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“Something like twelve,” Isabel answered quietly. She’d settledback into her chair with the rest of them, hopping put on hold for now. In itsplace, concern seemed to have crept in, drawing her eyes pensively to thefloor. Hadley felt it, too. The tension in the room was palpable and presseddown on her. She could feel it on her skin, causing her to rub her arm back andforth.

At the thirty-minute mark, Hadley took to walking the length ofthe waiting room, hoping for that darn chime. Surely any second. But nothingcame.

“There are a ton of possible reasons for the delay. Maybe they’rejust giving her time to rest,” Gia offered. “Delivering a baby is supposed tobe exhausting.”

“Maybe,” Isabel said, and bit her thumbnail.

Vicki stood. “You know what? I’m the mom. I’ll go back there andcheck. Let them try and keep me out!”

Gia caught her gently by the shoulders. “Maybe that’s not the bestidea. Let’s give them some more time. I’m sure everything is okay.” But fromthe look on her face, Gia didn’t believe that any more than the rest of themdid.

Forty minutes hit. Forty-five. Way too long. Hadley glanced downthe hallway each time anyone with a badge walked through the automatic doorsinto Labor and Delivery, looking for any sign of Kate, the doctor,Kendra-the-nurse, anyone. The hallway remained eerily quiet. Too quiet.

Fifty minutes. “If the baby’s in trouble, they won’t leave her inthere too long,” Hadley said to the room. “That’s what Autumn said, that twelveminutes was average but that an hour would be too long. We’re close to an hournow.”

“But we’re not thereyet,”Gia said. She’d clearly emerged as the leader of their little group, keepingeveryone calm, and under control. Hadley had no idea how she was able to speakin such a collected and measured tone, but then again, her job demanded nervesof steel.

“It’s been fifty-seven minutes,” Isabel said, with her hands lacedbehind her head. “Maybe it’s time to be concerned. I’m thinking it is. You withme?”

“I’m already there,” Hadley said just as the second chime began.She covered her mouth, as tears of relief hit. Isabel tossed both hands in theair in victory. Gia slung her arm around a very quiet Vicki, who now grinnedproudly.

“Gooooooal!” Isabel hollered, and jogged in place, knees bouncingto her chest.

After a short wait, the nurse arrived in the waiting room and offeredto bring the group back to meet the new little ones. Hadley hung back as theywalked, wanting to take her time with this moment, to recover from the worryand shift to absorbing the happiness. Happiness was the best part, and shewanted to be ready for it. It’s what she did in life, always seeking to savorthe key moments so she could pull them back out and relive them later. Sherefused to take moments like this for granted, because they were what made lifespecial.

Once she was ready, she peered around the doorframe like onChristmas morning. The sight she was met with, the new little family, wasenough to warm Hadley from head to toe. Autumn held the tiniest baby wrapped ina pink blanket and Kate held a tiny baby, eyes wide open, wrapped in blue. BothKate and Autumn peered up at their friends as they entered with looks ofhappiness and wonder on their faces as if to say, “look what happened while youwere gone!”

Everyone oohed and ahhed at the new little ones while Hadley stoodin the doorway looking on.

“Hadley?” Autumn said gently. “Want to meet her?”

Hadley nodded, the lump in her throat preventing her from sayingany actual words. She walked slowly to Autumn’s bedside and looked down at theperfect little face, all scrunched up and fresh.

“This is Caroline,” Autumn said. “We think we might call herCarrie.”

“Hi, Carrie,” Hadley said. Big green eyes looked back up at her.Hadley gasped. “Look at her. She has your eyes!”

“Do you think? They could still change color over time.”

“They won’t,” Hadley said. “I can already tell. They’re just likeyours.”

“Want to hold her?”

She glanced up. The little guy across the room was already inGia’s arms. “Can I? Is that okay? I wouldn’t want to overstep.”

Autumn nodded and Hadley scooped up little Carrie, who blinked upat her curiously. “I’m your Aunt Hadley and I picked out your going-homeoutfit. I hope you like it. We can discuss it when you’re older if you don’t.It won’t hurt my feelings.”

Autumn laughed quietly. “You’ve told her that several times throughmy stomach, if I recall. I imagine she knows your voice pretty well.”

Hadley beamed. “I hadn’t thought of that!” Carrie yawned andshoved the back of her fist into her mouth in about the cutest motion Hadleyhad ever witnessed. Her stomach tightened. The little girl was warm and wrinklyand wonderful. Carrie’s whole life was stretched out in front of her. She couldbe anyone she wanted to be.

Autumn shook her head in wonder. “I can’t believe she’s real. Ijust keep staring at her.”

“She’s real,” Hadley said, and reluctantly handed her back to hermother. “How are you doing? The labor?”

“Was not so awful on the epidural. Mainly I’m just exhausted, buttoo thrilled to care.”

“Congratulations, Autumn,” Hadley said sincerely, and leaned downto hug her friend, who held her tightly. “Your family is amazing.”