“With the man,” Rocky corrected. “He’s twenty-one and the same age we were when we first got together. And so is she. Whatever they find together is fine with me. As long as they keep the lines of communication between them open. I’m still more sorry than you can imagine that I didn’t tell you what was going on before it was too late…”
X put her hand up, her fingers gentle on his lips. “No sorrier than I am. Please, let’s not ever bring that up again, all right?”
He opened his mouth and wrapped his lips around her fingers, then tickled the tips of them with his tongue briefly before taking her hand away, kissing the back of it and putting it on his chest. “Now where were we...”
“I think we were talking about long odds and hoping Oscar and Lisa and crew were going to distract Lars and Krista for at least another hour.”
“An hour? You’re not getting off that easy, Mrs. Rachmaninoff. I have a lot of years to make up.”
X bent to his chest, mumbled, “Me, too,” then latched on, happy to have found a way to drive him crazy, too.
**
One year later
Ivan held one hand while his other one supported Krista’s back. “She said just one more push,” he translated. “You’re strong. I know you can do it. The first one’s always the toughest.”
“Huh? First one… OW!
“Breathe… Huff, huff…” Ivan watched the midwife nod once, letting him know it was time again. “Okay, let’s bring him or her into the world to meet everyone.”
Krista took a deep breath, glad her husband and father literally had her back, then bent forward, praying that this would be the last push.
X, standing behind the midwife, said, “And here he comes…”
“Can I watch?” Rocky asked his daughter, ready to let go as her other back supporter.
Krista quickly nodded, still pushing. Now she knew that her mother was right. A woman’s modesty did disappear in the delivery room. After all, he was watching his first grandchild come into the world, not looking at her naked bottom. It was also handy that he was a doctor, a backup. She trusted the old midwife who had delivered most of the babies in the region for the last forty years, but complications did arise. Hopefully, not today, though.
“Stop!” the midwife said in English, then quickly unwrapped the cord from around the babe’s neck. “Okay. Again push.”
“Ugh!”
“Save your breath for pushing,” Rocky said. “The hard part is ov… Oh, wow.”
Rocky’s tears spilled over as he watched the midwife pull his grandson out the rest of the way, the white waxy vernix covering his purplish body making him look like an alien. But he wasn’t. He was another native-born human, perfect in every way he could see.
The midwife set the baby on Krista’s draped belly and grabbed the stainless steel bowl from the cart beside her. “One more poosh,” she said, ready to catch the afterbirth.
“That one was easy,” Krista puffed, then relaxed back into the pillows. Spent but ecstatic.
Ivan took the knife the midwife offered and cut the cord, beaming with pride. Flawless delivery. Flawless child. Flawless wife and marriage.
“May I?” Rocky asked, reaching for the baby. “It’ll just take a minute.”
Krista looked up at Ivan, making sure he agreed. “Go for it, Dad,” Ivan said. “But make it quick.”
Rocky did a rapid Apgar assessment of his grandson, wiped him down, then did a second test, confirming the first one. Perfect. He wrapped him snuggly in the soft flannel blanket then handed him to his daughter.
“It’s best to try and get him to nurse right away,” X said.
Krista wiped her teary eyes again and said, “I know, Mom. I’ve read every book in the library and on the internet and listened to you and Dad and everyone else in Utqiaģvik for the last nine months.” Her breast now bared, she tickled her son’s cheek with her nipple. He quickly turned his head and latched on. “Oh!”
“Yup. Perfect score,” Rocky said. “Knows where his next meal is.”
Lisa stuck her head in the door. “I’m not bugging you again about whether we can come in yet, but X, your son needs you. He won’t be tricked by a finger and spits out the pacifier. He wants the real deal.”
X looked down at her chest and realized she was leaking. Yup, she and her son were in sync—when he was empty, she was full.
“Let me have him. You and Oscar can come in and meet your new grandson.”
“Grandson? We have a boy?” Oscar asked, his head peering over his wife’s shoulder, hungry Louie Rachmaninoff squalling in his arms.
“I got a nephew?” Lars asked, trying to crowd in the doorway to get a look, too. “All right! A baby brother and a nephew! Two more members for the basketball team!”
“Here,” Rocky said, approaching the door. “Let me get out so you three can come in to meet the latest resident of Utqiaģvik, the northernmost city in North America.”
“The coldest and the warmest place on earth!” X added. “And happy to call it home.”
**THE END**
A Note from the Author
Thanks for reading ONE ARCTIC SUMMER.
If you enjoyed the story, please help others know about what impelled you to finish it by reviewing and recommending it. You may leave a review for it on the Amazon page where the box set SWEET AND SASSY AT THE BEACH is offered.
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Other books by Dani Haviland
A Stingray Christmas: (First book in the Arlie Undercover series) Anchorage detective on medical leave travels from Alaska to Arizona to see for the first time the son he’d fathered as an anonymous sperm donor. Great and rotten surprises await the cop with the smartest smartphone around.
The Biggest Heart Ever: (Book two in the Arlie Undercover series) When would Arlie learn that trying to do everything by himself could be deadly—and make Charlene a widow before they were married?
Always a Bigger Fish: (Book three in the Arlie Undercover series) Back in Alaska, Arlie finds out he’s a target. Will vacationing detective Billy Burke (from THE FAIRIES SAGA) have information to help nab the scalper?
THE FAIRIES SAGA SERIES (in order with novellas):
Kibbles and Bits: FREE: Sample the first stories in the series before you buy (or read on Kindle Unlimited) The Fairies Saga stories. Find out how the first five books got their crazy names, too.
Naked in the Winter Wind: (lengthy novel) How does an older woman wind up as a young hottie in Revolutionary War era North Carolina? First book in the time travel series.
Ha’Penny Jenny: (historical novella) More about the naïve and psychic young girl who was adopted into a time traveling family. Will her past catch up to her?
Aye, I am a Fairy: (lengthy novel) Young British lord finds himself entwined with a time traveling family and must decide if he should go back in time, too. Second book in the series.
Dances Naked: (novel) Directionally challenged time traveler is rescued by Cherokee in 18th century. What must he do before the chief will show him to The Trees, the portal through time?
Chasing Christmas: (historical novella) A young Cherokee is rescued from an abusive man and changes the lives of many in this 18th century America family.
The Great Big Fairy: (lengthy novel) Very tall Benji grew up in the 20th century but was born in the 18th. When he finds a way to return to his grandparents in the distant past, he goes for it. Once there, he realizes he can’t stay, but must return to the future. Fourth book in the series.
Little Bear and the Ladies: (historical novella) What’s a bachelor trapper to do with all the females he rescues from the Hessian mercenaries? He’d better hurry and figure something!
Little Drummer Boy: (historical novella) Young Scout works to earn money for a home in post-Revolutionary War America but runs up against prejudices and snowstorms.
Never Too Young: (historical novella)
Scout and Ha’Penny Jenny have grown up, but will they be able to spend their life together, or will the past and ruffians get in their way?
Time in a Little Blue Bottle (time travel ‘mash up’ novella) Elvis, Mark Twain, and the prime vampire are racing to get the bottle of Fountain of Youth water before sweet Bella and the youthful pickpocket. So why are time travelers Marty Melbourne and Master Simon interested?
CONTEMPORARY NOVELLAS – BENJI, THE LOST YEARS
Luke the Unexpected: Love of classic motorcycles brought them together, but Luke and Holly have other challenges to face. Find out how their friend Benji got his stripes here.
Pool Boy Wanted: No Experience Preferred (rather racy) Young Benji has been a hostage and slave, but life gets worse when an older woman decides she wants him as her own. (Also part of Unforgettable Suspense box set)
STAND ALONE NOVELLA
Kit Kringle: An Alaskan Tale (contemporary) Kay moved to Alaska for the wrong reasons, then decided to stay and start her own business. What she hadn’t planned on were prejudices and falling in love.
Be My Angel: Wyatt's dream to help save the wild mustangs began with the purchase of a rundown ranch in western Oregon. What he hadn't anticipated was being mesmerized by a sassy woman in a wheelchair.
Three Are One: The post chaplain tried to help the young widow adjust, but would his feelings for her and the search for his lost sister cause problems?
BOX SETS
Some of these books might be a part of a multi-author box set, too. Check these out to discover other authors you might like. (Limited release on box sets – download to your Kindle Unlimited Library now)
Sweet and Sassy: The Best Kind of Romance http://bit.ly/2SwNSas
Sweet and Sassy Christmas: http://bit.ly/2SwNSasChr
Sweet and Sassy Valentine: http://bit.ly/2SwNSasVal
Sweet and Sassy at the Beach: http://bit.ly/2SSBeach
Kiss Me, Thrill Me: http://bit.ly/DHKmTm
Unforgettable Romances: http://bit.ly/UrUhMG
Unforgettable Heroes http://bit.ly/UnfHero
Unforgettable Christmas: http://bit.ly/2UnfXmas
Unforgettable Suspense: http://bit.ly/2UnfSusp1
Unforgettable Danger: http://bit.ly/2UnfDang
Unforgettable Valentine: http://bit.ly/2UnforVal
Unforgettable Weddings: http://bit.ly/2UnforWed
Unforgettable Trouble: http://bit.ly/2UnfgTrbl
Love, Christmas: http://bit.ly/LuvXmasAZ
Snowflakes and Christmas Kisses: http://bit.ly/2SnoFlks
Dani Haviland has never been one to believe, “You can’t do that!” She started her own business in 1994, selling tractor parts in Alaska, then segued to writing and publishing books, becoming a USA Today bestselling author in the process. She currently splits her time between Alaska and Oregon, tirelessly writing and gardening, publishing and promoting, while claiming to be ‘retired.’
Contact
Dani Haviland can be found at
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One Arctic Summer Page 12
