Meagan smiled. "That's better."
EPILOGUE
A deep pain tore through Meagan's middle, and she bent over double. This one was much worse. No doubt about it, she was in labor. Gritting her teeth, Meagan placed her hands against her huge belly, waiting it out. It subsided slowly, and she found her way to the door just as Cole walked in.
"Meagan, what's wrong?" Worry etched deep lines in his forehead.
"It's time, Cole."
He was calm. He helped her into bed and removed her clothing. "We know how to do this, Meagan," he reassured, his hands steady as he fetched some clean rags. "The doctor explained everything."
"Oh, God," Meagan sat up, gripping the bedding as another contraction hit. Sweat poured from her forehead as the pain became unbearable. She let out a piercing scream.
"Meagan," Cole's wide eyes stared in horror at her, "stop that." He spilled the water he'd just gathered to wash his hands, and crossed his legs, "I need to use the privy."
Meagan moaned as he deserted her, returning just in time for her next contraction. She tried to remain calm for his sake, but the pain was too intense. She screamed again.
"Meagan," Cole stated in a panic, "I can't take much more of this." He reached to mop her face, but his hands were shaking so fiercely that he kept hitting her nose. "Make the baby come, Meagan."
Her next contraction hit, and Megan propped several pillows under her as she felt the wave of pain create a terrible need to push the child from her body. "I think it's time, Cole."
Sweat blinded him, and he used the towel to cleanse his own face. "Okay, Meagan. Okay." He sat at the foot of the bed, just as the doctor had instructed. Why hadn't he insisted his Ma stay with them these last weeks? He was too easy with his wife.
Meagan groaned as she pushed harder, unable to control the intensity as the need to deliver took precedence over her pain.
"I see the head, Meagan," Cole exclaimed with excitement. "Keep pushing. Push, push."
The contraction ended and Meagan relaxed.
"The heads gone." Cole turned worried eyes her way.
Meagan wasn't in the mood to laugh, but his expression forced the smallest of smiles from her. It vanished instantly as the next contraction hit.
"There it is again. Push, darling. Push hard."
Meagan did, not even having enough air to scream as she concentrated all her efforts towards delivering this child. Straining, Meagan felt the moment the baby's head left her body, and a tiny push was all it took for the rest of the body to slide out.
"It's a boy, Meagan." Tears streamed down Cole's face as he cleansed his son. "He's awful little."
Meagan slumped wearily against the bed, "baby's are little, Cole."
"This one's littler than most," he declared, relieved when the tiny boy let out a wail of protest over his father's rough treatment. Relieved eyes turned to his wife. "I think he's okay."
He followed all the instructions the doctor had given him, and within minutes he placed the bundled baby in mother's arms.
Meagan handed him back. "Cole, something's wrong."
"What?" Cole searched his son face, "he seems fine to me."
"No, Cole." Meagan tensed as a contraction hit her. "Cole, I'm having a contraction."
"Meagan," Cole explained the facts, "you don't have contractions after the child's born."
"Damn it, Cole," Meagan stressed impatiently, "there's another one."
Cole immediately set his son aside, ignoring his loud protests, and sat at the foot of the bed once again. "There is another one, Meagan. I see its head."
Two pushes later, she delivered their daughter. Small, but healthy.
Cole picked up one child, then the other, placing them both in Meagan's waiting arms. One slept as the other suckled at her breast. "I think, Meagan," he teased with intense pride, "that you've finally discovered a female talent that you're quite good at."
Meagan smiled tenderly at her children before turning her eyes to her husband. "I can think of two things," she declared wickedly, her eyes inviting him closer.
He kissed her tenderly, interrupted by the scream of his son, who'd inadvertently been taken from his feeding. "Two things," he agreed, thinking the next weeks were going to be hell, waiting for her to recuperate.
"Are you happy?"
"I'm blessed." He stood and kissed her forehead lightly, "and I couldn't be happier."
Her life was complete. She had a family to love and care for. Meagan smiled. Sarah had been right. Dreams really do come true.
acknowledgements
To my daughter, whose talent and perseverance gave this book life.
You amaze me and make me proud every day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deanna Sue Tompkins was born in Grand Junction, Colorado and currently resides in Columbia, Missouri. Her passions are writing, travel, gardening, long walks and spending time with family.
Deanna married her high school sweetheart thirty three years ago. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Deanna Tompkins Page 30