Our mothers did just fine without anyone to help them. Besides, as soon as they hear the baby has been born, they’ll both be on the next plane. And they’ll both want to stay until we all go home together. I’ll have more than enough help.”
He sighed. “You’re right. I just worry about you. What is the point of having money if I can’t make your life easier? I should have had an agency send someone to babysit Wyatt, but the older two need to learn responsibility.”
She laughed. “You make my life very easy. I don’t have to cook or clean house. Since I’m on leave from my clinic, all I’ll have to do is care for our children—all four of them. How do you think your mother did it with six when she had no help? She still had to keep house and cook and take care of the children. Your father worked seven days a week running the ranch. I’m sure he was exhausted when he came in every day, and I’m sure your mother took care of him, too.
“And my mother was a single mother with four children. She didn’t have help, and we turned out just fine.” A big contraction caused her to grimace and grab her belly. “Ahh, oww. I need to get up and walk. I can’t just lie in bed.”
“Okay, let me help you. We need to get you into the hospital gown on the bed.” He pointed at the printed gown. “Let’s get you out of these clothes.”
“I appreciate that. First, help me out of this bed.”
He lowered the rails and eased her off the bed.
She didn’t know why the rails were always so high when the staff weren’t working on the patient. She supposed it was so the patient didn’t fall out.
Nick helped her to sit up.
She put her legs over the side of the bed and scooted to the edge. Her feet dangled in the air as she huffed and puffed from the exertion.
He lifted her into his arms and then set her on the floor.
Rachel wore a maternity dress with a scooped neckline.
Nick grabbed the hem and pulled it up and over her head.
She removed the rest of her clothes, set them on the mattress, and donned the ugly gown. The hospital had tried to make it festive with a Hawaiian print, but the garment was still ugly. Once she was dressed again, she began to pace. The path was difficult in the small room but with Nick on the other side of the bed, she managed to take a few steps each way.
Finally, a doctor entered. He was young, in his thirties, with short brown hair and nice, cornflower-blue eyes. “Hello, Mrs. Kincaid. I’m Dr. Strauss. I want to check you before you go to your room. I know you’ll be more comfortable there.”
“Hello, Doctor Strauss, you can call me Rachel, please.
Nick helped Rachel back onto the bed. He turned toward the doctor and I’m Nick.”
The two shook hands.
Then the doctor shook Rachel’s hand, too.
The doctor pulled a sheet from a drawer and covered her legs. Then he snapped on nitrile gloves.
She bent her knees for him.
He checked her progress. “I’ll have you transferred to your room. You’ll be able to walk there. We have a birthing suite available. I think you’ll be most comfortable there.” He rolled the gloves off and placed them in the trash.
“How many centimeters am I dilated?”
Doctor Strauss smiled. “You’re about nine. It shouldn’t be long now.”
Rachel frowned. “Good. I’m ready to have this baby and go home.”
“Don’t worry about going home, Rach. I’ll make sure the kids are okay. Stay as long as the doctor wants you to. Please.” Nick kissed her forehead.
She gazed at him and closed her eyes as a contraction hit. She began doing measured breaths, in and out, in and out. Rachel found it helped with the pain, probably because she was concentrating on something other than the pain.
“Mrs. Kincaid, according to your intake form you’ve been in labor about five hours is that correct?” Dr. Strauss lifted one eyebrow and then looked at the computer screen.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s only been what I would call hard labor for about two hours.”
He raised his eyebrows and then frowned. “That’s not a long time, for you to be dilated so far. I’d like to check your progress again. Perhaps I made a mistake.”
“That’s good because I feel like I’m about to give birth.”
“Let’s take a look shall we?”
“Well, look at that. It appears you’re at ten centimeters and your baby is crowning. Are you ready to have this baby? You won’t make it to the birthing suite, but we’ll move you there after the baby is born.”
Rachel nodded. “Okay, I’m more than ready. I haven’t had a child this quickly before. Is everything okay?”
The doctor hit the call button for a nurse and then donned a mask and gloves. “Yes, I don’t believe there is anything to worry about. Second and third children are often in a hurry.” He chuckled before becoming serious again. “The next contraction I want you to push and push hard.”
Nick walked to the head of the bed. “Take my hands, sweetheart. Use them as you need to like before.”
Over the next forty-five minutes, Rachel pushed and rested then pushed again until finally she felt the baby slide from her body.
“What do we have? A boy or a girl?” Rachel couldn’t wait to find out.
“You have a beautiful little girl.” Dr. Strauss placed the baby on Rachel’s chest without cutting the umbilical cord.
She placed a hand on the baby’s back and caressed her. The other hand was on her bottom to make sure she didn’t slide off.
Rachel was glad the cord didn’t get cut right away. She wanted to ask the doctor to wait, but she didn’t remember to. She’d read that the baby got an extra boost of iron through the blood from the placenta that was still attached to the mother.
Happy tears streamed down her cheeks. “A girl.” She looked up at Nick. “Bailey will be tickled to have another girl in the family.”
Nick bent and kissed Rachel’s lips. “Thank you for my daughter.” Then he ran his hand over his daughter’s head. He could cup her entire head in one of his hands. “She’s so tiny.”
Rachel watched him as he kissed the baby’s head. She’d seen the look on his face before with the birth of Wyatt. Total love was the only way she knew to describe it. His face relaxed and his mouth turned up at the corners. His gaze took in every bit of the baby from her toes to the top of her head. To her it looked like a feeling of peace passed over him. She wondered if that was what he saw when he watched her as she gazed at their children. “Our daughter. Are you still happy with the name we picked?”
He smiled and placed his hand on the baby’s head. She was so small, his hand covered nearly her entire head. “I am. Hallie Sinclair Kincaid is a great name .”
Rachel gazed up at him with a smile. “I love it, too. And I love you.”
“And I you, my love. You’re still my best friend.” He stroked a knuckle down her cheek.
“And you’re mine. Best friends, forever.” Rachel never thought she would end up married to Nick, but her life and her family were complete. Dreams really do come true if you wish hard enough.