Because there were so many of us, we’d decided to do a secret ornament exchange.It would be simple, easy, and everyone would get one.We’d pulled names out of a jar.
“Lenni should go first,” Poet insisted.
“Does that mean my gift is from you?”Lenni asked.
Poet nodded and handed her a small brown bag with tissue paper.
Lenni reached into the bag and pulled out a stuffed dachshund that was light in color like Mildred.Lenni bounded to Poet and hugged her.“Thank you!I love it!”
We were halfway into opening gifts when Hadley made a noise and shifted her body.She placed a hand on her belly and gritted her teeth.
“Is your stomach upset?”I asked.
“Did you eat cookies with mustard again?”Lenni wondered.
“No, she’s in labor,” Muddy announced, rising.“Aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”Hadley let out a slow breath.“I’ve been having contractions on and off since early this morning, but that one was a doozy.”
“Okay, Bear Snack, time to get you upstairs,” Declan said, helping his wife rise.
“Upstairs?”Lenni asked.“Don’t you mean a hospital?”
“We’re doing a home birth,” Declan explained.
“Good thing too,” Mr.Powell announced, raising his cell phone.“The pass is closed due to visibility.Getting to a hospital would take a while.”
“You’re not allowed to look,” Hadley informed her husband.“The only people who are seeing the money shot are Muddy and Jane.They’re my doulas, just like we talked about.”
“I love you, Hadley,” Declan said and then kissed his wife before letting her go.
“Dude, how the hell are you so calm?”Cas demanded.“I’m going to be a wreck when Salem gives birth.”
Declan grinned.“I’ve birthed horses.A baby can’t be that different, can it?”
“You’re birthing, nothin’,” Hadley groaned as another contraction hit her.“Okay, I’m gonna go have a baby.”
Eight hours later, Muddy and Jane delivered Hadley’s baby girl.Everyone in the den smiled when we heard the baby’s boisterous wail.
Declan flew up the stairs, and then a few minutes later he came down, face radiant.“She’s perfect.And Hadley’s a champ.”
“We got a name, Dad?”I asked with a smile.
Mr.Powell poured Declan a glass of scotch.The rest of the men—aside from Brooks—had already been imbibing for hours.
Declan raised his glass.“To Aurora Sullivan Brewer.We’re calling her Rory.”
“To Rory,” Mr.Powell stated, lifting his glass.
Declan looked at Salem.“Thanks for the use of your bed.”
Suddenly, everyone was hugging everyone, tears streaming down our faces.
An hour later, Poet, Salem and I crept into Salem’s childhood bedroom.Hadley was propped up against the bed, looking exhausted but glowing.
Muddy and Jane quietly retreated, giving the four of us privacy.
“Well?”Salem asked.“You willing to do that three more times?”
