Page 68 of Delivery After Dark
When the baby started to fuss, Bertha came to get her. “I’ll change her.”
“Thank you, B.” Kara smiled at her grandmother. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I’m happy to be here.”
“Bertha never leaves Maine for any reason.”
“I’m standing here as living proof that isn’t true,” Bertha said.
Stephanie laughed at their banter.
“It’s the first time she’s left in ages.”
“For a very good cause,” Bertha said, gazing lovingly at the baby.
After Bertha took Dylan into Dan and Kara’s bedroom, Kara said, “How lucky am I to have my grandmother here with me after having my first baby?”
“So lucky. She’s as great as you said.”
“She’s the greatest of all time. It’s such a gift to have her here. Slim and Erin fetched her the minute they heard I was in labor.”
“Aw, I love that.”
“Can I get you anything, hon?” Dan asked.
“Maybe a lift up. I need to pee. And what a blast that is right now.”
Stephanie winced. “It’s that bad?”
“It’s a temporary inconvenience for a lifetime with my baby girl. It’s no big deal.”
After Kara had walked away, Stephanie sat for a second with that comment. A temporary inconvenience for a lifetime with my baby girl. That was exactly what Stephanie had needed to hear, not that Kara could’ve known it. While Kara’s words didn’t completely alleviate the fear she was dealing with, they helped to give it some perspective.
Grant sat next to her and reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze.
Dan plopped down into a chair across from Grant.
“How’re you doing, old man?” Steph asked Dan.
“I’m keeping it together but just barely. No one tells you how emotional it all is. I’ve been a weepy disaster since she arrived.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.”
“Waited a long time for my girls. You know?”
Grant glanced at Steph and smiled. “Yeah, I get it. But it was so worth the wait to get it just right.”
“You said it, pal. Any word on how Abby and the boys are doing? I’m trying to picture this,” Dan said, gesturing to the baby equipment that’d taken over their living room, “times four.”
“I know. We were talking about that earlier. Linda sent a text that said Abby and all four babies are doing great, and they’re hoping to be home within a week or so.”
“That’s great news,” Dan said. “It’s such a relief that they’re here, and they’re okay—and that Abby is, too.”
“I know,” Grant said. “I hadn’t realized how stressed I was about it until we heard the good news.”
When Kara and Bertha returned with the baby, Dan held out his arms.
Kara transferred baby Dylan to her daddy, who teared up at the sight of her.
