“Of course, dear,” Linda said. “We’ll find parking and wait for Holly.”
“Thank you.” Mack placed a hand on Linda’s shoulder. “For everything. I’ll ask Holly for your details so I can thank you properly.”
As she and Holly climbed out of the car, she smiled when Holly took her hand again, and they headed inside and down the hallway, following the signs to the delivery rooms.
She skidded to a stop in front of the nurses’ station, slightly out of breath.
“I’m looking for Sarah Harper,” she managed to say between pants. “I’m her sister.”
The nurse nodded, quickly checking her computer. “Room 305, just down the hall on your left.”
Mack barely had time to say thank you before she was off again, her eyes scanning the room numbers as she passed—301…303…305. Leaving Holly outside, she burst through the door, her entrance causing everyone in the room to look up. Sarah lay on the bed, her face flushed and hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Their parents stood on either side of her.
“Mack!” Sarah exclaimed, her voice strained but filled with relief. “You made it!”
Mack rushed to her sister’s side, taking her hand. “Of course I did. I promised, didn’t I?”
The nurse, positioned at the foot of the bed, looked up. “Hello, Mack. Perfect timing.”
The next few minutes were a blur of activity. Mack was counting with the nurse, encouraging her sister, and trying not to wince as Sarah squeezed her hand with surprising strength. “One more big push, Sarah,” the nurse said. “The baby’s almost here!”
Sarah gritted her teeth, bearing down with all her might. Mack held her breath, her eyes fixed on the nurse. She fumbled under the covers and then, suddenly, a cry filled the room—strong and indignant, announcing the arrival of new life.
“It’s a girl!” the nurse announced, holding up the squirming, wailing infant.
Mack felt tears spring to her eyes as she watched the nurse place the baby on Sarah’s chest. Her niece—red-faced, wrinkled, and absolutely perfect.
“Hi there, little one,” Sarah whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
Mack leaned in, marveling at the tiny fingers, the tuft of dark hair, the way the baby’s cries quieted as she nestled against her mother’s skin.
“She’s beautiful, Sarah,” Mack whispered. “You did amazing.”
Sarah looked up at her, eyes shining with tears and exhaustion. “I’m so glad you’re here, Sis. Isn’t she perfect?” Mack watched as Sarah cradled her newborn daughter, marveling at how naturally her sister took to motherhood. Despite the exhaustion evident on her face, Sarah’s eyes shone with love and wonder as she gazed at the tiny bundle in her arms. The baby, still pink and wrinkled, had already stopped crying and was blinking up at her mother with unfocused eyes.
“Sarah, you’re a natural,” Mack said softly, gently stroking her niece’s tiny hand. She only then realized she was crying, and so were her parents, who stood huddled over them in awe.
“I…I need to step out for just a moment. Holly’s waiting in the hallway, and I want to say goodbye and get her parents’ number so I can thank them for getting me here.”
Sarah didn’t seem to hear her, she was solely focused on her baby, but Mack’s mother looked up, a knowing smile on her tired face. “Holly? Is that the woman you shared the motel room with?”
“Yeah…I’ll tell you all about it later. I’ll be right back, okay?”
With a final squeeze of her sister’s hand, Mack slipped out into the hallway. She spotted Holly immediately, pacing nervously near the waiting area. When their eyes met, Holly’s looked up, hopeful. “Everything okay?”
“It’s a girl,” Mack announced, her voice thick with emotion as she approached Holly. “She’s perfect, Holly. Absolutely perfect.”
Without hesitation, Holly pulled her into a tight embrace. “Congratulations, Aunt Mack,” she murmured, her breath warm against Mack’s ear. She pulled away and gave her a beaming smile. “I don’t want to hold you up. Go be with your family.” She held out her phone. “Just give me your number. We’ll catch up later.”
Chapter 18
Holly
As they pulled into the familiar driveway, a wave of nostalgia washed over Holly. The two-story colonial house where she grew up stood before them, looking exactly as it had for the past thirty years. The redbrick exterior, the white shutters framing each window, the neatly trimmed hedges lining the front walkway—it was all just as she remembered.
Holly took a deep breath, steeling herself as she stepped out of the car. The cold Minnesota air nipped at her cheeks, a stark contrast to the warmth she’d felt just hours ago in Mack’s arms. She pushed the thought aside, reminding herself to focus on the present moment. This reunion with her parents was too important to be distracted.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” her mom said, coming around the car to give her another hug. Her embrace was tentative, as if she was afraid Holly might pull away. Holly leaned into it, trying to convey without words that she was here, that she wanted this to work.
