“Where’s Mama? I miss her.” She pouted and Alex pulled her into a hug, standing as he did so.
“Mama is having a little brother or sister for you. We’ll see her later.”
“Come back to the diner and have some coffee,” Mrs Baker suggested.
He considered it but wasn’t sure about the offer. “I might not have time.”
“Believe me you’ll have time. You want Papa to come to the diner with us, don’t you Maude.”
Her little hands cupped his faced. “Please Papa?”
How could he resist a request like that? “Alright, but I can’t stay for long.”
She clapped her little hands with glee, and his heart soared. His life had changed for the better the day Pearl and Maude had come into his life.
How he ever survived without them, he’ll never know.
The moment they entered the diner, Mrs Baker pointed to a table. “Sit,” she said firmly, and he did as he was told. No one would dare defy Mrs Baker.
She pushed a mug of coffee in front of him and he took a sip. “Thank you,” he said. “I really need this.”
He leaned back in the chair and tried to relax but it was impossible. He was far too worried about Pearl.
A feeling of dread came over him, and he tried to push it away, but it wouldn’t budge. “I have to go back,” he said as he stood. “Something terrible has happened, I just know it.”
Mrs Baker stepped toward him and pulled him into a hug. “You would have heard if something bad had happened. But if it makes you feel better, go home and check for yourself.”
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “I need to do that.”
Maude came running over as he headed toward the door. “Don’t go Papa. I miss you.”
Sadness overcame him. “I have to go, Little One, but you’ll see me again soon.” She hugged him and Mrs Baker held Maude by the hand as he left.
His legs felt leaden as he walked through the town. What he would find was anyone’s guess. He stopped a few feet from his home, unable to keep going. His heart felt torn in two.
He stood in the middle of the road for what seemed a lifetime, but in reality, was about twenty minutes. The screams had subsided, and he was too afraid to go inside.
Finally the front door opened and Jesse Pendleberry called him in. “Congratulations,” he said, a grin on his face. “You have a healthy baby boy.”
Alex wanted to be happy, he really did, but what of Pearl. “Is Pearl...” He couldn’t finish the question.
“Pearl is fine. Exhausted but fine.”
For only the second time in his adult life, his eyes leaked. “Can I see them?”
Jesse slapped him on the back. “Of course you can.” He held the door open for Alex, who almost ran through the door to his wife.
He moved quietly toward the bed. Pearl looked beyond exhausted, but after knowing what she’d endured last time, he wasn’t surprised. At least this time she had professional help, so they were on the scene if anything went wrong.
Thank goodness nothing did.
“Alex.” Pearl’s voice was quiet, but she seemed pleased. “You have a son,” she said, tears forming in her eyes.
He leaned in and gently pulled her into a hug. “Thank you,” he said, and lay her back down again. He looked about. “Where is he?”
Doc Spencer stepped forward. “He’s in the other room. We wanted to give him a thorough check after what happened with your daughter.”
Jesse came in carrying the baby soon afterwards. “He’s perfect. Not a thing wrong with him,” he said, and handed him to Alex.
He looked down into his son’s face. Emotion filled him, and he felt a deep love for this child. It wasn’t unlike how he felt when Maude was born. At least this time he didn’t have the angst of worrying if the baby would survive.
He walked over to Pearl. “Do you want to hold our son, or are you too tired?”
Her eyes were drifting closed. “Just a tiny hug, then I need to sleep.”
Alarm bells rang with Alex. “Doc! Doc! Is Pearl okay? She can’t stay awake.”
Both men glanced up at him, then rushed over. “For goodness sakes, Alex. I’m just exhausted. You try pushing out something the size of a sack of potatoes and see how you feel.”
He felt the heat creeping up his face. Pearl went to sleep, and he placed the baby in the same crib they used for Maude when she was born. At least this time their baby didn’t have to sleep in a converted drawer.
The doctors packed up and quietly began to leave. “I can’t thank either of you enough,” Alex said, holding the door open for them.
“Glad to be of assistance,” Jesse said. “Better safe than sorry, and after last time it wasn’t worth the risk of not having help on hand.”
He closed the door behind him and felt like he was ready to collapse. In the bedroom, Alex stared down at his exhausted wife.
“Lay down next to me, Alex,” she said quietly. He did as he was told, and she was soon sound asleep.
“PAPA! PAPA!” MAUDE’S words rang throughout the house.
Alex ducked his head around the bedroom door and opened his arms to his daughter. “There you are!” They shared a tight hug, then he carried her into the master bedroom.
Her little eyes opened wide at the sight of her mother and baby brother. “Baby!” She tried to wriggle out of his arms.
“Maude,” he said firmly. “You need to listen to Papa.”
She glanced at him but her little eyes kept wandering back toward the new baby. “Yes, Papa,” she said quietly and looking a tad guilty.
Maude stretched her arms toward her mother who was holding the newborn. “You have to be gentle,” he told her firmly.
She nodded her little head. “Yes, Papa.”
“What are you going to do?”
She stared into his eyes. “Be gentle.” Then she suddenly tried to jump out of his arms.
“Maude.” This time he put on his stern voice. “Mama has a sore tummy, and baby will break easily. You must be gentle.” He looked across at Pearl, who was totally exhausted. “This is not going to work,” he said softly. “She’ll have to wait until you are feeling better.”
Tears rolled down the toddler’s cheeks. “No, Papa! I be gentle.”
He pulled her close and patted her back. “Show me how you can be gentle,” he said, winking to Mrs Baker who had brought Maude back home a few hours after the birth.
Her little arms reached over his shoulder and patted him gently on the back.
Mrs Baker grinned. “She is such a sweetheart,” she said. “Maude was a very good girl for Aunt Edna,” she said.
“I maked muffins,” Maude said excitedly. Alex glanced at Mrs Baker who rolled her eyes. Making anything with the over excitable child was not fun, but Maude enjoyed it.
One day she might be as good a cook as her mother.
His daughter hugged him tight then pulled back to look into his face. “Now Papa? I see Mama and baby now?”
What could he say to her sweet words? “Gentle, remember?”
She nodded her little head, and he placed her gently on the bed, sitting on the side of it himself. He took baby Jonah, and Pearl pulled Maude into a hug. “This is Jonah, your new baby brother,” she said, indicating the newborn in his father’s arms.
The toddler leaned forward and kissed the baby gently on the forehead. “Baby,” she said.
“Baby Jonah,” Alex corrected. “He has the same colour hair as you and Mama.”
Maude glanced up to check. “My baby,” she said, and leaned in again and hugged the baby ever so gently.
Alex couldn’t be prouder. Despite their rocky start, they were a loving and happy family, and nothing would ever change that.
He couldn’t imagine his life now without his wonderful wife and children, and thanked God for bringing them into his life.
No matter what happened, they would always be together.
The End
From the Author
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR reading my book – I hope you enjoyed it.
I would greatly appreciate you leaving a review on Amazon, even if it is only a one-liner. It helps to have my books more visible on Amazon!
TO READ MORE BOOKS in the Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies series, click here.
Cheryl’s other books in this series are:
Mail Order Millie
Mail Order Hannah
ALL MY BOOKS CAN BE seen on my Amazon Author Page.
About the Author
MULTI-PUBLISHED, BEST selling and award-winning author, Cheryl Wright, former secretary, debt collector, account manager, writing coach, and shopping tour hostess, loves reading.
She writes both contemporary and historical western romance, as well as contemporary romance and romantic suspense.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, and is married with two adult children and has six grandchildren.
When she’s not writing, she can be found in her craft room making greeting cards.
Check out Cheryl’s Amazon page for a full list of her other books.
Author Links:
Visit my Website
Visit my Blog
Join my Reader Group on Facebook
Join my newsletter here!
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Thanks
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
From the Author
About the Author
Mail Order Pearl (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies #12) Page 7
