EPILOGUE
August 7, 1872
“Edward. When is Doc Walker arriving?” Adele walked back and forth in their bedroom from the end of the bed to the door and back again. She’d been doing so since after dinner. Now it was almost midnight and she was tired of walking but the movement was the only thing that seemed to help.
She held the small of her back with both hands. The heat from the August air wafting in through the open window made every part of her body perspire so much even the nightgown she wore felt damp. “I feel the baby coming. I know he is.”
“Then why don’t you get into bed?” Edward pointed at the bed.
“Because my back hurts. And I don’t want to just lie there and hurt. At least, this way I can pretend I’m doing something to help the pain.” I’ve got everything ready. The rubber sheet is under the cotton one. The little cradle that Edward made for Lissa is here in the room. Ruama is bringing extra towels and water. All I need is for the baby to come. And I think he is.
“Adele, my love, if I could—”
She rounded on him. “Don’t you my love me. You and that silver tongue of yours are what got me into this mess.”
Edward held open his arms. “Sweetheart, I know that’s the pain talking.”
Adele sniffled and then burst into tears. “Yes, it is. I love you so much, and I love this baby even though right now all I feel is pain. I’m sorry if I say bad things.”
“It’s all right.” He held her as close as he could given the size of her belly. Edward patted her back.
Suddenly, she pushed him away and waddled to the side of the bed. Adele looked up at him. “Well, don’t just stand there. Help me.”
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“The baby is coming. I feel him between my legs.” Tears rolled down her face. “What will I do?”
Ruama came into the bedroom with towels and a bucket of hot water. “If I have to I can deliver your babe. Don’t you worry none, Adele. Your babe will arrive safely.”
“I should say so,” said Nick Walker as he came through the bedroom door. “Cookie and Lissa let me in.”
Edward turned and held out his hand. “Good to see you, Doc.”
The men shook hands.
Adele snapped. “If you two are done, do you think we can deliver this baby now? I mean right now.”
The doctor walked over to Adele. “Feeling a little churlish are we?”
Adele glared. “Churlish? I’m feeling a lot more than churlish. I’m having this baby.”
He took her hand and rubbed over the top. “Of course, you’re having the baby.”
“You don’t understand. I’m having this baby…NOW!”
The doctor moved to the end of the bed. “I see. Lie down and let me look.”
Adele raised her knees and opened her legs.
The doctor checked her and then looked up. “Ruama. Get the basin ready. We are having this baby right now.” He hurriedly washed his hands. He grabbed a towel to put the baby in. “Edward, if you’re staying, hold her hands so she can push against you.” He glanced at her. “Adele, I need you to bear down hard. Push, girl, push.”
Edward took her hands in his.
Again and again, Adele pushed.
“That’s a good girl. The head is out. Push now and let’s get the rest of the little body out.”
“You can do this, sweetheart.” Edward squeezed her hands gently.
Minutes later, though it felt like hours, the baby slid from her body.
She laid back and sucked in air.” She stretched to see between her legs. “What do we have, Doc? Boy or girl?”
Doc Walker grinned. “You’ve got a boy with brown hair like his father.”
Ruama placed the swaddled baby in Adele’s arms.
She immediately unwrapped the baby and examined his arms and legs. Emotions she’d never felt before clogged her throat. She’d never loved anyone, including Edward, the way she did her new son. She cupped his head and ran her fingers through his downy soft hair. “Isn’t he beautiful?”
Edward stepped close and ran his hand over the baby’s head. “He certainly is.”
Adele looked up at her husband. “Would you like to hold your son?”
He grinned. “I certainly would. I just hope I remember how. He’s so small.” Edward took his son from Adele.
“He’s plenty big,” said Doctor Walker. He wrote in his notebook. “He’s a little on the large side but, given the size of his father that is to be expected.”
Adele kept her eyes on her son, but said to Edward. “You should go get Lissa.”
Ruama waved a hand at her. “You two stay here and admire that sweet baby. I’ll get Lissa.”
A few minutes later, Adele heard running footsteps down the hall.
Lissa ran into the bedroom and skidded to a stop, followed by Ruama.
Edward frowned. “Lissa, what have we said?”
She hung her head. “I’m not supposed to run in the house.”
“That’s right,” said her father. He smiled. “But this time we can understand and don’t blame you at all.”
Her face lit up. “Can I see the baby?”
Edward got down to her level so she could see him.
Wide eyed, Lissa looked up at Adele. “Him? I have a brother?”
Adele smiled. “Yes, you certainly do.”
Lissa touched his arm and the rubbed it all the way to his hand. “He’s so soft. What’s his name?”
Edward and Adele looked at each other, then Edward turned toward Lissa. “We don’t know. He hasn’t got a name yet, we couldn’t make up our minds. What do you think his name should be?”
She put a finger to her chin and stared at the ceiling. “I think we should name him after Daddy.”
“Edward Wharton, Junior?” asked Adele.
“Yup, I think that’s what it should be.”
Adele raised her gaze to Edward’s face. “What do you think?”
He slowly shook his head. “Everyone would end up calling him Junior, and he’d hate that. Edward stood and placed the babe back in her arms.”
“You’re right. I always liked Daniel. What do you think about that? Daniel Edward Wharton.” Adele rushed on. “I know we agreed that if the baby was a boy we’d name him Thomas, but,” she gazed down at her son, her heard still pounded but with love for her son and for Lissa. “He just doesn’t look like a Thomas to me.” She glanced up at her husband, she added, “Does that make sense?”
“It does and I agree with you. Daniel it is.”
Doctor Walker wrote in his notebook again. “Sorry to interrupt your family reunion, but I must leave. I’ll show myself out. Congratulations on your new family member. Let me know when you name him so I can have a record.”
Edward moved to shake the doctor’s hand. “Thanks so much Nick. You’ve given us our hearts desire.”
Nick grinned and then shook his head. “You two gave yourselves your heart’s desire.” He turned and left the room.
Lissa stood with her arms crossed over her chest and a frown marring her pretty little face. “I thought I got to name him.”
Adele held out her free arm to Lissa. “Come here, sweetheart.”
The girl scrambled onto the bed and cuddled with her mother. “We asked your opinion and your answer was a good one. Daddy and I want another name and he told you why. Now don’t pout. Instead why don’t you kiss your baby brother and be happy he joined our family?”
Lissa dutifully kissed him and smoothed his hair.” She looked up at Adele. “His hair is so soft. How come?”
“I don’t know.” Adele pushed up his hair so it was wild looking and then smoothed it back down. She loved the feel of his hair. “Your hair used to be this soft. All babies who have hair have it this soft. At least my younger brothers and sisters all did.”
Daniel began to fuss.
“I think he’s tired of us poking and prodding him and he’s probably cold, too.” She quickly swaddled him. “Now, I’ll see if he’s hungry, so you, my darling daughter, have to leave.”
“Okay.” She hung her head and slumped.
She sounded so forlorn but Adele couldn’t help but chuckle. “You can come back later, all right?”
Lissa perked up. “I can? Oh, goodie.” She crawled off the bed and bounded out of the room.
Adele sighed. “Where does she get such energy?”
Edward laughed. “She’s a child. They all seem to be that way. Have I told you today that I love you?”
“No, you haven’t. You’ve been quite remiss about that.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You, too, have forgotten to tell me, although you did call me some rather colorful names earlier.”
“Um, I do ask your forgiveness, although you were at the doctor’s appointment when Nick said I might do that. But you know I love you, don’t you?”
Instead of an immediate answer, he covered her lips with his. “I know.”