Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“It’s a family quilt, sugar,” I whispered, leaning in close. “Let’s have our baby on it.”
She let out a sob as she nodded.
Then she was all business.
It was like, all of a sudden, things happened in hyperspeed.
Noel grunted and moaned and the tendons in her neck stuck out so far that they looked like they were about to burst from her skin. She stayed on her knees, her arms around my neck and Andrea on the quilt behind her.
Her face flooded with color.
“Almost there,” Andrea called out. “You’ve got a bald baby.”
“You can see them?” I asked, looking down Noel’s back.
“I can,” Andrea replied, glancing up at me. “You want to look?”
“No.” The answer was instantaneous. I wasn’t moving from my spot.
Noel panted against my neck, and every muscle in her body tightened.
A cry split the air, and everyone in the room lost their breath.
“You have a beautiful baby girl,” Andrea said with a little laugh.
“Another girl?” Noel asked me, her eyes still dazed.
“Another girl,” I confirmed, kissing her.
Me and Esther helped Noel onto her side, stuffing a couple of pillows under her to prop her up.
And then there she was. Covered in white shit. Pissed as hell. Flailing.
Andrea laid the baby girl on Noel’s chest and my mom tucked a small gray blanket around her.
“Mom’s pretty tired,” Andrea said softly. “Dad, why don’t you put a hand on baby’s back, just in case.”
Dad.
My throat closed as I nodded, resting my hand on her tiny little back.
My mom’s hand settled between my shoulder blades in almost the exact same spot.
“She’s so pretty,” Noel hiccuped. “Did you see?”
She looked up at me, and I almost started bawling. My eyes were blurry but I nodded anyway. “I saw,” I rasped.
“You are beloved and wanted and prayed for,” Noel whispered, her voice hitching as she pressed her lips against the baby girl’s head. “Welcome to the world, Ruth Hawthorne.” Her eyes met mine. “Daddy and I love you so much.”