16. Thea
Chapter 16
Thea
“ S he’s so pretty!” I stare at Missy who is in Dotty’s arms. Missy is Dotty’s daughter. She’s ten weeks old and dressed in a onesie that proclaims she has her father wrapped around her finger. I don’t doubt that for a minute.
Seeing her fills me with a wave of longing to meet our own baby. I’m nine months pregnant now, and every day, it feels like I grow even bigger. When I get cranky about my changing body and how tired I am, Jasper holds me close and feeds me. Usually, something with cheese. Or pie. Pie is always a good idea.
“I can’t believe how big she’s gotten in a few short weeks,” Dotty tells me as she shifts her shirt down to cover herself. Missy has drifted to sleep after nursing, and she looks so peaceful.
“I remember seeing her at the hospital,” I whisper as I gently touch Missy’s fingers. They’re so tiny.
Jasper’s booming laugh echoes outside the window of our nursery, and I glance to see him in the backyard with Zac. I don’t know what they’re doing, but from the sound of it, they’re having a great time. The two of them have gotten even closer since they entered this season of fatherhood.
Missy stirs, and I let go of her fingers, not willing to wake her.
I take a seat in the opposite rocking chair, grimacing at the way my back twinges. I’ve been to the hospital twice already for false labor pains.
Both times, Jasper was so worried about me and the baby. He tried to talk me into staying at the hospital for the remainder of my pregnancy. I told him that I was going home to sleep in our bed and that our baby was fine. Given how frequently she kicks me in the ribs, I’d say she’s more than fine. She’s healthy and strong.
“I love the way your nursery came together,” Dotty tells me, gesturing to the room. I worked on it with Emma May, finally deciding on a forest theme. The white furniture pops against the soft green accent color.
The rocking chairs were a gift from her that we lovingly restored together. I can’t believe that after being unwanted, I’m having a baby who will grow up with family heirlooms that one day she can pass to her daughters.
As much as I love the rocking chairs, my favorite part of the nursery is the mural that my talented husband painted. It looks like butterflies are surrounding the crib while on the opposite side of the room, furry squirrels and blue birds peek from between the branches of oak trees.
I exhale slowly to the count of five and let the latest twinge pass. “I still don’t have a name.” I blink back tears, feeling like a horrible mother. Naming your kid is the most basic parenting task, and I’m struggling with it. Jasper keeps reassuring me that it’s fine.
“The right name is going to come. You’ll be looking at her, and you’ll know it,” Dotty promises me.
I open my mouth to respond, but what comes out is a grunt of pain as I pee my maternity pants. “I think my water broke.”
Dotty’s face lights up and she gets to her feet as I double over. “OK, no worries. We have this.” She crosses the room and raps on the window, gesturing for the guys.
Thirty seconds later, Jasper comes through the back door and yells my name. He sounds slightly panicked. “What’s going on?”
“My water broke,” I tell him as excitement and anxiety roll through me. I’ve never been this anxious to meet anyone in my life.
Jasper goes completely still. “We’re having a baby?”
“We’re having a baby,” I reassure him.
The next few minutes are a flurry of activity while Jasper gathers the go-bags. Zac parks his truck as close to the cabin as he can manage. Then the five of us—soon to be six—are in the truck.
Jasper is beside me. He holds my hand through the drive, talking in a soft voice to distract me.
At the hospital, Emma May is waiting for us. I didn’t even realize that Jasper had called her, but I shouldn’t be surprised. Every time I had false labor, she showed up. She’s wildly enthusiastic about having her first grandchild. She’s made it clear from day one that she’ll do anything I need during the pregnancy and delivery.
I push until tears are streaming down my face, and I gasp that I can’t do this anymore. But I’m not alone. Jasper and Emma May are here, quietly reassuring me the entire time. Then one magical moment, it’s over and the most beautiful bundle is being pressed against my chest. She’s wrinkly and red and screaming, and I couldn’t be more in love.
“She’s perfect,” I sob to Jasper. I’ve never felt anything like this. My heart is too big for my body. With every breath, the love I have for this little girl gets bigger and deeper.
“You did it,” Jasper croaks through his own tears. He never thought he’d get this, a family of his own. I didn’t either and now here we are, a little family of three. Except there’s not just three of us, my addled brain realizes.
I wave over Emma May who’s been waiting quietly, giving us a moment to bond with our baby. “Come meet your first grandchild.”
Our bundle squints up at me, a scowl on her face that I swear reminds me of her daddy. She’s a precious mix of our features, a blend of all our best parts. Looking into her eyes, I know exactly what to call this girl.
I glance at Jasper even though I already have a feeling that he’ll love this idea. It’s a family name. “What about Emma?”
“It’s perfect,” he whispers, burying his head in my shoulder.
I focus on Emma May. “Would you share your name with the world’s most special girl?”
She swipes at her face. “She’s already got my heart. She might as well have my name.”
“You hear that, Emma? You’re our precious miracle,” I whisper to her. Unlike me and Jasper, she’ll never grow up doubting her place in the world. She’ll always be cherished, and she’ll know every single day she is loved.