“Yes, doctor?”
“Mrs. Manifold is ready. Please move her to a delivery room.”
“Yes, doctor.”
Brian helped Rhonda return to the wheel chair.
Her face contorted.
They followed the nurse down the hall to another room. This one looked private and comfortable. The nurse prepared Rhonda for delivery and left.
Brian leaned down to his wife and whispered, “I sure do love you.”
She grimaced. “I love you, too.” She breathed. “I think she’s coming, and I’m not going to get my epidural.”
Brian rubbed her arm. “I’m sorry about that.”
The nurse came in again.
“Can you get Danielle? She’s the blonde at the entrance,” Rhonda asked to the nurse.
“I’ll see what we can do.” She left.
A moment later, Danielle ran in the door and kissed Rhonda’s cheek. “I just heard that you’re getting ready to push.”
“Yes. Ow!” Rhonda grunted. “She’s coming.”
As if on cue, the doctor entered in a surgery coat and mask. “Ready?”
Rhonda nodded.
The doctor took his seat.
Three pushes later, Hope Manifold breathed her first bit of air. They laid her on Rhonda’s stomach.
Brian cut the cord, a smile of fatherly pride smeared on his face.
The nurse took the baby to a plastic incubator, covered by a soft light.
Brian stared at her.
She was so perfect. So beautiful.
Ray entered the room and took in the scene. “Oh come on. I was only gone five minutes. Eight, tops.”
Everyone laughed.
He walked to Danielle’s side and interlaced his fingers with hers. “Someday we should do that,” he whispered a bit louder than he probably intended.
“I’d love that,” she said back.
The nurse turned with the swaddled baby. “Would you like to hold your daughter?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.” Brian took the fragile little lady from the nurse’s arms, marveled, and then crossed to Rhonda and laid their baby in her arms. He leaned and kissed his wife’s forehead.
“Thank you, honey.”
“For what?” Rhonda breathed as she stroked their little Hope.
“For a second chance.”
“I think you should thank God for that,” Rhonda said.
“I do.” He smiled.
Rhonda kissed his cheek.
Hope cooed.
They both looked down at her.
Brian caressed her tiny hand and smiled. “Welcome,” he said, “to the rest of our lives.”
Thank you for purchasing this Harbourlight title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.
For questions or more information, contact us at [email protected].
Harbourlight Books
The Beacon in Christian Fiction™
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
www.pelicanbookgroup.com
May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
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