Jake traveled the rest of the way up the stairs, taking Aline to a chamber off to the right. Finlay and Kyla were to the far left with Jamie and Gracie’s chamber in the middle.
Jennie checked on Kyla first, then emerged long enough to lean over the railing. “Things are progressing well. Maddie and Caralyn have everything under control.” She moved down to Gracie’s room, then came back out to give them another update. “Gracie is also progressing well. Brenna and Ashlyn have everything under control. I’m going to stay with Aline. Celestina, would you mind assisting me?”
Celestina jumped with delight. “I’d love to.”
Moments later, Jake came flying down the stairs and charged over to Jamie and Finlay, the two of them still arguing. He gave Jamie a shove and said, “And that is why Aline and I kept it a secret. I didn’t wish for my wife to have to listen to you two. Lad or lassie, I’ll love both, though I’m quite sure we’ll have the first laddie.”
“Hellfire, Jake, that was underhanded,” Finlay ran his hand through his dark red hair, sweat dotting his brow. “I didn’t know I had to worry aboutbothof you. One is hard enough.”
Alex sat down in his chair and allowed the banter to continue for a few moments, before he finally ground out, “You’re all fools.”
In unison, the three fathers-to-be repeated, “What?”
“Why?” Jake asked, bewilderment clear on his face.
“Because your wee wives are up there working harder than they ever have, and you three are down here acting like having a bairn is naught. If you truly wished to show your wife respect, you’d be by her side mopping her brow and holding her hand. I never missed one of my children’s births.”
The three young men exchanged glances and then took off toward the staircase at the same exact time, shoving at one another along the way.
Brodie said, “They’ll never survive this, Alex.”
It was the longest night Alex had ever been through, though the joyous laughter abounded in the great hall and there was much ale consumed. He was nearly as nervous as his wee wife, though he’d never admit it to anyone. Six. He had six clan members to worry about. Three new ones and three lassies giving birth.
At one point, Rose sighed and said, “I just love Clan Grant, husband. They all love each other so much, though they show it in different ways.”
Finally, about three hours later, Celestina came out of Jake and Aline’s chamber and announced, “It’s a wee laddie!”
The door at the opposite end opened and Maddie came out, leaned over the railing and said, “’Tis a laddie!”
Amid the applause and celebration, the third door opened and Ashlyn came out of the chamber, her face tear-stained. “’Tis a wee laddie.”
Alex’s voice came out as a shout above the others. “Brenna, Caralyn, Jennie!”
All three healers stepped out and Brenna, in the middle of the other two, asked, “What is it, Alex?”
“Which one was first?”
The entire hall turned silent in an instant, awaiting her answer.
Brenna looked at Jennie, who said, “I’d say five minutes ago.”
Caralyn shrugged her shoulders. “I’d say the same.”
Brenna nodded to the group. “There you have it. All three lads were born at exactly the same time. You’ll have to deal with it, Alex. They’re all your grandsons.” The three healers returned to their chambers to finish their work.
Nothing was said in the hall, everyone waiting for Alex to speak and declare who was his first descendant of the next generation, but he never did.
Jake flew out of his room declaring, “Our laddie was first.”
Jamie must have heard him, for he bolted out of his chamber. “Our laddie is the firstborn.”
The door of Kyla and Finlay’s chamber opened, and Maddie and Caralyn, assisted by a maid, dragged Finlay out of the chamber. They left him there on the balcony above the hall. Maddie leaned over the edge and said, “Nicol, come get your son. He fainted.”
Alex beamed with pride. The crowd around him all awaited his pronouncement. “I couldn’t have planned it any better than nature, and I never argue with her.”
He ran a hand through his thick hair and said, “Three laddies all born at the exact same time. What a blessing!”
***
