Epilogue
Push, baby, push. You’re doing so great. I see her head,”
Lucas said in a terrified whisper.
“Arrrgggggg . . .”
Amy grunted as she used her last remaining strength and gave a final push. She collapsed back against the bed as she heard the sweetest sound imaginable.
The first cry of her beautiful baby girl.
Before she knew it, the doctor was placing their newborn on top of her chest, and Amy looked into the scrunched-up face of her daughter throwing her very first temper tantrum.
“She definitely has her daddy’s temperament,”
Lucas laughed as he rubbed their daughter from head to toe, making sure she was okay.
“I think she’s hungry and letting us all know about it,”
he chuckled.
Even exhausted, Amy looked from her husband to her baby girl and felt pride and happiness as her family grew. She could see the affection and wonder shining in Lucas’s eyes, and it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
“Jasmine would like to have her father hold her now,”
Amy said. He gently picked her up and held her closely against his chest. The tiniest movement of her breathing was the most amazing feeling in the world. The night before, he’d been feeling her kick from inside the safety of Amy’s womb. Now, he was holding her in his arms.
The doctors quickly cleaned Amy and Jasmine, and then the three of them transferred rooms. They were there no more than a few minutes when a knock sounded on the door.
“Can we come in?”
said the subdued voice of her normally booming father-in-law.
“Come in, come in, Dad. Meet your very first granddaughter, Jasmine Katherine Anderson,”
Lucas said proudly.
Joseph gently took his granddaughter from his son, and a tear spilled freely down his cheek. Things hadn’t turned out badly at all, he thought to himself. He was holding his brand new granddaughter, and his son was happily married.
His son should be thanking him, but Joseph knew better than to ask for any praise for all he’d done to get those kids together. His beautiful granddaughter was all the thanks he needed.
“You two have done really well,”
Joseph said as he smiled at Amy and Lucas.
“She’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life.”
He reluctantly handed the baby to his Katherine and watched a glow come over her face as she sat in the rocker and held the precious gift against her chest, humming a lullaby.
“We almost got a Christmas baby,”
Joseph laughed. It was December twenty-third. They all agreed Jasmine was the perfect gift for the entire family.
“Guess we’ll have to work on giving Jasmine a little brother born on Christmas next year,”
Lucas said as he looked at his wife hungrily. She was still the most beautiful thing in his universe, even after the hard labor she’d endured.
“Now, Son, I sure want a ton of grandbabies running around that empty old mansion, but you may not want to scare your wife off. It never is a good idea to talk about child number two when she’s still feeling the pain from the first one.”
He winked at Amy.
“The pain’s already forgotten, Dad. I already love her more than I could ever imagine, and I want to give her many brothers and sisters. I love Lucas so much, and that love needs to be shared with the wonderful children I know we’ll make.”
Joseph’s heart enlarged a bit more at how much affection he felt for his new daughter. He truly loved her like she was one of his own kids. Since she was married to his son, she was his family now. He bent down and kissed her cheek.
There was another knock on the door, and then Amy’s face broke out into a huge smile as Tom stepped in, carrying a huge teddy bear, balloons, and a large bag of chocolate.
“Tom, I’m so glad you finally got here,”
Amy said to her best friend.
“There was an accident on the freeway, or I would’ve been here an hour ago,”
Tom replied as he bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
“Come and meet your goddaughter, Jasmine,”
Amy said. Tom’s eyes instantly filled with tears as he took the precious bundle in his arms.
“She’s perfect, Amy. Just like her mom,”
he told her.
They all visited for over an hour, as Joseph watched the interactions of those he felt such devotion to. He was pleased that Amy had such a good friend by her side and elated that his son had such a wonderful wife.
“You did so well, Amy. You’re such a strong woman, most certainly an equal match for my son. We’ll leave you kids alone so you can rest now,”
Joseph said as he helped his wife to her feet.
Katherine walked over to the bed and passed her granddaughter to her mother, where she immediately started to root for food. That gave them all a laugh.
“I love you, Mom. I’m so glad you were here,”
Amy’s voice caught.
Katherine brushed a kiss across her cheeks.
“It’s a priceless moment in my life. Thank you,”
she replied and then walked from the room hand in hand with Joseph.
The two of them turned a corner, and Joseph’s eyes twinkled.
“Well, Katherine . . . one son down, two to go. I like being a grandpa, and I’m getting greedy now. I want new babies every year for the next ten years or so,”
he stated, as if he would indeed get his wish.
“Now, Joseph. I admit this turned out well, but you won’t be doing any more meddling in our sons’ lives. They can find their own mates and find their own way,”
she said sternly, even though she knew it was a futile battle.
Joseph just wrapped his arm around his wife and whistled a tune as they headed for their car. He already had the perfect bride picked out for his middle child, Alex.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, George’s wife, Amelia, passed away, causing heartbreak among the family who’d so recently celebrated the birth of a new life.
The entire family flew to Chicago to be with George and his children, Trenton, Max, Brianne, and Austin. No one said much as Amelia was lowered into the ground, forever laid to rest.
Joseph tried speaking to George afterward, but he closed up, too hurt and angry with the world to try and be comforted. It was a devastating day for everyone, but especially George.
Joseph watched in agony as his family fell apart before his eyes. When the service was over, it seemed each of them went a separate way. Instead of leaning on one another, they were scurrying around, trying to lick their own wounds.
Joseph hoped they’d come back together quickly. He knew the only way they’d truly heal was if they did it as a family.
With broken hearts, he and Katherine, Lucas, Amy and Jasmine, Alex and Mark all returned home, unable to do any more for George or the kids, though they would have if they possibly could have.
“Time, it will just take some time,”
Joseph said aloud on the return flight.
“Yes, it will all work out . . .”
Lucas agreed.