The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur until the Minister said: “You may kiss your bride.” Finally, Cole pulled Jade into his arms and kissed her deeply. The kiss went on for so long, many people started to cough and clear their throats. When they finally came up for air, the Minister made the pronouncement that only months earlier had been a dream. “Ladies and Gentleman, may I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Cole Thornton.”
Epilogue
One Year Later…
Jade was sitting in a rocking chair by the fire at Serenity House reading to a small group of kids. Cole was outside playing basketball with Doug and some of the other teens. Doug couldn’t play to save his life, but the kids still enjoyed the time he spent with them.
Carmen and Doug hadn’t known until right before the wedding about Jade and Cole growing up together in a group home. Ever since the wedding, they’d become huge financial supporters of Serenity House and volunteered quite often. Today was one of those days where Carmen and Doug had come over to volunteer. Carmen was in the kitchen with Ms. Nash whipping up an authentic Mexican meal.
Suddenly, Jade felt a sharp pain in her lower back. The pain was so intense it took her breath away. She gripped the rocking chair until it passed. After a few seconds, it went away. Her face had turned beet red.
Jazmine, one of the children she’d been reading to asked, “Mrs. Thornton are you okay?”
Jade smiled rubbing her round and swollen stomach. Hearing them call her Mrs. Thornton would never get old. “I'm all right.” Before she could finish getting the words out, another sharp pain hit her. She dropped her book and bent over squeezing her eyes shut.
Little Jazmine ran to get Ms. Nash from the kitchen. “Ms. Nash…Ms. Nash…something is wrong with Mrs. Thornton!”
Carmen and Ms. Nash immediately rushed out of the kitchen to check on Jade. When they arrived her face was flushed.
Ms. Nash kneeled down and lifted her chin with her finger. “Are you okay, Jade?”
The pain was pretty intense, and she couldn’t speak. Instead, she shook her head from side to side. Ms. Nash turned to Carmen. “Go get Cole. Looks like we might be having a baby.”
*****
Everyone came running into the house behind Cole. He was so nervous when he bent down next to Jade. “Babe, is it time?”
Again, she tried to speak but couldn’t form words. Instead, she just nodded. He picked her up into his arms and carried her to the car. Jade lie her head on his shoulder. “My purse. I left it. And, my bag…”
“Is in the trunk of the car. I’ll tell Ms. Nash to put your purse up. You won’t need it.”
Cole drove like a bat out of hell trying to get Jade to the hospital. Her whimpers turned into full on wails. He didn’t know what to do to comfort her. He arrived at St. Mary’s Emergency in record time pulling up to the doors meant for ambulances.
“Cooooooooooole.”
Quickly, he jumped out of the car and around to her door. Carrying her through the door, he yelled to anyone who would listen. “My wife, she’s pregnant. She’s in labor. We need help.”
A nurse grabbed a wheelchair and met them at the door. “Okay, put her down here Mr….”
As tenderly as he could, Cole placed Jade in the chair. “Thornton. I’m Cole, and this is my wife, Jade.”
The nurse was gentle but firm. “Okay. We’ll need to examine your wife, and while we do that we’ll need you to fill out some paperwork.”
The determined set of his jaw was unmistakable. “I can’t leave my wife.”
The nurse had to deal with first-time fathers all the time. She attempted to be sympathetic. “It’ll only be a minute. The sooner you complete the paperwork, with critical information the doctor might need, the sooner you can be with her.”
At that moment, Doug and Carmen burst through the doors and headed straight for Cole.
Jade understood the nurse’s request and tried to smooth it over when she saw Cole about to protest. “It’s okay. Please take care of the paperwork and hurry back to me.” The nurse wheeled Jade off to an exam room.
Doug and Carmen were just as excited and nervous as Cole. They had been so busy with their own lives that they hadn’t made time for a family. Serenity House changed that for them. They’d only recently decided to try to have children of their own.
Doug spoke first to Cole. “Is she okay?”
He waved his hand in frustration. “I don’t know. They’ve got me out here filling out paperwork. I can’t even think straight. How the hell am I supposed to answer these questions?”
Carmen took the clipboard and pen from him. “I’ll read them, you answer. I’ll fill it out.”
Moments later, Cole was able to rush back to Jade’s side. Two hours later, no longer did their bloodlines begin and end with just the two of them when Daisy Elle Thornton was born.
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