Home on Seashell Island

by Brenda Kennedy

  I try to look happy about the news but the truth is, I’m disappointed. I would have liked to have another child in the house. Carly comes over and sits on my lap as she keeps one hand behind her back.

  Sarah stands. “I really thought you were pregnant.” Walking to the door to leave, she says, “Maybe next month.” I hear the door open and she says, “You must be coming down with something. Stay home and I’ll run the shop today and until you get better.” I hear the door shut before anyone can reply.

  I look at Carly and she shows me the pregnancy test strip in her hand. I take it and it has a red plus symbol. “Is this positive?” Plus means positive. “Are you pregnant?” I ask hopefully.

  She smiles. “We are.”

  “We’re having a baby?”

  “We are.” She smiles.

  “You didn’t want your sister to know?”

  “Not until you and I had a chance to let it sink in.”

  Love fills my heart. “I’m thrilled. I love you and I couldn’t be happier.” I cup her face in both my hands and kiss her gently.

  “I love you, Beau.”

  “I love you, Carly.”

  “So, you think you’re up to the challenge, Mr. Romano?”

  “I’m definitely up to this challenge, Mrs. Romano.”

  “It’s not what we expected, is it?” she says, cuddling into me.

  Leaning back into the chair, I wrap my arms around her. “Life isn’t what we expected. When do you think we should tell our parents?”

  Sarah walks from around the corner with a huge smile on her face. “I knew it.”

  I laugh internally. I should have walked her out to make sure she left. I never imagined she wouldn’t leave when she said she was going to. Then again, we are talking about Sarah — she isn’t like other people.

  “I thought you left,” Carly says sternly.

  Sarah smiles, taunting her sister. “That’s what I wanted you to believe. And I thought you said you weren’t pregnant?”

  “That’s what I wanted you to think. Is it too much for Beau and me to have some time to process this news in private?”

  Sarah hugs her sister affectionately. “This is so exciting and I love you. I’ll be leaving now so you guys can celebrate alone.”

  “I love you, too, and we both appreciate it.”

  Beau stands. “I’ll see you out.”

  “I thought you might.”

  “Sarah, please don’t say anything to anyone,” Carly pleads from the chair.

  “Who would I tell?”

  Carly

  It’s been one week since Beau and I found out I was pregnant and every day I’ve been fearful of who Sarah told and how they’ll react. Thankfully, it seems she’s kept our little secret to herself. We have a lot of people to consider when announcing this exciting news. How Myra will handle it is the top concern. Then our parents and Gram and Pap. We also have the church we’ll have to tell as well. They are, after all, family.

  Beau and I knew it was important to tell Myra first since she’ll be the big sister. We also thought that if Myra knew about the blessing that maybe she would tell the others and we wouldn’t have to. Is it sad to say that a part of me wishes that Myra would just slip up and tell everyone out of excitement?

  We both decided to tell Myra this evening right after dinner. I hope that this is good news for her. She seems to have adjusted to our marriage well, but is it too soon for us to bring a child into this family?

  I wish we had waited and planned for this better. Beau feels it’s a miracle from God. Of course he does. He’s a lot like Pap. He doesn’t believe in accidents or accidental encounters. I guess I feel like that, too. This is certainly unexpected but definitely good news. I just hope Myra can see the blessing as well.

  After we have a quiet dinner on the patio, Beau, Myra, and I take the paddle boat out into the water. While paddling leisurely with the canopy shading us from the bright sun, Beau hands Myra two beautifully wrapped gifts.

  “Carly and I bought you something today, Myra.”

  Beau hands her one of the gifts.

  “Is it the baby in the store I wanted?”

  Beau looks at me and I smile. How could she know this?

  “You need to open it and see,” I say.

  We wait patiently as she rips open the gift. If we were expecting to see dolphins this evening, I think Myra just scared them away.

  “Yay. This is the same baby I wanted at the store the other day.” Instead of her cuddling the baby, she sets it off to the side. “Is this present for me, too?”

  “It is.”

  I hand her the gift while holding my breath for her response. I thought she was too young, but Beau disagreed with me. We’ll see. I hope he’s right.

  She opens the gift just as quickly as she tore the wrapper off the first one. However, her excitement is less enthusiastic and more like boredom or dullness.

  “This shirt is yours, Myra.” I unfold the white shirt so she can see the picture of the little ballerina on it. I ask, “Can you read what this says?” Of course, she can’t. She’s only three. “It says, ‘Big sister,’” I read, pointing to each word.

  “Myra, Carly and I have something to tell you.”

  “I know what it is Daddy,” she says, slipping the shirt on over her other shirt.

  “You do, Cookie?”

  She picks up the baby doll and cuddles it. “Yep, I’m the big sister to this cute little baby. And you must be the mom and the dad.”

  With that said, Beau and I paddled around the water for a little while before heading home for the evening.

  Later that evening, we decide to just tell Myra, our parents, and Gram and Pap together. Maybe it would have been easier if Sarah had just made the announcement for us.

  By the time Beau and I figured out a way to tell our family, friends, and the congregation, I was nearly showing. We did decide one Saturday night just to tell Myra so there wasn’t any more confusion. We should have done that in the first place. Myra took the news extremely well. She spoke about the baby as if it was one of her baby dolls.

  Beau chose his sermon for Sunday very carefully to talk about family growth and children. However, neither of us was prepared for Myra to wear her “big sister” shirt beneath her jacket and over her Sunday school dress.

  When Myra attended Sunday school and removed her jacket, no other words were needed. It was very clear that our family was expanding by at least one. I was standing in the doorway so I could make sure she was situated before attending my own Sunday school class.

  “Oh, Myra,” Miss Jean says excitedly. I look at Myra to see why Miss Jean sounds so excited. “A baby,” she exclaims. I look down at my baby bump and wonder if it is that noticeable. Myra stands and walks to the door with Miss Jean. That’s when I saw Myra’s “Big Sister” shirt. “A baby,” Miss Jean says, hugging me. “This is incredible news.”

  “Thank you, we’re pretty excited.”

  “And what a unique way to announce it.”

  “Thank you.”

  She looks behind me at the passing crowd of people. “Did y’all hear about the exciting news?”

  “What are you talking about, Miss Jean?” an elderly woman asks.

  “Look at Myra’s shirt.”

  News sure travels fast in the small church. I quickly make an excuse to leave so I can join Tony, Mom, Gram, and Pap and tell them about their new grandchild. I knew it would be best for them to hear the news from me and not the congregation. Thankfully, Beau heard the commotion and joined me in the announcement.

  “Beau and I have some pretty exciting news,” I say.

  “You’re pregnant,” Mom says, and it’s not a question.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.” How could she know this? Maybe my exciting news was we were moving. Or the bookstore had the best month ever. Does everyone think good news is always about a baby?

  “Soon we’ll have a baby, Shorty,” Tony laughs with a hug and a kiss on each of my
cheeks.

  We exchange hugs and kisses as the hallway to Myra’s Sunday school class becomes crowded with Miss Jean telling everyone the exciting news.

  Sarah also pretends to be surprised although she knew and kept our secret from the very beginning. Mom and Gram cry. I also think I see Pap and Tony wiping a tear on occasion.

  Once I think about it, there was no better way to announce the news of the baby.

  ***

  Beau and I decided we didn’t want to know what the sex of the baby was prior to its birth. It wouldn’t add to the excitement or take away from it. We already have a daughter and another daughter or a son would make a great addition to our family.

  In the months leading to the birth, Sarah threw us a baby shower at the church. Since nearly everyone on the island wanted to participate, the shower was held on Sunday immediately after the sermon. The potluck was part of the shower with a few games and decorations. A baby cake was the main focus. The cake was an actual single layer white cake. The image on the cake was a 3d photo of our child taken while in utero. The bakery was able to take the image and turn it into edible icing.

  It took several truckloads to get everything from the church to our house. Gram and Mom took all the clothing with them so they could wash everything for me. I couldn’t express to them just how appreciative I was for their help.

  Three months later and when I’m exactly forty weeks pregnant, Beau and I go to bed. Myra’s already in bed sound asleep. I stand at the bathroom sink brushing my teeth when I notice my water break. At first, I thought I peed myself, so I crossed my leg to try to hold it in. It’s odd how calmly I felt when I realized that wasn’t pee but amniotic fluid. I wipe off my mouth and go into the bedroom to tell Beau.

  “Beau, my water just broke.”

  Beau looks over at me from his Bible and asks, “Do you want me to get you another glass of water?”

  Huh? “Um, it’s not that kind of water.”

  He sets his Bible down before standing from the bed. “Your water just broke?”

  “It did.”

  Slowly, he walks over and takes my hand before leading me to the bed. “We’re having the baby?”

  “We are.”

  “Okay, I got this.” He looks around the room in confusion and fear. “What do I need to do first?”

  Epilogue

  Beau and Carly sit on the swing under the large shade tree and watch as Myra admires the new baby. Myra isn’t sure about how to approach the small bundle of joy. Although she looks like her baby dolls, this baby makes funny noises and smells even funnier.

  Myra likes the baby best when it’s sleeping. It’s when the baby smells the best and is the quietest.

  Tony was there for the delivery and has been at the house every day since Maria Grace was born. He cried when Beauregard told him the name of his newest granddaughter — Maria, after his beloved deceased wife, and Grace, after Carly’s mom. He was so excited about the newest addition, he rushed out and bought a baby bed to have inside of the market for the days he would be watching her for Beau and Carly. They haven’t needed his services yet, but he was hoping it would be soon. Nothing would make him prouder than to show off both of his granddaughters to his customers.

  The birth of Maria Grace confirmed to Gram and Pap that they did the right thing by making Seashell Island their permanent residence. Although they’re moving up in their years, Gram figures they still have another good twenty years left. Pap disagrees and says he feels younger by the day and he and Gram will live another sixty-five years. Carly would like to believe Pap.

  Grace, Carly’s mom, is thrilled to have a grandbaby named after her. She wasn’t hurt one bit when they told her the baby’s first name was Maria, after Beau’s mother. Maria was an amazing woman and one of her best friends. Carly and Beau also told Tony and Grace that if the baby were a boy, his name would be Michael Anthony. Michael was Carly’s dad’s name; he died of a sudden heart attack when Carly was only four years old. Tony was thrilled with that idea, too, but he secretly wanted another granddaughter. He loved his wife dearly and having a granddaughter carry on her name warmed his heart and soul.

  Sarah was a little upset her name was never mentioned when naming the tiny tot. Secretly, she calls the little bundle of joy little Sarah when no one’s looking. She bought the baby and Myra many shirts that mentions their beautiful aunt, or they take after their aunt, or they act like their aunt. If there’s a saying about an aunt, Myra and newborn Maria have matching shirts that boast it.

  “I can’t believe she’s ours,” Beau says proudly.

  “I know. It’s hard to believe all this has happened before our one-year wedding anniversary.”

  He laughs as he recalls the past year with fondness. He picks up his newest daughter, who’s dressed exactly like his oldest. Myra insists daily that she and the baby dress alike. Today, both girls are wearing white shirts that read in pink glittery letters, “I look like my aunt,” with little pink leggings.

  As the family gathers at Beau’s and Carly’s for the first official family outing with the newest member of the Romano/Stewart family, Beau basks in happiness. This birth wasn’t like Myra’s birth. There were no NICU nurses, no infant detoxing, no drug tests, no obsessively crying infant. In fact, he’s amazed at how little Maria cries. Carly even caught him once on the phone calling the pediatrician and asking why doesn’t this baby cry. He was positive that this wasn’t normal and something was wrong with her.

  Carly and Beau watch blissfully as Maria is passed from one family member to another. “This is the life, isn’t it?”

  “It is. I wish we had done this sooner,” Carly admits honestly.

  “Married and had children together?” Beau asks as he watches his wife adoringly.

  “Yes. This is an amazing life.” Carly looks over at her sister as she swings Myra on her jungle gym. “I just wish my sister could find someone and settle down.”

  “Maybe since she’s been getting out more, some Prince Charming will sweep her up off her feet.”

  “I hope so, but I don’t think that’s going to happen in the bookstore.”

  Tony, Pap, Gram, and Mom walk over and sit in one of the other swings. Now Tony is holding Maria. Myra jumps into Beau’s lap while Sarah gets herself a bottle of water from the cooler.

  Gram asks, “Have you decided when Maria will be baptized?”

  “We talked about this last night.” Carly looks at everyone pleasantly.

  Beau is thinking about when Myra was baptized. It was done quickly while she was in the NICU at the children’s hospital in Charlotte. The medical staff didn’t know whether Myra would live or die and he knew he needed to get her baptized as soon as possible. They didn’t have time for the preacher at the church to travel so they had the hospital preacher baptize her. It’s what Beau and Tony wanted. It was also what Beau’s mom would have wanted for her granddaughter.

  “And…?” Tony asks.

  “We thought a Christmas baptism would be appropriate,” Beau says with his heart filled with gratitude.

  Tony has tears streaming down his face. He isn’t sure if Beau and Carly chose this day because of the religious meaning or because it was his beloved wife’s birthday. Either way, there is no better day for his granddaughter to be baptized into the church than on Christmas Day.

  “Oh, Carly and Beau,” Gram says, gleefully. “This Christmas on Seashell Island will be the best one yet.”

  The End

  To continue reading more about the characters in the Seashell Island Series, watch for Christmas on Seashell Island releasing December of 2017.

  Books by Brenda Kennedy

  I support Indie Authors. If you read this book, please take the time to go to the purchasing site and give it a review.

  Independent authors count on your reviews to get the word out about our books. Thank you for taking the time to read my books and taking the extra time to review them. I appreciate it very much.

  Books in the S
eashell Island Stand-alone Series

  Home on Seashell Island

  Christmas on Seashell Island…coming soon

  Other books written by this author include:

  The Starting Over Trilogy

  Book One: A New Beginning (Free) http://amzn.to/1ZX8R4l

  Book Two: Saving Angel http://amzn.to/1W5eMoJ

  Book Three: Destined to Love http://amzn.to/1jAEbFL

  The Freedom Trilogy

  Book One: Shattered Dreams (Free) http://amzn.to/1W5eZIn

  Book Two: Broken Lives http://amzn.to/1W5fnqu

  Book Three: Mending Hearts http://amzn.to/1W41cg4

  The Fighting to Survive Trilogy

  Round One: A Life Worth Fighting (Free) http://amzn.to/1jAEsZ7

  Round Two: Against the Odds http://amzn.to/1W5fxy2

  Round Three: One Last Fight http://amzn.to/1W5fC4O

  The Rose Farm Trilogy

  Book One: Forever Country (Free) http://amzn.to/1NkFYFT

  Book Two: Country Life http://amzn.to/1TPuMG6

  Book Three: Country Love http://amzn.to/1PcC0iS

  The Forgotten Trilogy

  Book One: Forgetting the Past (Free) http://amzn.to/1sJDtdr

  Book Two: Living for Today http://amzn.to/2aWoUfh

  Book Three: Seeking the Future http://amzn.to/2ePhKel

  The Learning to Live Trilogy

  Book One: Learning to Live (Free) http://amzn.to/2iuk1iI

  Book Two: Learning to Trust http://amzn.to/2ov91Wr

  Book Three: Learning to Love http://amzn.to/2smmDG7

  Stand-alone books in the “Another Round of Laughter Series” written by Brenda and some of her siblings: Carla Evans, Martha Farmer, Rosa Jones, and David Bruce.

  Cupcakes Are Not a Diet Food (Free) http://amzn.to/2aUu2kE

  Kids Are Not Always Angels http://amzn.to/2hdrsJ2

  Aging Is Not for Sissies http://amzn.to/2nkoR2y

  Acknowledgements

  My husband, Rex: Who would have known where this journey has taken us? Thank you for supporting me in following my dreams. Thank you for giving me the freedom to spread my wings and catching me when I fall. Thank you for always believing in me. You are my partner for life, and I love you.