Aurora

by Emma L. McGeown

  “Nick overcooked the turkey,” Elena tried, but Cat barely stopped for a breath.

  “Today is a day to celebrate family, friends, and the return of people’s memories.” She nodded in Elena’s direction.

  “Cheers to that.” Greg beamed, his eyes on me. “Because I was about to get my ass kicked if your memories didn’t come back soon.”

  “Language,” my mother scolded as the children giggled.

  “You might still get your ass kicked,” I muttered low enough for only Greg to hear before raising my glass one more time. “Cheers to Elena.” Before I could turn to look at her, she planted her lips on mine as the faint sounds of glassware clinked and chimed together.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Exactly one year later from the day my memories had come back, a day filled with so much love and happiness, I was back in the hospital. But for a very different reason.

  “Is Mum ready to try feeding again?” a nurse asked as she came into my room with a small bundle.

  I must have dozed off, and by the look on Jax’s face and the drool, she had just woken up too. It was a wonder we could close our eyes at all with the sunshine beaming through the window.

  “Sure, why not.” I groaned as Jax helped prop me up with pillows. “It’s not like I haven’t been awake for the last twenty hours.”

  Jax planted a soft reassuring kiss on my forehead. “Unfortunately, I can’t breastfeed for you. But what I can do is turn over the channel so Coronation Street isn’t on anymore.”

  “My hero.” I sighed.

  “I think she might warm up to you this time.” The older nurse smiled as she handed me our baby girl.

  I cradled her close to my chest and watched her for a moment. Her eyes hadn’t opened yet, but the prominent frown told me all I needed to know about her strong-willed character. The short wisps of dark hair surprised me. Jamie had been so fair when he was born, but there was still an undeniable resemblance. Jax joined my side and stared at her in awe. We could have been like that for minutes or hours. Time was irrelevant when she was in my arms.

  “She’s so beautiful,” Jax whispered, clearly mesmerized. “Which means she’s probably going to make our lives hell.” I giggled as I tried to get her to latch. “The cuter the baby, the harder they make your lives.”

  “Jamie was pretty cute too and he’s—” I cut myself off after a moment. “Okay, maybe there is some truth in your theory. Remember his terrible twos?”

  “That lasted until he was four,” Jax said before stroking the baby’s head. “Jamie is going to seem like a walk in the park. I mean, just look at her. She is going to break a lot of hearts.”

  “All while curing cancer,” I said quickly.

  “No, she will be building rockets to space or fighting for world peace,” Jax argued. “Or who knows, we might fail as parents, and she will become a conservative.”

  “Mama would be thrilled,” I said until I felt something. “Wait, she latched. She’s doing it.” I smiled at the nurse as she nodded, offering a small rub to my arm before she left me and Jax to bask.

  “I told you she would,” Jax said thoughtfully before she leant down and kissed me. “When she’s ready. Just like her mother. No one tells a Ricci woman what to do.” She stared at me for a moment before she became distracted with something very loud outside the room. “Not even your sister.”

  “Excuse me, I’m her sister.” Cat’s voice echoed through the hallway as hushed whispers were heard arguing with her. “This is just my voice. It doesn’t go any lower.” More whispers of protest came, but it did nothing to slow her down. “Trust me, she wants to see me. Elena?” she called as I shook my head at her gumption. Cat stormed into the room with an assortment of helium balloons. “I’m here,” she sang as she batted the balloons out of her line of vision. “Just about. It’s like Fort Knox in this place.”

  “Cat, it’s not even nine o’clock in the morning,” I argued. “Visiting hours don’t start until—” I cut myself off as I noticed some of the balloons. “And why did you get ‘Baby Boy’ balloons?” I raised a brow, considering we’d known about the sex for months.

  “And ‘Get Well Soon’? And…is that a ‘Happy Birthday’ balloon?” Jax added.

  “It’s all the gift shop had,” Cat said before placing the balloons on the side table and moving to my free side. “You work here. You should really talk to someone about this.”

  “I don’t work in the gift shop,” Jax argued.

  “And what ever happened to it’s the thought that counts, huh?” Cat said before she pointed her finger at Jax. “You were supposed to call me once the baby was born.”

  “I thought you’d want some sleep.”

  “A text does not suffice when it comes to my sister, Jax. You know better.”

  “The baby was born in the middle of the night.”

  “Can everyone be quiet?” I said. “She’s finally feeding.” The room turned silent as all eyes stared at the little bundle.

  “She’s so tiny,” Cat breathed as she slid onto the bed next to me. “She looks just like you, baby sis.” She nudged me. “Jamie doesn’t know he has a new baby sister yet, figured you’d want to tell him. I could barely get him into bed last night he was so excited. Nick will bring him over whenever you two want.”

  I let out a contented sigh, unable to tear my eyes from the baby in my arms.

  “Nick’s on call? Interesting. Some of the perks of being a freelance consultant?” Jax asked.

  After quitting his job last year, Nick had become a free agent. He managed his own schedule and worked around Cat and his kids. In the end, he’d decided to choose his family over work. A brave and difficult thing to do, I knew from experience.

  During the last year, I’d reined in my workaholic ways, and so had Jax. The laptop was rarely opened on the weekends now, and I’d made conscious efforts to stay no later than six p.m. at the office. I no longer missed bedtimes with Jamie, and I’d found the energy to work on my own health and wellbeing. Yoga a couple of times a week and a more active sex life, which Jax was thrilled about if not struggling to keep up with. Some things in life were just more important.

  “Nick is basically a stay-at-home dad, and I’ve never seen him happier.” She rubbed her swollen belly.

  Cat had found out she was pregnant not long after I did, a pleasant surprise for her and Nick. To think, our kids would once again grow up together, just as Jamie and Kate had, no more than six months apart in age. It shouldn’t have surprised me that we were both pregnant at the same time, again. We did everything together, always had.

  “Do you have a name yet?” Cat broke the silence as we watched the sleeping girl in my arms.

  “Oh crap, we have to name her.” Jax looked panicked.

  “You really didn’t have any names picked out?” She turned to Jax.

  “We did. We picked names. Didn’t we?” Jax asked me as she rubbed her tired face.

  “This is just the beginning, you know. You have two kids now. That’s a whole world of fun and tears,” Cat added.

  “I know her name.” I smiled at her. With a shaky breath, I looked up at Jax and found my eyes starting to well up. “The day we found out we could have her became one of the worst days of my life.” My voice trembled as I thought back to the day of my accident. “I lost sight of who I was, who I am today, and the ones I love.” Jax’s eyes glistened, but she didn’t look away. “She will not be remembered for that day because she is and always will be, the dawn of a new chapter. Our new beginning.” My eyes turned back to the baby in my arms as I leant down and kissed her forehead.

  “Aurora.”

  About the Author

  Emma L McGeown is an Irish writer and author of the new novel Aurora. Professionally, Emma does very little except for distracting her co-workers from deadlines. In her free time, she has spent much of her twenties traveling and reading queer fiction, including fanfiction, though she will never voice it out loud. Her main characters are almos
t always LGBTQ because why not? Positive representation has never been more important, and the three-dimensional folks she creates in her writing try to offer a unique voice with heart, flaws, and of course humour.

  Books Available From Bold Strokes Books

  Aurora by Emma L McGeown. After a traumatic accident, Elena Ricci is stricken with amnesia, leaving her with no recollection of the last eight years, including her wife and son. (978-1-63555-824-1)

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  No Regrets by Joy Argento. For Jodi and Beth, the possibility of losing their future will force them to decide what is really important. (978-1-63555-751-0)

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  To Sleep With Reindeer Justine Saracen. In Norway under Nazi occupation, Maarit, an Indigenous woman, and Kirsten, a Norwegian resister, join forces to stop the development of an atomic weapon. (978-1-63555-735-0)

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  Last Resort by Angie Williams. Katie and Rhys are about to find out what happens when you meet the girl of your dreams but you aren’t looking for a happily ever after. (978-1-63555-774-9)

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  A Love that Leads to Home by Ronica Black. For Carla Sims and Janice Carpenter, home isn’t about location, it’s where your heart is. (978-1-63555-675-9)

  Blades of Bluegrass by D. Jackson Leigh. A US Army occupational therapist must rehab a bitter veteran who is a ticking political time bomb the military is desperate to disarm. (978-1-63555-637-7)

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  Hopes and Dreams by PJ Trebelhorn. Movie theater manager Riley Warren is forced to face her high school crush and tormentor, wealthy socialite Victoria Thayer, at their twentieth reunion. (978-1-63555-670-4)

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  Sylver and Gold by Michelle Larkin. Working feverishly to find a killer before he strikes again, Boston homicide detective Reid Sylver and rookie cop London Gold are blindsided by their chemistry and developing attraction. (978-1-63555-611-7)

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