Although the energy might’ve been gone, and there was a little discomfort to be had, there was still a hum of anticipation that kept most eyes open despite the overwhelming exhaustion that was beginning to set in.
“Almost there, baby,” Baz crooned to JJ, keeping his voice low.
He knew he was supposed to encourage her to breathe because he’d learned that during their Lamaze classes.Since JJ seemed to be doing a good job of doing exactly as they’d learned, he felt no need to overwhelm her with instruction.Or piss her off.It was a wonder she wasn’t angry already.Then again, they’d waited what felt like a lifetime for this day, so perhaps her emotions were simply in chaos.Whatever the reason, he opted to remain silent, squeezing her hand gently to remind her that he was there.
“We’re gonna do it this time, JJ,” Dr.Tinder said, peering over the sheet that was draped over JJ’s knees.“You ready?”
JJ said, “Yes,” although she was shaking her head no.
Baz could see Dr.Tinder’s eyes crinkle, the only sign that he was smiling since there was a mask covering his face.
“Good girl.”
Taking a moment to brush her hair back from her face, Baz took a deep breath when she did and then held on one more time.
JJ let out a cry so loudshe figured for sure her throat would be raw.
But then Dr.Tinder was praising her and congratulating them on a little girl.He was mumbling other things, but she was too focused on listening for the baby’s cry to pay attention.
“Breathe, honey,” Jules urged, brushing JJ’s hair back.“They’ve got her.”
Every second she didn’t hear it, her chest squeezed tighter and tighter and…
An irritated squall sounded, and everyone released a pent-up breath.
“There it is,” Dr.Tinder said, his voice muffled because he was still between her legs, doing whatever doctors did after babies were born.
JJ exhaled on a rush of air so powerful, it was a wonder she didn’t pass out.
“Baz, do you want to go over there?”Jules asked.
“You can go,” he told her, his eyes never leaving JJ’s face.
For a few minutes, JJ closed her eyes, grateful the hard part was over.At least for today.Once she was at home, attempting to take care of twins, she figured this would feel like a cakewalk.
She was grateful she didn’t have to do this alone.So very grateful for the man she loved with all her heart.
“I think Mom should see these little angels.”Wes’s sturdy voice sounded from behind her.
“I think that’s a good idea,” the nurse told him.
The next thing she knew, Iris was stepping back and the nurse was settling a baby in a blue blanket in the crook of JJ’s right arm.And then a bundle in pink was placed on her left side.
JJ glanced down at them.Back and forth, taking it all in as her heart swelled ten times its normal size.She made a vow right then and there that she would never, no matter what, let them go for a single minute without knowing that she loved them with all her heart.She would do what was necessary to ensure they never doubted it for a second.
Chapter Thirteen
“How big were they again?”Brantley askedReese as they sat across from one another at the diner.
When they’d arrived, just after six, the darkness of night was slowly being saturated by daylight even though the sun hadn’t risen yet.It had been late enough for the diner to be open but too early for it to be occupied by anyone other than a couple of temporary ranch hands helping out somewhere in the vicinity.Now that it was closer to seven, people were beginning to trickle in as steadily as the sun was rising in the sky.
“Little boy was five pounds two ounces,” Reese said, pushing his plate away.“Eighteen inches exact.And the little girl was four pounds fourteen ounces.Seventeen and a half inches.”
“The numbers seem big to me, but they were so small.”
“I think the doctors were impressed with their size.”
Yeah, that’s what Wes had told them.
