Page 43 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)

ONE YEAR LATER ...

A utumn stood at the door to the nursery.

Kelby had helped her put the room together, using a palette of light pink and soft gray.

Kelby had painted a mural of animals from Noah’s ark on one wall.

Above the crib was a mobile which also had some of Noah’s animals.

On the wall beside the crib, Kelby had stenciled Sarah Elizabeth .

Those were the names of Autumn’s two grandmothers.

She had always loved both names and thought they sounded beautiful together.

Eli had agreed, but she had insisted they check with Summer before going with the name.

Her twin had encouraged Autumn to use the two names, agreeing both their grandmothers would have been touched to be honored in that manner.

Looking out over the room, she thought that she would soon be sitting in the rocking chair, rocking their newborn daughter to sleep before placing her in her crib. She brought her hands to her huge belly, rubbing it. Immediately, Sarah responded with a kick, causing Autumn to chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Eli asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. His hands stroked her belly, and then he said, “Oh!” since Sarah gave another kick. “I see she’s awake.”

“She was most of last night,” Autumn informed him. “I didn’t get much sleep. I’m a little bit tired today.”

He kissed her temple. “You should be tired. You’re due to give birth tomorrow. That is, if our daughter decides to cooperate and arrive on her due date. First babies do tend to be a little late, though.”

“If she doesn’t come on Labor Day tomorrow, I have an appointment with Barbara first thing Tuesday morning.”

Eli turned her in his arms, kissing her lightly. “Do you even feel like going to the cookout today?”

West and Kelby had moved into their new home four months ago.

The family was gathering there today, not only because it was a large house with an outdoor kitchen and eating space, but also because it would be convenient to put Kate down when it was time for her nap.

Her niece had been born three months ago and already had stolen the hearts of everyone in the family.

She was glad that she and Eli were having a girl and that the cousins would grow up together here in Hawthorne.

“Yes, I want to go and see everyone.”

“Then we better get moving.”

They stopped in the kitchen for the banana cream pie Eli had baked. Especially with Autumn so heavily pregnant and still working fulltime, Eli had taken over all the cooking. He said it relaxed him. Desserts had become a specialty of his. He liked how baking combined science and art.

They drove to West and Kelby’s house, which was less than fifteen minutes away. West answered the door, Kate in his arms. He wore a navy T-shirt with Girl Dad in white script, surrounded by a pink heart.

“Come on in,” he said. “How are you feeling, Fall?”

“Like a ton of bricks is sitting on my chest,” she told him. “And I’m not kidding.”

Kelby joined them, taking the pie from Eli. “Oh, I remember that feeling. That last month, I didn’t get one deep breath. It felt like an elephant had parked on my chest.” She smiled at her daughter, smoothing Kate’s hair.

As they went into the kitchen, Eli teasingly asked, “Does West ever let you hold your daughter?

West answered for his wife. “I told Kelby she lugged Kate around for nine months. It’s simply my time to return the favor.”

“I think she’s going to be a daddy’s girl,” Kelby said. “And I’m perfectly fine with that.” She handed a gift bag to Eli. “For you.”

Looking perplexed, he opened it, pulling out a shirt identical to the one West now wore. Her brother grinned. “Girl dads need to stick together.”

“Thank you,” Eli said. “I’ll wear this with pride.”

Sawyer came into the kitchen, greeting everyone. “Uncle Joe wants to know if it’s time to light the grill.”

“Darby just texted and said they’re running late,” Kelby said.

“Ooh, they must’ve had sex more than once this morning,” West joked, looking down at Kate.

“West Sutherland!” their mom reprimanded. “Behave yourself.”

“Well, it’s true,” West said. “They’re crazy in love.” He glanced around. “Just like all the married couples in our family.”

“Way to make me feel left out, Cuz,” Sawyer said, pretending to be offended. “I’ll tell Uncle Joe to hold off for another ten minutes.” He left the kitchen.

“Do you need to sit?” Eli asked her.

“Yes,” she said, feeling weary. Her pregnancy had gone well, with very little morning sickness. She had gained the right amount of weight, and all her appointments had gone well. It was only in the last week that Autumn had been so fatigued.

She started toward the kitchen chair when an odd feeling came over here. Then a loud whoosh sounded, and she looked at the kitchen floor, water now puddled beneath her.

“Oh, your water’s broken, Autumn,” Mom said. “We need to get you to Triple H. I’ll tell your father not to start the grill.”

“Don’t do that, Mom,” she protested. “You know first babies take forever to come. All of you might as well enjoy some hamburgers and hot dogs. Eli can keep you posted on my progress.”

“I don’t want to miss the birth of this grandchild,” Mom said indignantly.

“We’ll call you in plenty of time, Meg.” Eli laced his fingers through hers. “Let’s go. Slowly.”

They returned to his car, and her husband said, “I’ll text Barbara and let her know.”

“I hate to call her in on a holiday weekend,” Autumn said.

“She needs to know what’s happening,” Eli insisted. “It’ll be up to her when she arrives at the hospital. No matter what, you’ll be in good hands.”

He got Autumn settled in the passenger seat and then texted Barbara Bennett before setting his phone in the cupholder. Starting the car, he headed toward Triple H.

His phone dinged, and Autumn picked it up. “Barbara said she’ll come in a few hours.”

They reached the hospital, and Eli pulled up to the ER. Scott Watterman hurried out.

Eli told the physician, “Autumn’s water broke ten minutes ago. Get a wheelchair so we can get her up to L&D.”

“Be right back,” Scott replied.

“I can walk.”

“I insist you ride, and I’m the medical director. My word is final.”

Autumn sat in the wheelchair Sam brought out to the car. She was actually glad because walking suddenly seemed beyond her. Her legs felt like quivering Jell-O.

A nurse rolled her into the elevator. By the time they reached L&D, Eli met them, a little out of breath.

“You must have taken the stairs after parking the car,” she said.

He brushed the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “I wanted to be here to greet you. We’re having a baby!” His love for her sparkled in his eyes.

The waiting game began. They turned on a baseball game and played cards for a while.

Her contractions gradually began to grow stronger and closer together.

When they were four minutes apart, Eli texted her parents, letting them know it was time to come to the hospital because their granddaughter would be arriving soon.

Barbara Bennett sailed through the door. “How is our mom-to-be?” she asked, picking up Autumn’s wrist and checking her pulse.

“A little tired. Ready to get this show on the road and meet Sarah.”

“Let me examine you and see how dilated you are,” Barbara said. After a moment, she said, “You’re almost at ten, Autumn. After the next contraction, we’ll begin pushing with the one which follows. Do you have any questions for me?”

“No. I’ve delivered enough babies. I know what’s coming next.”

Her friend laughed. “You think you know. Assisting in a birth and actually giving birth are two very different things. I’ve done it twice, so I know what I’m talking about.”

The pushing soon began in earnest. Eli held Autumn’s hand throughout as she grunted. Moaned. Even shrieked and shouted.

“Excellent work, Autumn,” Barbara said. “The head has crowned. This next push, we should see all Sarah’s head.”

A new wave of pain hit, and she pushed as the OB instructed her.

“That’s it,” Barbara said encouragingly. “Oh, she’s got a headful of hair.”

“I had enough heartburn,” Autumn said. “Everyone said it was an old wives’ tale. That heartburn meant lots of hair.”

“Bear down again,” the doctor said briskly.

Eli squeezed her hand. “The shoulders are out. She looks beautiful, Autumn. Come on, honey. One more time. You can do this.”

Autumn bore down as hard as she could, gritting her teeth, pushing with everything she had.

“Done!” Barbara declared, lifting the baby so Autumn could get a glimpse before a nurse whisked Sarah away.

“You know what comes next, Autumn,” Barbara continued. “You’ll deliver the afterbirth. Sarah will go through her Apgar test with her pediatrician and be cleaned up and returned to you in a jiffy.”

In the next few minutes, Autumn finished the birthing process. Two nurses stepped in to help clean her up, and they transferred her to another bed with clean, cool sheets. One nurse gave her some cold water to drink, and she greedily guzzled it, handing back the empty glass.

She closed her eyes, feeling all her energy had been zapped from her.

Eli spoke encouragingly to her, but she was too weary to even make out his words.

Then she sensed a change in the room and opened her eyes.

A nurse handed their baby to Eli. As long as Autumn lived, she would never forget the look of love which washed over his face as he looked down at their baby girl.

“She’s absolutely perfect,” Eli said, awe in his voice.

He turned and placed the newborn in her arms—and Autumn fell instantly in love with Sarah Elizabeth Carson.

Eli climbed into the bed with them, one arm going around Autumn, the other one lightly stroking his daughter’s cheek.

“She’s so tiny. And so perfect. Look at that little rosebud of a mouth.”

“Not that tiny,” her husband said. “She looked to be about eight pounds to me.”

Barbara said, “Everything looks wonderful for both mother and daughter. The pediatrician said Sarah’s Apgar score was a nine. We’ll leave you three alone for a few minutes so you can bond together as a family.”

“You did a good thing, Autumn. I can’t believe the two of us produced this little miracle.”

She gazed lovingly at her newborn and then up at her husband. Eli had proven to be a wonderful husband, a partner to her in every way imaginable. She knew he would also be an outstanding dad.

They contentedly watched Sarah, cooing to her and telling her how happy they were that she had finally arrived in the world.

His voice thick with emotion, Eli said, “I have everything I could possibly want. You’ve made all the difference in my life, Autumn. I love you and Sarah more than I ever thought possible.”

He kissed her softly, and Autumn knew their new family of three would multiply over the years, each child wanted and welcomed.

“I know now might seem unusual to bring this up, but I want to talk about our other children,” Autumn began.

“I know we’ve only been parents a few minutes, but I want to grow our family not only through giving birth to our babies.

I want us to adopt someday, Eli. An older child.

One who has given up hope of ever finding a family. ”

She watched tears fill his eyes and spill down his cheeks.

“You really want to adopt?”

“I do. Maybe we can have a couple and adopt a couple. Four sounds like a great number to me.”

Eli wiped away his tears on the sleeve of his shirt. “We can talk about it later. But that idea makes me truly happy, Autumn. As if everything will come full circle.”

Love for him swelled within her. “I love you so much, Eli. My heart is bursting with love for you and Sarah. I look forward to all the rest of the days of our lives. With each other and the family we create.”

Eli kissed her again, and Autumn felt enveloped in love.