The Fraser clan arrived about noon. Four-year-old James Cullen climbed into a chair and kissed Charlotte’s tummy. “When’s my cousin coming out? I brung a present. Mommy, can I show Cousin Charlotte my present?”
Meredith pulled a stuffed horse out of her bag, and James Cullen clapped his hands. “I’m going to name him Thunder.”
“James Cullen,” Meredith said, “it’s the baby’s toy, not yours. The baby gets to pick a name.”
“Okay. I’ll tell my cousin to name the horse Thunder.” He jumped down and took David’s hand. “Uncle David, will you take me to get a hot dog? I saw the restaurant. Come with me.”
David glanced at Charlotte and shrugged. He adored the child, but she knew he didn’t want to leave her side.
“It’s fine,” she said. “We have plenty of time.”
“Okay, buddy. Let’s get Jack and have us some hot dogs.”
James Cullen ran from the room, yelling, “Cousin Jack. Cousin Jack.”
Meredith closed the door and rolled her eyes. “If I had half of his energy…” She gave Charlotte a hug. “How’re you feeling?”
“Good so far.”
Elliott glanced around the room. “Nice artwork.”
“For nine months, I’ve thought Braham would change his mind and join me. A picture is the best I can do, though. I want the baby to know him.”
Meredith patted Charlotte’s hand. “This baby will have friends and family who will love him and spoil him. Even our dear friend Louise called about an hour ago. She and her partner, Evelyn, are ecstatic. If you don’t get to Scotland soon, they’ll come here.”
“I might have a renter for yer house,” Elliott said. “Unless ye want to sell it.”
“I probably will, but not right now. A renter would be great. Is there anything you and David can’t do?”
“Ask me in three years,” Elliott said. “If we do a good job training the foal born this morning, he’ll have a shot at the Triple Crown.”
“What did David have to do with it?”
Elliott smiled. “He picked the mare.”
Charlotte squirmed for a moment and decided to push the call button “Would you tell my nurse I’m getting a lot of pressure down low?” The doctor came in while Charlotte was still speaking. “I think I’m ready.”
“Let’s take a look.”
“I’ll get David,” Elliott said as he gave Charlotte a quick hug and left the room.
The exam was quick. “You’re fully dilated. With the next contraction, let’s see what you can do.”
The next two hours were grueling. Meredith hovered on one side of the bed, David on the other. They held her legs, propped up her back, and breathed with her.
At one point, Charlotte said, “That damn Braham McCabe, if he walked in here right now, I’d throw something at him. I’ll never do this again.”
Meredith and David chuckled.
“Don’t you dare laugh,” Charlotte said. “This isn’t fun.”
“One more contraction, and your baby will be out,” the doctor said.
Charlotte took a deep breath and pushed her child out. Her head dropped back on the pillow. When the baby cried, so did she.
“It’s a boy,” the doctor said.
David’s face flushed with his excitement. “Congratulations, Mom. I told ye he’d be a boy.”
She glanced at the picture, barely able to see through her tears. “We have a son, Braham.”
“He’s perfect, Charley.”
Meredith swiped at her own tears. “And beautiful.” She gave Charlotte a hug. “I’m going to go tell Elliott and James Cullen. I’ll be right back. Do you want me to send Jack in?”
“No, not unless he wants to. You can tell him, too,” Charlotte said.
The doctor clamped the cord, handed David a pair of scissors to cut it, and laid the baby on Charlotte’s belly. David beamed like any new father.
For nine months, he’d come for extended visits and had taken on all the responsibilities of an expectant father. He held her head when she threw up. He brought her ice cream and pickles when she had cravings. He took her to the beach when she was bitchy. He told her she was beautiful, and he stayed up late with her when she couldn’t sleep.
And never once had he complained or asked for more than she was able to give. This was his moment, and she was so happy he was there to share it. He was more than the baby’s godfather, and she wished her heart was free to love him as he deserved to be loved.
Meredith returned with Elliott, Kevin, Jack, James Cullen, and Ken for a quick peek.
“He has a penis, Daddy. That means I have a boy cousin. Yippee. I want to play with him. Can he ride my pony?”
“He’s only a baby. He can’t play yet,” Meredith cautioned.
“When’s he going to stand up like Stormy’s baby did today?” James Cullen asked.
“Not for a while.”
“Congratulations, Charlotte,” Elliott said, smiling. “I’m going to take James Cullen to the playroom. Text me, Mer, if ye need anything.”
Jack walked over to the bed, wearing a relieved smile. The corners of his mouth trembled slightly. He kissed Charlotte on the cheek. “Congrats, sis. He’s beautiful. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe next time I’ll stay with you.”
“There won’t be a next time, Jack. You missed your shot.”
“He’s a big one,” one of the delivery nurses said.
“You don’t have to tell me,” Charlotte said. “How much does he weigh?”
“Nine pounds, five ounces, and he’s twenty-one inches long.”
After the nurse cleaned, diapered, and wrapped the baby up tightly, she returned the newborn to Charlotte to nurse. “Do you have a name picked out?”
A stew of emotions welled up in her as
