I Swear

by Sable Hunter

  Feeling sorry for him, the nurse took him by the arm. “Wait here. Let me speak to the doctor first.” When he seemed to want to burst on through the doors, she tightened her grip. “You don’t want to get me fired, do you?”

  “No, but I need to see her. Please,” he begged. “She’s mine.”

  “I know, honey.” She gave him a smile. “Your wife is a dang lucky woman to have someone like you looking after her.”

  “No, this is all my fault.”

  “No, Daddy. There’s no fault involved. What you have coming is a precious baby. Do you know if it’s a girl or a boy?”

  “It’s a girl. Her name is Greta.”

  “Oh, that’s good.” She patted his arm. “I’ll be right back.”

  Jonah waited on pins and needles. When the door opened and the doctor beckoned him inside, he walked in gratefully. “How is she? Did you stop the bleeding?”

  “I’m fine. Come hold my hand!” Delaney demanded from across the room.

  “She is doing well,” the doctor affirmed her claim. “We did stop the bleeding and we gave her a transfusion. Some small blood vessels ruptured in her cervix. This is normal and for most it wouldn’t be a big deal. Of course, for Delaney it is. We gave her the medicine she needed, and the bleeding has stopped. I’m just glad you got her to the hospital when you did. We’ll just have to monitor her closely, especially after the delivery. But don’t worry, I’m on top of it.”

  “I hope so. How about her contractions?”

  “Hey, talk to me.” Delaney waved her hand in front of his face. “I’m still in charge here.” She winked at her doctor. “My contractions are three minutes apart and…” She made a face and bore down hard.

  The doctor came to her. “She’s dilated 8 centimeters. It won’t be long now.”

  “Can I stay here?”

  “Yes!” Delaney shouted before the doctor could say another word.

  “Good. Let me go update dad and I’ll be right back.”

  …After Jonah reassured his father and Cletus, he returned to Delaney and held her hand while she brought their child into the world.

  “Okay, here she comes.” The doctor and nurse sat at the base of the bed while Jonah lent his strength to his wife.

  “Jonah!” she cried as she gave the last push necessary to deliver their baby. “Let me see her. Let me see her.”

  “Well…”

  “Is something wrong?” Jonah asked, his voice harsh with alarm.

  “Oh, no. Not at all.” The doctor beamed as he picked up the baby. “He’s perfect.”

  “He?” Jonah asked in surprise.

  Delaney began to cry. “A boy? How wonderful!” She held out her arms.

  “Dad was right,” Jonah mused as he bent close to the tiny baby at his mother’s breast. “Oh, he’s a fine little man.”

  “He’s as gorgeous as his daddy.” Delaney began to cry in earnest.

  While they welcomed their tiny child into the world, the doctor and nurse attended to Delaney to insure she didn’t suffer any more bleeding problems.

  “Go tell your Dad he’s a grandpa.” She gazed into her husband’s face with joy. “Tell him to come see the baby.”

  After looking to the doctor for permission, Jonah took off. When he entered the waiting room both John and Cletus stood up, anxious for news.

  “She’s fine. It’s a boy and he’s perfect.”

  John slapped his leg. “I knew it. Ha!” He punched Cletus on the arm. “You want to help me repaint a pink room?”

  …Later, Jonah sat next to the bed while his little man nursed. “What are we going to name him?”

  Delaney kissed the baby’s cheek. “I want to name him after your dad. How does John Thomas sound?”

  Jonah chuckled. “Well, it sounds fine. Are you sure you want to name him after the cat?”

  Giggling, Delaney kissed the baby again. “Well, I didn’t think of that. But I like the name, we’ll call him J. T.”

  “Sounds perfect to me.” He kissed them both.

  Thirty years later…

  “Catch that ball, Davy. Give Nicky a run for his money!” Jonah called from his seat on the front steps. “Hey, Delaney. Bring me some lemonade. All this coaching has left me parched!”

  “Coming right up.” Delaney puttered around her kitchen, gathering a stack of paper cups and a big jug of lemonade for her thirsty brood. “John, are you still in the recliner?” At eight-eight, the older man needed his rest.

  “Yes, little Greta is still napping.”

  She glanced in to see him stretched out which his youngest great-grandchild asleep on his chest. “Oh, she’s sweet. Isn’t she?”

  “Yea, I’m glad we finally have a girl. She looks like you, you know.”

  “You think so?” Delaney stopped to admire the baby. “I think she’s much prettier.”

  Hearing a bang on the front door, she took off with the lemonade. “I’ll be on the porch if you need me.” As she walked through the house, she considered how much she loved the old place. They’d never lived anywhere else. Oh, Jonah had to build on several rooms as their family grew. With three boys, they’d needed the extra space.

  When Jonah heard the screen door squeak, he jumped up to help his wife. “There’s my angel.” He bent in for a kiss. “Let’s take this over to the table. I think halftime is coming up.”

  Delaney set out the glasses and poured the lemonade. “Just look at them, Jonah. We have such a fine family.” She sat down in the rocker to survey her sons and their wives frolicking across the yard with their own children. Seven of them. All boys except for the baby inside with John.

  “We certainly do.” Jonah sat down next to her. He reached for her and as was their custom, they held hands while they rocked. “JT, Colin, Walker Ellis! Round up your boys and let’s take a break. Your grandma and I have something to tell you.”

  As their children and grandchildren gathered around, Delaney felt an all-encompassing joy envelop her like a warm wrap on a cold day. Her life couldn’t be any better than it was at this moment. Behind them, they heard John talking to the little girl.

  “Let’s go see what this wild bunch is up to, Greta. What do you say?”

  “Join us, Dad. I’m about to make my speech.”

  “Well, give us a wide berth. I think she’s had an accident.”

  “Oh, gracious. Give her to me.” Colin’s wife, Penny, came to take baby Greta for a diaper change.

  “Come get in the swing.” Delaney motioned for Walker’s two boys to move. “Kyle, you and Kurt give your aunt your spot. Come sit by me.” She patted the area at her feet.

  As the boys complied, Jonah stopped rocking. “I’m about to be sixty-two and I think I’m going to retire and take my Delaney on a much needed vacation.”

  “Where are you going, Pop?” Little Jonah came to sit on his grandfather’s knee.

  “Well, that’s up to her.” He winked at his wife. “Knowing your grandmother, she’ll be wanting to go fishing down at the creek, but I’m going to try and encourage her to venture out a little further.”

  “Hey, I love my home. I don’t need to go anywhere else,” she told them as she rocked in contentment.

  “Nevertheless,” Jonah continued, “I think it’s time we have the option to come and go as we please.”

  “What are you going to do with the shop, Dad?” JT looked a little worried. “Don’t we have half a dozen restoration contracts pending?”

  “We do and we’re going to fulfill them.” He held up a finger. “More correctly, you’re going to fulfill them.” Jonah looked from one of his boys to the other. “We’ve built a name for ourselves. A good reputation. We’ve turned out some fine restorations and I don’t intend to close the business. What we want to do is pass the torch. Isn’t that right, Dad?”

  “That’s right. Why don’t we show them the new sign?”

  “New sign?” Walker Ellis, named for Delaney’s be
loved grandfather, helped his pregnant wife to her feet. “I didn’t see a new sign.”

  “Well, you didn’t look very close, did you?” Jonah picked up his namesake and led his family to the shop. “You all didn’t notice the front of the shop was covered with a drop cloth?”

  “No.” JT laughed as he walked next to his dad. “Didn’t even look over here, I guess.”

  When they were all gathered near, Jonah put his arm around Delaney. “You want to do the honors, honey?”

  “Sure do.”

  Jonah reached up and took hold of a rope, handing it to her. “Give it a yank.”

  Delaney pulled on the rope and the drape dropped to the ground, revealing a beautiful sign that read, CALLANS CLASSICS. “I think that’s a fine name, love.” She turned to hug her husband and the little boy he carried.

  The younger Callan’s began to clap. “This is great, Dad,” Colin told them. “I hope you and Mom have the time of your life.”

  “Oh, we will,” Jonah drew Delaney close. “As long as your mom and I are together, we’ll be happy.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I swear.”

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  About the Author:

  Sable Hunter

  is a New York Times, USA Today bestselling author of nearly 60 books in 9 series. She writes sexy contemporary stories full of emotion and suspense. Her focus is mainly cowboy and novels set in Louisiana with a hint of the supernatural. Sable writes what she likes to read and enjoys putting her fantasies on paper. Her books are emotional tales where the heroine is faced with challenges. Her aim is to write a story that will make you laugh, cry and swoon. If she can wring those emotions from a reader, she has done her job. Sable resides in Austin, Texas with her two dogs. Passionate about all animals, she has been known to charm creatures from a one ton bull to a family of raccoons. For fun, Sable haunts cemeteries and battlefields armed with night-vision cameras and digital recorders hunting proof that love survives beyond the grave. Welcome to her world of magic, alpha heroes, sexy cowboys and hot, steamy to-die-for sex. Step into the shoes of her heroines and escape to places where right prevails, love conquers all and holding out for a hero is not an impossible dream

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  Sable also writes as

  Rebecca Schaefer

  Rebecca Schaefer is the sweet penname of New York Times, USA Today best-selling author Sable Hunter. Living in the Hill Country of Texas, Rebecca has been writing for a dozen years. Nothing makes her happier than penning stories of love and adventure. When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her three dogs.

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