“That’s a lot of money,” Julia said.
“Ted was worth so much more than that. I’m glad they finally caught him,” Colleen said.
“It’s terrible to think that it really was murder and not an accident. It’s so unfair.” Though Brianna had come to believe that Ted’s death was more than an accident, it was still unsettling to read it in black and white.
Emma put her hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “As awful as this is, at least it’s behind you now. You can stop worrying and move on with your life.”
Brianna’s heart felt suddenly lighter. Emma was right, and she knew now that it was time to have another talk with Paul.
* * *
She told him the news on Tony’s arrest first.
“So, we were right! It was Tony. I’m glad they caught him. That must be such a relief to you at last.” Paul and Brianna were in the kitchen, the children were sound asleep and Brianna was pouring them both a cup of chamomile tea with honey. They were both standing, Paul leaning against the counter while Brianna stirred honey into their hot tea. She handed him a cup and took a small sip of hers.
“It’s a huge relief, but there’s also something else I wanted to discuss with you. I’ve been thinking a lot the past few weeks, about how things are going with us and my feelings for you and my memories of Ted.”
Paul stood up straighter then, as if bracing himself for bad news. She knew it was her fault, that her voice sounded so serious, but this was serious to her. She set her tea down and took a step closer to him and reached for his hand. He automatically pulled her in close and she looked up and into his clear, blue eyes. “So, as I said, I’ve been thinking a lot about us and wondering and worrying about whether I was being disloyal to Ted. I’ve come to realize that if it was the other way around and I had died, that I would want Ted to move on and to find love again. It took me some time to understand this, but I truly believe that Ted would want the same for me. I’ve been fighting these feelings, but I can’t fight them any longer. I love you, Paul.”
He broke into a grin and then immediately gave her a very enthusiastic kiss. When they finally came up for air, he smiled again and said, “Mrs. Donovan, this may be the happiest day of my life. I love you for now and for always.”
“I do, too! Now kiss me again.”
Epilogue
A few months later…
“I can’t believe how big she’s gotten,” Colleen said when Brianna left the room for a moment. “Is that normal?” Brianna was due in less than a week, and the girls had all come by to visit and to make sure that she had everything she would need for the baby.
“There is no normal,” Julia laughed. She’d given birth just a week before and though she hadn’t been quite as big as Brianna, she still had gained a lot of weight.
“I heard you,” Brianna said as she waddled back into the room, sat at the kitchen table and put her feet up. “I know I’m as big as a house. I’ve just been so hungry and the doctor said it’s important to eat when I’m hungry. Though I’m not sure this is exactly what he had in mind,” she chuckled. She knew she looked ridiculous. Paul had started calling her his baby chick because that is what she looked like-with her tiny frame, blonde hair and skinny legs, she was like a big ball of baby on sticks.
“Everyone is different,” Emma agreed. “You’re eating healthy and staying active so you should be fine.” She grinned and added, “And you’ll be ready to do this again next year!”
Brianna snorted. “Speak for yourself! I am in no hurry to go through this again. I don’t like feeling this enormous. I want my body back.”
“You’ll be yourself again in no time,” Emma assured her.
They chatted and caught up with each other for the next half-hour and just as Julia was getting ready to leave, Emma stood up to say good-bye and felt something loosen inside her and then a gush of water came rushing out.
“Oh, dear. I think something just happened.” She felt suddenly lightheaded and embarrassed at the same time.
“Your water broke!” Emma took charge and turned to Colleen. “Could you go for the doctor? I’ll get everything ready here. Colleen left immediately as Julia abandoned all thought of leaving and instead quickly fed Charlotte, her new baby girl. Emma helped Brianna into her bedroom and got her settled before returning to clean up the watery mess and to gather a pile of clean wash clothes to have on hand for the delivery. She also set a pot of water on the stove to boil as well.
Brianna was breathing heavily when the doctor arrived about forty-five minutes later. Dr. Shephard was an older gentleman and Brianna had been seeing him regularly throughout her pregnancy.
“So, it’s time. I had a feeling you might go a bit early,” he said as he adjusted his stethoscope and checked her breathing and then put it over her stomach and listened again. A curious expression crossed his face and Brianna grew nervous. “Is everything all right?”
“Oh, fine, fine. Just having a listen. Everything sounds good.”
The next four hours were a blur of pain and anticipation as she rode waves of contractions and the doctor kept checking her progress.
“Is it almost time?” Brianna asked. She was exhausted from battling the contractions and couldn’t wait for this misery to be over. Emma was by her side, pressing a damp cloth against her forehead, while Julia and Colleen sat around her, talking to her and holding her hands, trying to get her mind off of the pain.
Finally, Dr. Shephard took another look and announced, “It’s time. Brianna, when I give the word, I need you to push!” A moment later, he nodded and said, “Push, Brianna, now!”
She tried to focus, and to do what he said, but it was so hard. Her energy was fading and she was so tired.
“Brianna, push!” The girls all encouraged her and squeezed her hands to urge her on. She summoned all her strength and pushed as hard as she could, then fell back against her pillow.
“That was good. A few more good pushes like that and we’ll be there.”
Somehow, Brianna managed to push, again and again, until finally it was over and she heard the sweetest sound she’d ever heard—the newborn cries of her baby.
“Congratulations, Brianna. You have a healthy baby girl,” the doctor announced. Emma handed him a clean cloth and he wiped the baby clean, then cut the umbilical cord, wrapped her in a bigger cloth and then placed her on Brianna’s chest. Brianna reached her hand to touch her baby and was in awe of the tiny face peering back at her. All the pain of the past few hours was instantly forgotten.
“Oh, what do we have here?” Dr. Shephard sounded more amused than surprised.
“What is it?” Emma asked.
“Julia, can you please pick up the baby. Brianna is going to need to focus. We’re not quite done yet.”
Brianna was confused. She wasn’t ready to have her baby taken away. “What do you mean? What’s wrong?”
The doctor chuckled. “Nothing is wrong, but apparently you’re having twins.”
“What?!” Brianna struggled to sit up, surely she’d heard wrong.
“Twins! Well, that makes sense now,” Emma said.
“Brianna, I need you to push again,” the doctor instructed.
This one went much more quickly, and less than twenty minutes later, Dr. Shephard handed an exhausted Brianna her second baby, a boy this time.
Julia handed her other baby to her as well, so both of them were lying on their mother’s chest, facing her.
“I can’t believe it,” Brianna said softly as she gazed at her babies. “They’re perfect.”
“Of course they are,” said a deep voice next to her. Brianna hadn’t even noticed that Paul had walked in just as the doctor was handing her son to her. Peter had gone to get him.
“We have two,” Brianna told him proudly. “What shall we name them?”
Paul ignored the question and instead asked, “How are you? Are you okay? You did amazing.”
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Bria
nna admitted. “But it was worth it. Look at them.”
She couldn’t stop staring at her babies. They were absolutely perfect as far as she was concerned.
“We’ll leave you to rest now,” Emma said as the doctor prepared to depart. The girls prepared to leave as well, to give them time alone with the babies.
“I’ll stop by Naomi and Jed’s. I know she’ll want to come over straight away to help you,” Colleen said.
“That would be wonderful,” Brianna said. She had a second wind now, but sensed that she was likely to need to sleep soon. Naomi had insisted that they let her know the minute the baby arrived so she could come and help and see her grandbaby. Brianna smiled. Naomi was in for quite a surprise.
Once everyone left, the house was quiet for just a few minutes and then the children came flying through the door.
“Can we come in now? We promise we’ll be good and quiet,” Millie said.
“Yes, come here and meet your new brother and sister,” Brianna said.
They approached the bed tentatively.
“I didn’t know you were having two.” Peter said.
“Neither did I. It was a surprise!”
“A wonderful one, though,” Paul added.
“What are their names?” Millie asked.
“We were just talking about that. Do you have any ideas?”
Both children considered the question carefully.
“Paul or Peter for the boy,” Peter suggested.
“Those are both very nice names. What do you think, Paul? Would you like a Paul, junior.?”
“I’d be honored,” he said. And then added, “and I think his middle name should be Ted.”
Brianna felt a few tears spill out.
“Thank you. I thought about suggesting that, and am glad you said it first. Paul Ted Donovan it is.”
“Now, Millie, do you have any ideas for a girl’s name?” Paul asked and Millie stepped forward to speak. “I don’t much like the name Millie so I won’t suggest that, but I’ve always wanted to be called Amy. Maybe that can be her name, since I can’t have it.”
“Amy is a beautiful name. And I think Millie is a lovely name, too, don’t you Paul?”
“I do indeed. I expect that one day you’ll be quite happy to be known as Millie.” He ruffled her hair and she beamed up at him.
“How about Amy Naomi Donovan. Do you think your mother would like that?”
“I know she would. She doesn’t have a namesake yet. She’s going to be tickled to see these two. First time we’ve had twins in the family.”
“We’re a real family now,” Millie said in wonder as she reached out to lightly pat the top of Amy’s head.
Brianna squeezed Paul’s hand as she smiled at the children, and then said, “Yes, we are a real family. All of us.”
~~The End~~
About the Author
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Next in the series, Ricky.
Emma
Julia
Colleen
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BRIANNA: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 4) Page 10
