“Honey, I know that I’m springing this on you, but you need to talk to Jax, then you two need to get down to the hospital,” I urge.
The line again does dead silent, then I hear crying. Then there’s a muffled scuffing sound.
“We’re on our way,” Jax says, then hangs up.
“Shay!” Mia yells from inside the room.
I turn around and rush to her side, then take her hand. Her worried, terrified face comes to mine and just by her nervous questioning look, I know what she’s asking. I nod my head yes, with tears in my eyes and a smile. She breathes a sigh of relief and calmness washes over her. Now with a clear head, instinct and determination take over.
With each contraction Mia’s confidence builds. In less than fifteen minutes Ava and Jax rush into the room. Ava, Jax, and Mia, don’t really know each other except for a few passing moments on the pond and at my mother's funeral. Ava looks terrified as she takes a step into the room. Her eyes are glazed and she has a death grip on Jax’s hand. Mia extends her hand to Ava, then she rushes over to her. Mia wraps her arms around her, then starts to have another contraction.
I stay close to Mia, but let Ava and Jax take the lead. This experience will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Adrian taps my shoulder, then kisses me on the cheek.
“I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me,” he says.
God, I love this man.
After hours of slow going, everything starts progressing quickly and soon a doctor is at the foot of Mia’s bed. With a few last pushes, and only ten minutes left in Christmas Day, another Christmas miracle is born.
“It’s a boy,” the doctor says. “Should I cut the cord?”
“Jax,” Mia says with a nod.
Jax runs his hands down his shirt and takes a large, nervous swallow. He was never home to witness the birth of his girls. He was thousands of miles away, serving and protecting our country. On so many levels, this day has to be something neither one of them ever imagined possible. He looks to Ava and she nods at him with tears in her eyes and a huge smile on her face.
Jax is ex-military and one of the biggest, bulkiest men I’ve ever met, but as the baby is being cleaned and wrapped in a warm blanket, tears stream down his face.
A nurse picks up the baby, then looks around unsure of who to give him to.
“Ava,” Mia says with a warm smile.
The nurse places him in Ava’s arms and instantly her heart falls in love with him. I take Mia’s hand and she looks at me with a proud smile.
“What will you name him?” Mia asks.
Ava and Jax lock eyes and in unison they say, “Jaxon.”
Sometimes Christmas miracles are years and months in the making. I can’t help but think when I ran into Adrian again after seventeen years, destiny had so much more planned that was beyond comprehension. It sparked something so far down the line, so amazing, that no one saw it coming.
“Do you want to hold him?” Ava asks Mia.
She smiles and nods her head yes. Ava places her in her arms, then Mia gives him a kiss on the forehead.
“I didn’t know it, but Jaxon, I do love you. You’re mommy and daddy are amazing people and I just know you’re going to have the most wonderful life,” she says with tears in her eyes.
She hands Jaxon back to Ava, wipes her tears, then watches with a smile as Jax and Ava love their new son.
Ava gently places Jaxon in Jax’s arms, then walks next to Mia at her bedside. She takes her hand in hers, then places it over her heart.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Thank you,” Mia whispers back.
Adrian walks back into the room and takes my hand. This family is known for their great love, not only to actual family members, but to extended family members. Mia is now one of those members. Jaxon will be loved tremendously.
Christmas is the time for miracles, the celebration of life, and family. Sometimes mistakes are made, but sometimes they end up turning into so much more than anyone ever thought possible.
The End
Edited by: Alissa Glenn
If you’d like to read Shay and Adrian’s story, their book is:
Second Chance – Running Into Love Book Three.
If you’d like to read Ava and Jax’s story, their book is:
Unavoidable Chance – Running Into Love Book Five.
If you’d like to read about the other Christmas birth:
A Very Wellington Christmas Novella
Other books by Annalisa Nicole:
The Running Into Love Series:
Take A Chance – Running Into Love – Book 1
I’ll Take A Chance – Running Into Love – Book 2
Second Chance – Running Into Love – Book 3
A Fighting Chance – Running Into Love – Book 4
Running Into Love Box Set – Books One to Four
Unavoidable Chance - Running Into Love Book 5
Unexpected Chance – Running Into Love Book 6
A Very Wellington Christmas – Running Into Love Series
A Different Road Series:
I See…Love – A Different Road – Book 1
I Hear…Love – A Different Road – Book 2
I Speak…Love – A Different Road – Book 3
You can find all of my books on Amazon. Click on the follow button to get an email with new releases.
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Where you can find Annalisa Nicole:
Website: annalisanicole.com
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A little about Annalisa Nicole:
I’m an "Indie" Adult Contemporary Romance author. A thought occurred to me in December of 2012 that maybe I could write a romance novel. So, I went to work with the encouragement of my husband and my sister-in-law.
It didn’t take long to figure out that I really enjoy writing. I published my debut novel Take A Chance in October of 2013.
I've been married to my wonderful husband since 1996 and I love being a stay-at-home mom to our two teenage boys. I was born and raised in Michigan, but currently live in sunny California.
I’m a self-published author, and it’s been an amazing, crazy, wonderful journey.
Character Glossary
Asher Wellington—CEO of Wellington Corp. Second oldest of the five Wellington siblings. He is married to Willow.
Willow (Emery) Wellington- Breast cancer survivor. Found the love of her life, “Running Into” Asher leaving chemotherapy treatment. She is married to Asher.
Abbey Olivia Wellington–First daughter born to Asher and Willow.
Aaron Samuel Wellington—Second born son to Asher and Willow.
Amelia (Wellington) Peters—VP of Marketing at Wellington Corp. Fourth oldest Wellington sibling. Found the love of her life, “Running Into” Dr. Kyle Peters at the birth of Abbey.
Dr. Kyle Peters—OB/GYN married to Amelia. Twin to Chloe Peters.
Noah Maxwell Peters—First born son to Amelia and Kyle Peters.
Adrian Wellington—Oldest Wellington sibling. Owner of Wellington Construction. Married to Shay Wellington.
Shay (Bradshaw) Wellington–Architect, found her true love, “Running Into” Adrian ice skating on his family pond.
Micah Wellington—Adopted son to Adrian and Shay.
Makayla Wellington—Adopted daughter to Adrian and Shay.
Samuel “Sammy” Wellington—Son to Adrian and Shay.
Aiden Wellington—Third oldest Wellington sibling. Lawyer at Wellington Corp.
Savannah “Savvy” Russell—Friend of the Wellington family.
Gary—Owner of Deuces Bar.
Ava (Wellington) Landry—Y
oungest Wellington sibling. Lawyer at a firm just outside of Seattle. Found the love of her life, “Running Into” Jax at her father’s grave. Married to Jax Landry
Jaxon Landry—Owner of Jax Restaurant. Father to Skylar and Hope Landry. Married to Ava.
Quinn Landry—Jax’s sister.
Dr. Chloe Peters-Jones–OB/GYN, Kyle’s twin sister, married to Max “Slick” Jones.
Max “Slick” Jones—Married to Chloe. Owner of a private PI firm. Employer to Levi and Chase. Honorary Wellington sibling.
Levi—Works for Max at his PI firm.
Chase—Works for Max at his PR firm.
Samantha and Samuel Wellington—The Wellington siblings’ parents.
Mary and Steve Peters—Parent’s to Kyle and Chloe.
Spencer Matthews—Kyle’s best friend married to Amanda Matthews.
Amanda Matthews—Married to Spencer owns Amanda’s Sweet Treats.
Table of Contents
Take a Chance
I’ll Take a Chance
Second Chance
A Fighting Chance
Unavoidable Chance
Unexpected Chance
A Very Wellington Christmas - Novella
A Christmas Miracle by Chance – Short Story
Other Books by Annalisa Nicole
Where you can find Annalisa Nicole
A little about Annalisa Nicole
Character Glossary
Running Into Love - The Complete Box Set Page 115
