"Just a little." She leaned against him and took several deep breaths. "You can't fool me."
"I never thought I could. What specifically are you talking about?"
"You're upset." Lifting a hand, she touched the middle of his forehead. "There's a crease right here." He stopped when she gripped his arm, fingers digging through his sweater.
"Kiara."
"I'm fine. They're still too far apart. Siobhan and Sean."
"What?" He wanted to shake some sense into her and decided that if he saw the slightest indication that she was in pain, he was lifting her and taking her back to the delivery room. This was getting ridiculous.
"Our babies. Sean and Siobhan. I love those names."
They had been so rushed with work, hers and his, that they barely found the time to settle on names. That was not exactly true, he recalled with a shake of his head. They had been going back and forth, writing down names and discarding them until he had given up and told her she should be the one to choose.
Thankfully, up until now the pregnancy had been tolerable, with a few trips to the private clinic to check on her blood pressure. She had driven him crazy with her research into the risks connected to childbirth.
Over the last two months, she had become obsessed with keeping healthy for their babies. Her eating habit had changed drastically and even when she started craving things like ice cream and fried chicken, she had resisted the urge. Irene had to carefully vet the menu.
The nursery had to be right. The colors and schemes were ruthlessly studied and after rejecting several ideas, she had given the go ahead at the last minute. And she had ballooned out, getting bigger during the last month.
"I love them too." He guided her up the hallway, making sure to keep her clear from the people milling near the reception area. He could not keep their lives private for long but was determined not to have her labor spread all over the gossip columns. "How about we go back?" he suggested softly.
Pressing a hand to her belly, she took a deep breath. "I think it's time."
His eyes bulged as he turned to look at her. "What?"
"I think they're coming. Oh!" She gripped his arm and gritted her teeth. "My water just broke."
He did not wait to hear anything more, scooping her into his arms, he dashed the rest of the way, weaving through the hallway until they came to the delivery room.
While he was quietly freaking out, the completely amazing woman he had married calmly told the doctors that she was ready to deliver her babies.
Maeve pressed a handkerchief to her damp eyes as she stared at the latest additions to their family. "We have such beautiful grandchildren, don't we?"
"Considering how beautiful their grandmother is, I'm not surprised." Her husband was feeling emotional himself as he stared at the twins. They were not identical but had the same dense patch of dark hair lying close to the scalp and creamy complexion.
Large hazel eyes blinked at the people peering at them as if they were wondering what the fuss was all about.
They were both a little over four pounds and needed to be in an incubator for now so that their lungs could be developed.
"They're O'Sullivan's through and through." He announced stoutly. Victoria sent him a frosty look that spoke volumes.
"I would like to think that there is some Landan in them as well." She had stayed for the entire experience. Seeing them, her own flesh and blood had done something to her heart. For the first time in her life, she was in love.
These tiny bundles of exquisite joy had melted her icy heart.
"I beg your pardon there, Doctor. Of course you're right."
She mellowed enough to offer him a gracious nod. "The name is Victoria. After all, we're family."
Padric was careful not to show his extreme shock at the woman's unbending. "Well, Victoria, how about a cup of celebratory tea?"
"That would be lovely."
"You should be sleeping." He stroked her back gently, absolutely amazed by her. For a woman who had been in labor for close toeight hours and delivered two beautiful babies, she looked as if she had just taken a walk in the park.
He had never met anyone like her. She had insisted on holding the twins, calling them each by name and cradling them in her arms before reluctantly handing them over to the nurses.
