“She said she needs caffeine for moral support.” Gabriel took her arm and guided her toward the stairs. “Can you walk? Should I carry you?”
“I can walk. I'm pregnant, not incapacitated.”
“You're in labor.”
“I'm aware.”
They made their way down the stairs slowly, pausing twice when contractions hit. Maggie met them at the bottom, already dressed in jeans and a sweater, her face calm and focused.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Beth.
“Like I'm about to push two watermelons out of my body.”
“That's about right.” Maggie smiled and took her daughter's hand. “You're going to be fine. Better than fine. You're going to be amazing.”
“I don't feel amazing. I feel terrified.”
“That's normal too.”
Emily came out of her bedroom and rubbed her eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Beth’s in labor. We’ve got to get her to the hospital,” Maggie answered.
“Should I come too?”
Gabriel shook his head. “You should go back to bed. Paolo and Thomas will be here so you won’t be alone.”
“Is it okay if Charlie stays on the bed with me? He’s keeping me warm.”
“Of course. I’ll text Paolo when we have an update,” Maggie added.
The kitchen was bright with light, Chelsea at the counter pouring coffee into travel mugs. She looked up when they entered, her expression a mixture of excitement and concern.
“How did you know where to find those mugs?” Beth asked.
Maggie laughed. “Are you kidding? Chelsea could find anything to do with coffee if she was on her death bed.”
Chelsea shrugged and ignored the comment that in the moment seemed like an insult.
“The chariot awaits,” she announced. “Gabriel pulled the car around.”
Chelsea pressed a mug into Maggie's hands. “Drink this. It's going to be a long night.”
“It's already morning.”
“Semantics.”
They moved toward the front door, a small procession of anxious people focused on the woman at its center. Beth paused in the doorway, one hand on the frame, and looked back at Emily.
“The babies are going to be born today,” she said, “Today they're going to be here.”
Emily smiled and waved. “I can’t wait.”
Gabriel appeared at her elbow. “We need to go, Beth.”
“I know. I just wanted to remember this moment,” she said as she looked at the farmhouse. “The last moment before everything changes.”
Maggie touched her shoulder. “Everything has already changed, sweetheart. This is just the next part of the story.”
