When the Music Ends (The Winter Rose Chronicles)
Page 21
Another contraction, another push. Sean supported his wife in the water; thankful for the muscles he had developed working construction for so many years. This was hard.
Another push, another. "Is anything happening?"
"Yes, Sean. It won’t be long. The baby is much lower now. The head is crowning. Erin, do you want to feel?"
"No. I don’t want to feel that."
"Okay. Sean?"
"No thanks. Let’s just get this done okay?"
"Okay. Push, Erin. One more should get the head out."
Erin’s push turned to a soft cry as the head emerged. She panted softly.
"Wonderful, Erin. The head is out. Just give me a little push, honey, and you’ll get to meet your son." Erin pushed one last time and the baby slithered into the midwife’s hands.
"I want to sit down," Erin told Sean, and he lowered her into the water, so she could position herself more comfortably. Sean sat behind her, pulling her back against his chest. He put his arms around her. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
Sara lifted the baby out of the water, and clamped the umbilical cord, and suctioned out his mouth. He made a little squeak and then began to howl.
"Sean, Erin, meet your son," she said gently, placing the baby in Erin’s arms. Erin looked down into the little face. The little boy stopped crying and looked up at his mother, his eyes squinty in the light, his little lip sticking out. Sean looked over his wife’s shoulder.
"Oh Sean," Erin breathed, "just look at him. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life?"
"Only one thing."
"What’s that?"
"You." He kissed her temple. She smiled. There was a flash as Sara took a photo of the little family.
"That was a good one," she said to Abby as the assistant began setting up equipment to weigh and clean the baby. Sara handed Sean a pair of scissors so he could cut the umbilical cord. Then she took the little boy from Erin and handed him to his father so she could help Erin out of the water for a post-delivery checkup.
Sean climbed out of the tub, cradling his son in his arms and walked across the tarp over to the loveseat where Abby was waiting to look over the little boy.
"Congratulations Dad," she told Sean. "What’s his name?"
"Jordan. Jordan Matthew Murphy."
"He’s precious."
"Yes, he is." He handed the baby to the midwife’s assistant and turned to his wife. Erin was lying on the couch, draped in a towel, as Sara examined her, ensuring that she was okay. Sean remembered the last time, the miscarriage. What a tragedy that had been, and they had almost compounded it by losing each other not long after. But now, everything was perfect. Erin was his wife, and their son was born alive and healthy.
Abby scrubbed the baby vigorously with a soft cloth and he began to wail again. The assistant wrapped his son in a blanket and he carried him over to Erin, who scooted up on the sofa and eagerly held out her arms, cradling Jordan, and looking down into his face with adoration. Sean smiled, placing his hand on his wife’s shoulder. The circle was complete. A new branch of the Murphy family was beginning, passing on the legacy of love to the next generation.
Other Books by the Author
Keeping Katerina (Kindle)
The 1840s: A time of increasing social awareness, particularly for progressive cotton mill owner Adrian Bennett and his son and business partner Christopher. But one social issue Christopher has never considered much is violence against women. A Robert Browning poem and a chance encounter with Katerina Valentino change everything.
Katerina is in fear for her life from her father's constant beatings. That is, until Christopher becomes entranced by the delicate dark-haired beauty, and decides that he must rescue her from her father--by marrying her. But Katerina's years of abuse have left her physically and emotionally scarred. And those scars threaten the newlyweds' hope for happiness. Is Christopher's tender affection enough to help Katerina heal her broken spirit?
Table of Contents
http://simonebeaudelaireauthor.weebly.com
***Chapter 1***. 4
***Chapter 2***. 8
***Chapter 3***. 26
***Chapter 4***. 36
***Chapter 5***. 39
***Chapter 6***. 44
***Chapter 7***. 46
***Chapter 8***. 57
***Chapter 9***. 65
***Chapter 10***. 80
***Chapter 11***. 86
***Chapter 12***. 91
***Chapter 13***. 99
***Chapter 14***. 107
***Chapter 15***. 113
***Chapter 15***. 120
***Chapter 16***. 137
***Chapter 17***. 155
***Chapter 18***. 171
***Chapter 19***. 196
***Chapter 20***. 204
***Chapter 21***. 214
***Chapter 22***. 227
***Chapter 23***. 231
***Chapter 24***. 241
***Epilogue***. 253
Other Books by the Author 258