by Wendi Sotis
The cameraman hoisted his equipment off his shoulder, wished Elizabeth and William luck, and walked away. Ms. Simpson stepped behind William, trying to move out of Elizabeth’s view, and reached around him to stick her card in William’s suit jacket pocket. Elizabeth chuckled.
He took the card from his pocket and handed it back to Ms. Simpson. “Go away. Now!” he growled.
The elevator door opened and the intern pushed the wheelchair inside.
William huffed. “I just don’t get it. I’m married, my wife is literally giving birth right in front of her, and she still won’t leave me alone!”
“She doesn’t want you to get lonely while I’m in the hospital.” Elizabeth began to laugh, but it was cut short by another contraction.
After the contraction had passed, William frantically informed the medic, “The last one was only eight minutes ago!”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened considerably when William’s phone made that tone, adding emphasis to his pronouncement.
“Oh, no!” Elizabeth groaned.
The elevator stopped abruptly.
“Will?”
“I’m afraid to look, but I have to call Richie and get a repair crew working on the elevator, so I’m going to have to.”
As William pulled out his phone, Lillian said, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Darcy. They’ll fix it before it’s time for the babies to come, but just to ease your mind, you should know that I have experience birthing twins.”
“In an elevator, with no proper equipment nearby?” William asked forcefully.
Elizabeth raised both eyebrows.
William sighed. “I’m sorry.”
Lillian shook her head. “It’s okay. Believe me, I understand.”
William reached into a pocket and handed Lillian a few individually wrapped antibacterial wipes. “It’s a good thing you make me carry these around, Elizabeth.”
William pressed a few buttons on his cell phone, paused, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“What? Will, tell me!”
William opened his eyes and smiled. “It’s going to be fine.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Can I see it?”
He shook his head.
Elizabeth’s smile faded, but she seemed much more relaxed—until the next contraction began. She waved William off and grunted, “Call Richie.”
“That was only two minutes!”
“Call!” Elizabeth began her breathing exercise.
“Richard, we’re stuck in elevator number...” He looked up at the paper stuck to the wall. “Elevator number three. I thought Ron had this problem fixed?” He paused. “This is my building. If anyone has to get stuck, it should be us, but Rich, Elizabeth’s contractions are only two minutes apart. He’s got to get this thing moving!”
Elizabeth hollered. “I need to push!”
“Take off your coat, Mr. Darcy,” Lillian said in an urgent tone. “I’m going to lay it on the floor. I need to examine her.”
William froze. “Here? Now?”
Lillian looked him in the eye and said firmly, “Yes. Here. Right now. I’ve seen other patients today. I don’t want to use my lab coat, just in case.”
“Did you hear that, Rich?” He shrugged one arm out of his suit jacket. “Get this elevator going now!” He pressed a button, then slid the coat off the other arm and handed it to Lillian. She laid it on the floor, and then the two helped Elizabeth out of the chair and onto the floor.
Lillian dialed a number on her cell phone and handed it to William. “That’ll be Dr. Denhard. Tell her what’s going on.” She ripped open a wipe and washed her hands.
“Will?” Elizabeth panted out.
As the phone rang, William sat on the floor and slipped into position under Elizabeth’s head and shoulders. She looked about as frightened as he felt.
When the doctor answered the phone, William blurted out, “Doctor, this is William Darcy using Dr.—oh, I don’t know, Lillian’s phone. We’re stuck in the elevator.”
“I’ve never seen anyone progress this quickly,” Lillian called out. “She’s about ten centimeters, and she wants to push.”
Will repeated it, and then looked at Lillian. “How do I put this on speaker?”
Lillian explained as she pulled Elizabeth’s slip off her hips and laid it on Elizabeth’s belly. “Mr. Darcy, put the phone on the floor and wipe your hands. I need you to rip this in half so we have something to wrap the babies in. And take off your shirt... I’ll need it.”
He did as he was told.
Dr. Denhard’s voice came through the little speaker, “If she needs to push, let her push!”
Elizabeth pushed.
~%~
“I still think they should be named Fitz and William.” Elizabeth smiled down at the babe who was nursing contently.
The nurse nodded in approval as she stood by to instruct William during his first diapering duty. William chuckled. “I’ve been practicing on a doll for weeks.” He lifted the tiny newborn boy into his arms, and the nurse left the room. He sat in the chair next to the bed. “You know as well as I do that both men who have carried that name disliked it. I refuse to do that to my sons.”
“All right, Connor and Thomas, after our fathers... but how about using Fitzwilliam as a middle name for both?”
William nodded. “I’ll agree to that.”
Elizabeth smiled widely. “Perfect answer, as usual.” She tilted her head. “Do I ever get to see the picture you received in the elevator?”
William moved slowly so as not to jostle the now sleeping baby in the crook of his left arm. He held out his phone so Elizabeth could see it.
“This looks like right now!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“It is. Don’t you feel it?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“I do,” he stated.
“I’m glad they sent it when they did.” She smiled. “Oh, Georgiana called earlier—she’ll be up to visit tomorrow. She says we’re in the papers again.”
“I’m sorry.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise. “About what?”
“The elevator... and that I haven’t been able to keep my promise to be normal.”
“The elevator was working just fine this morning when I came up here with Dr. Denhard. You promised that we’d try to be normal. We have tried, but I guess we just aren’t able to do normal for any length of time.”
“As long as the four of us are healthy, happy, and safe, it’s perfect for me. I love you, Elizabeth. Thank you for our sons.”
“I love you, too, and it’ll be the five of us. Thank you for our children.” Elizabeth pressed her lips together, hiding a smile.
“What?”
She shook her head, but couldn’t hold back the smile any longer.
“I know that expression. You’ve received a photo that you haven’t told me about, haven’t you?”
“Yes, when you were out of the room. You know I had to wait for the right time. Look at my phone.”
It was a family portrait—an older version of themselves with their twin sons and their younger sister.
William breathed, “Perfect!”
THE END
Acknowledgements
I am forever grateful to Gayle Mills and Robin Helm, for being such good friends, helpful beta-readers, and fabulous editors.
Betty Campbell Madden, Lisa Diederich, and Stephanie Hamm, I appreciate all your cold-reading this story and helping with the plot and various other errors that I made while carrying out Gayle and Robin’s recommendations.
To the members of BeyondAusten.com, I am thankful for the time you took to read, comment, and give your opinion on my first draft.
Foundation of Love (The Gypsy Blessing 2) was begun in April 2011, well before The Gypsy Blessing. During a writer’s block, I’d gone searching for writing prompts and came up with a few that seemed interesting. I combined them together, and ideas for Foundation of Love started popping into my head. I had absolutely nothing in m
ind for the Regency story other than the part where she met the gypsy, so I started writing this first, beginning with the letter from Regency Elizabeth. After writing more than half of this story, I sent my idea to a Gayle and Robin. They both recommended that I should write the Regency story first, and The Gypsy Blessing was born.
The first draft of this story was posted on BeyondAusten.com from January 2014 through May 2014.
If you liked Foundation of Love,
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About Wendi Sotis
Wendi Sotis is a graduate of Nassau Community College and Adelphi University, and holds a degree in Psychology. Following the birth of her triplets in 2000, she decided to stay at home to raise them.
Having always been an avid reader and adoring fan of Jane Austen, when her triplets were independent enough that she could find a little time to herself, Wendi searched the internet where she discovered a treasure trove of “fan fiction” written by fellow Janeites. At first, experiencing Austen’s stories from several different characters’ points of view caught her interest, but then she branched off into reading sequels, “what if” stories, and modernized versions of Austen’s tales.
Though she had always aspired to become a writer, Wendi did not make a serious attempt until one day, after awakening from a dream, her imagination began churning up a tale to surround it.
Wendi continues to write while living on Long Island with her husband, Matt, who paints her covers, her son, and two daughters.
Contact Wendi through the following venues:
Website: www.wendisotis.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendi-Sotis-Author/231869130201504
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/WendiSotis
Forum: http://beyondausten.com
Other books by Wendi Sotis
Promises by Wendi Sotis
Through their fathers' friendship, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy meet as children. Over the years, their feelings for each other grow and they promise themselves to each other, but unfortunate circumstances and interfering family members seek to keep them apart. Will misunderstandings and mistaken impressions divide Elizabeth and William forever?
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Dreams & Expectations by Wendi Sotis
Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet quickly recognize their feelings for each other and form a friendship, but misunderstandings and a bit of mystery and adventure hinder their path to happiness.
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All Hallow’s Eve by Wendi Sotis
Appearances can be deceiving, even in Regency England. To most, Elizabeth Bennet is simply the second daughter of an insignificant country squire, but in truth, she is High Priestess and leader of an ancient cult secretly co-existing alongside British society. Confusion reigns when she learns that the man she despises, Fitzwilliam Darcy, is her Soul Mate, assigned to protect her from Evil. Can they work together to preserve the future?
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The Keys for Love by Wendi Sotis
In this sweet Pride and Prejudice-inspired romance, William Darcy has finally torn himself away from work to join his sister at their vacation house in the Florida Keys. There, he meets his sister’s new friend, Elizabeth Bennet, the housesitter staying next door. A light, fluffy, feel-good short story / novella.
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The Gypsy Blessing by Wendi Sotis
Elizabeth Bennet thinks it merely odd when she begins to receive drawings in the mail with no return address—until she recognizes these same scenes as they become true events in her life.
Will Elizabeth’s efforts to reshape future events alter her destiny?
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Foundation of Love: The Gypsy Blessing 2 by Wendi Sotis
Elizabeth Bennett begins to doubt her sanity when her cell phone receives pictures predicting future events. After Elizabeth uses the photos to save William's sister, the wall between them begins to crumble. When William witnesses Elizabeth viewing a series of prophetic photos, he becomes involved, as well. Will their shared experiences become the foundation of love?
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Safekeeping by Wendi Sotis
A woman awakens in a hospital room, injured and surrounded by strangers. The car accident is a blur, and her mind is nearly a blank slate.
The name on her driver’s license reads Elizabeth Becket, and she’s enrolled at a local college, but none of this feels right. Her college application claims she’s a writer—are her vivid and frequent nightmares a story conjured up in her imagination or could they be memories of her former life?
The only thing she knows for sure is that an urgent sense of danger casts a shadow over her entire existence.
Irresistibly drawn to Fitz Darcy, the man living next door to her new apartment, her soul longs to trust him. Is he safe to love, or is he part of the frightening events her subconscious is fighting so hard to keep buried?
A contemporary mystery romance with a clever nod to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.