15) Happiness

A Chapter by Kelly M.

April had never prayed so hard and so desperately as she had then. She stayed by Jenny's bedside, urging her to stay strong, encouraging deep, calming breaths, as she herself struggled to breathe. She felt clutched in the hands of fear, unable to break free. Her head felt dizzy, and her stomach nauseous. She was certain she would faint at any moment and leave Jenny alone to fend for herself.

As she tried to reassure herself, she kept saying, "Don't worry, Jenny. It's going to be alright. The Doc will be here any moment. Just hang in with me for a few more minutes." She patted her hand pathetically.

Another contraction hit Jenny full blow, and she moaned painfully, her fingers wrapping tightly around April's, breaking her circulation.

The minutes continued to tick by, slower than April could have imagined. She was dreadfully relieved when she heard the door fling open, and the quickening step across the wooden floor. When the doc had finally appeared at the doorway, he looked flushed and terribly exhausted. For a fleeting moment, April wondered if he had the strength to give any assistance to Jenny in the delivery.

Before striding to Jenny's side, he cast April a worried glance. "Go and rest," he insisted gently. "You should not be overworking yourself, especially in your condition." At April's hesitancy, he quickly assured her, "Don't worry. Jenny will be perfectly fine. If I happen to need you, I'll come and get you."

She satisfied herself with that, and gratefully allowed the doctor to take over. She curled herself up in an armchair right outside the room, collapsing into immediate slumber.

Later, startled awake, she heard the sound of a baby cry. Instantly, she roused herself, tiptoeing quietly to the door. She peeked in, recognizing the Doctor's back which was turned to her, something bundled in his arms. She heard him say, "Everything's fine. Perfectly normal." With a relieved sigh, her eyes then drifted to James, who was leaning over his wife, beaming from ear to ear. She, then, caught a glimpse of Jenny, and the joyous face before her touched April dearly. Never had she seen someone look so happy; so rapturous. Indeed, she was looking a bit pale and weary of her painful exertion, her hair certainly seeing better days-- but the eyes that were looking into her newborn baby in her arms were of the greatest love.

Quietly, she entered the room, a smile illuminating her face. Jenny looked up, and, motioning to her, whispered, "Come, April, and meet our little Mary Anne." She did so, and gazed into the soft blue eyes that gazed up at her, unblinking. "Oh, Jenny," she exclaimed, as she reached out to grab ahold of the tiny fist, "she's beautiful."

Jenny merely smiled, but then gestured to Doc. He turned around, his arms holding out to her a squirming parcel. She straightened up from her arched position, looking from one to the other, puzzled. She stepped closer to get a better look. She managed a gasp of astonishment. "Why, Jenny!" she exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock. "Twins!"

~*~

April returned home that night to find all the children already sleeping peacefully in their beds. Drew was sitting by the fire, and glanced up once he heard the door open.

She was beaming. "Oh, Drew," she exclaimed. "James and Jenny have the most adorable children. That's right-- children! Twins-- imagine that?! How precious they both are. Andrew James is the picture of his father, though I really can't put my finger on where he inherited those eyes of his. They're not green nor blue like his parents, yet rather a soft hazel. Funny, isn't it?" She paused only for a moment as she discarded her shawl, then again bubbled on, "And Mary Anne! She's a gift sent from heaven-- a little angel! She has a good thatch of red hair, straight from Jenny, of course. I wonder if she has a temper to match that hair, oh brother. But those eyes." April paused, as though in a trance. "When I look into those precious eyes, I feel like I'm seeing the brilliant blue sky above. She got them from her father, for certain. They're as blue as his, and more so." She managed to catch a breath from her rambling, and plopped into a chair beside him. "How tired I am! And so-- so happy," she whispered, a sleepy smile spread across her face.

He chuckled, reaching over to plant a kiss on her cheek. "It sounds like you had quite the day."

She smiled up into his eyes, her hand reaching for his. "You know, Drew," she said gently, her other hand unconsciously falling to her baby, "we've hardly even thought of names yet." She paused, gazing into the crackling flames. "Of course, if it's a boy we'll be naming him after his father." She could sense more than see Drew's smile that lit up the surrounding darkness.

"However," she continued, "If it happens to be a girl, I think I like Elizabeth. Beth, for short. Rather a pretty name, don't you think? When I was younger, my father would call me that, being my middle name was Elizabeth," she whispered, her thoughts enraptured in another world which seemed many years ago. "Maybe it was just the way he said it-- so softly and dearly. It made me feel rather-- special." She shrugged lightly. "Ever since then I kind of held onto the name and treasured it, as though I was still Beth in his eyes." She paused. "I think he'd be pleased, if it happens to be a girl, to name her after his nickname for me," she said, soft laughter drifting from her lips, sounding like a gentle river running over pebbles. There was nothing more in this world Drew loved hearing than her laugh.

"Well, what do you think of it?" she asked, sitting up. "Would you rather another name?"

"No," he said, slowly, easily in the softest voice. "Beth is perfect."

And that settled the matter for April.

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