But when he looked at them with the knowledge that they would live in his home and, for a time, at least, be a part of his family, he had to admit that he considered them beautiful, too.
Whitney was pale and tired, but curiously serene. She looked at one baby, then the other, then up at Diane, as though amazed by what she'd produced. Diane leaned down to rest her cheek against Whitney's hair. "Well done, sweetie." she said.
"I didn't know you were here, Elliott," Whitney said, looking pleasantly surprised to see him.
"They have long fingers," Elliott said, pointing his own index toward the tiny hand of the closest baby. "Definitely football team draft picks. Can you have a vanilla milkshake?"
He looked at their companions. "That's her favorite thing."
"I think I can eat whatever I want."
"Lone Star's still open. I'll be right back." He touched her arm wrapped around the baby in an artlessly affectionate way.
Her eyes followed him to the door. "Thanks, Elliott."
"Now, there's a good friend," Claire said. "What are you going to name the babies, Whitney?"
Jason saw a ripple of emotion cross Whitney's face. It was pain so enormous that for a moment he thought she would cry out, or make some urgent, physical complaint.
But instead, she said to Claire, "Here, Claire. Would you hold one?"
"I'd love to." Claire reached down to scoop up the nearest baby, her face aglow with happiness over the safe delivery.
"Tom?" Whitney held the second baby toward him.
He looked reluctant.
Diane bent his arm for him, took the baby and placed him in it. "See? Nothing to it. If you're going to find your own babies some day, you should - "
"These are their babies," Whitney said, that pained look gone from her face as she seemed to square her shoulders against the pillows and make herself smile. "You and Tom should name them, Claire."
Everyone froze. Claire and Tom, arms filled with babies, looked at one another in confusion.
"I wanted so much to be their mother," Whitney said, swallowing with apparent difficulty, "but I've learned a lot about love over the past couple of weeks. Diane changed her life to help me, Jason traded in his dream to stay with her because he knew she needed him, and the two of you have done so much to help me even though I've disappointed you." She heaved a deep sigh, and smiled, seemingly strengthened somehow by that admission. "You've all done so much to give me the best possible chance to have what I want, so I think the best chance I can give my babies to have what I want for them, is to give them to you." Her eyes welled with tears but she continued to smile as she looked from Claire to Tom. "If you still want that."
Though he had no camera, Jason knew that moment was forever imprinted in his mind, on his heart.
Tom put his free arm around Claire as she dissolved into happy sobs, the babies sleeping soundly, unaware at the moment of how generous their mother was.
Diane, dark eyes streaming tears, wrapped Whitney in her arms. "I know how hard this is, Whitney," she said. "But it's right. I'm sure it's right."
"I know it is." Whitney insisted, but she sobbed all the same.
A nurse came to reclaim the babies for a few more tests, and Tom and Claire relinquished them with obvious reluctance.
"You're sure, Whitney?" Claire asked as the nurse disappeared.
Finally composed, Whitney nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Maybe I should leave the three of you to talk things over," Diane said, swiping at her eyes with a tissue. She caught Jason by the hand and dragged him out of the room behind her. Once in the hall, she collapsed in tears against him.
He pulled her toward the empty waiting room and sat her down. "She's doing the right thing," he said. "You know she is."
She nodded. "But I've been with her through it all, and I know what this is costing her."
"But she's big enough to do it. Now she'll be invincible her whole life long."
Diane quieted and leaned into him. "What do we do now?"
Jason leaned back in the uncomfortable vinyl sofa and held her close. "Well, I guess we get her through high school, send her off to college and travel when we can work it in."
She couldn't quite believe her ears. She sat up to look into his face, thinking that for someone who claimed to be newly exposed to the giving emotions, he was learning fast.
"Her aunt said Whitney could live with her if - "
He kissed her forehead. "But Whitney would prefer to stay with you, and you'd like that, too."
She felt the warmth of his body under her fingertips, the warmth of his heart in her own. "But that's a lot to ask of you."
"Love is a lot to ask of anyone, but it turns the world, and if you don't have it, or can't give it, you're just not equipped to be here. And you're definitely not a Blake or a Maitland."
She kissed him soundly, wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as hard as she could. She was too happy to contain all the strength love gave her. "Or a Morris!" she said.
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Maitland Maternity Christmas Page 20