Dr. Tailfeathers arrives as the paramedics are discussing whether to transport me to the hospitalor not. She brings with her the vitamin K shot for Finn, and says she’s going to stay for a cup of tea with Luna until I’m settled in bed, and there’s no need for us to go into the city.
I have a little cry when Zane helps me back to the bed and I find it cleaned up, the sheets changed.
“Your mom had to?—”
“My momgotto,” Zane corrects me, rocking Finn back and forth in his arms as I try to figure out how I want to nurse.
Everything is different this time. We have so many more pillows. Regular pillows, body pillows, dedicated nursing pillows. Fresh sheets and so many helping hands.
A wave of emotion rolls over me. Tears start rolling down my face.
Zane is beside me immediately, putting Finn in my arms on the nursing pillow I picked, and then he’s wiping my cheeks with a tissue.
“You told me about this,” he says. “Hormones. And you warned me you won’t like to be reminded it’s hormones.”
I laugh.
He grins.
Then he settles in beside me, sliding his arm around my shoulders. “Lean on me, City Girl. I’ll tell you some more jokes while you show me how hungry my son is.”
Epilogue
Hope
May, again
I’m in the greenhouse, taking advantage of the fact that Finn fell asleep nursing outside. He’s in a bassinet next to the stove, and I’m clipping flowers with Bellamyfor some much-needed girl time together, when I hear Zane calling for me.
Bellamy races for the door, pulling it open with a big smile on her face.
“We’re in here,” she says, ushering him inside.
Much-needed girl time is only trumped by mid-day family time.
She grabs Zane’s hand with both of hers and tugs, wanting him to swing her into the air.
“Hang on, Bellaboo,” he says, laughing. “I’ve got something important for your mama to read on her phone.”
Frowning, I pat the back pocket of my jean shorts—but sure enough, I don’t have my phone on me. It’s in Zane’s hand, and he crosses to me, kissing me on the mouth before handing it over.
His dark eyes hold my gaze with a curiously proud warmth as he finally swings Bellamy into the air, flying her up up up before she clings to him, settling on his shoulders.
I look at the screen. There’s a pop-up notification,an email.
From the Mount Royal University Admissions office.
Congratulations! We are pleased…
Fingers shaking, I click on it and my email inbox opens. There’s a white screen for a minute as it loads, then the words appear in all their surreal glory.
We are pleased to offer you mature student admission to the Midwifery programme for the Fall Semester. You can create a student account via this unique link. If you accept this offer of admission, the first instalment of your tuition is due by…
I jerk my head up and stare at Zane.
He grins back at me. “You did it.”
“They said yes.”
