Epilogue
Quinn
“Welcome to Mayhew House. How can I help you?” I asked, walking ponderously up to the quaint, wooden workbench that I’d converted into the receptionist’s desk. I ignored the aching pain in my back and my swollen feet, pasting on my brightest smile as I greeted the two newest guests.
“Well, we were passing through town and stopped to see the springs. We heard from some other hikers down there about the new bed and breakfast here and well, we were hoping to book a room for the rest of the weekend if you have anything available?”
“Of course. Let me just check our books. I think we have a wonderful room Ahh–.” I squeezed my eyes shut as a sharp pain ran through my body but I breathed through it. In through my nose. Out through my mouth. “Upstairs that’s available. It has a fantastic view of the springs.”
“Uh, that sounds great.”
I typed into the computer, pulling up the check in form and had to had to stop as another wave of pain swept through me. After the forms were filled out I turned to grab the key for the room but had to stop, resting against the edge of the desk. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Just like the classes.
“Quinn, I had some guests asking about the trails. Do you know if Bryan is doing anymore guided hikes today?”
I turned to Leo with a smile. The bed and breakfast had been opened for almost three months and already we were booked up for the summer. Things couldn’t be going better, and the new guided tours had been a big hit with the guests.
“I can call him and check. Just give me Ahh!” I held up a hand, stalling him as I waited for the pang to pass, “a minute.” I finally said, panting slightly. “I can try him on the radio.”
“Quinn?” Leo rushed forward, looking at me with concern in his dark eyes as he took in the sweat that dotted my brow and flushed face, “Quinn, are you having contractions?”
I waved his question away as I reached for the radio. “It’s not time yet. They’re not close enough together.”
“Quinn! The baby is coming!” Leo’s face went white as a sheet and I could see the sudden panic in his gaze. “I’m taking you to the hospital. Now.”
“No, really. There’s still hours yet before the baby comes.” I sucked in a sharp breath as another one hit. “Saturday’s are our busiest days, you know that.”
“Sunshine, this baby is coming. You are not working. Jonah can take over here. We are going to the hospital.” He wrapped his arm around me as he shouted for Jonah who came running with a worried look.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“The baby’s coming!” Leo said, still shouting even though Jonah was only a few feet away, “Can you take over?!”
“Yeah. Of course! I’ll call Lily. We’ll be at the hospital as soon as we can.” Jonah gave me a quick hug, but I think he was just using it as an excuse to help get me out of the bed and breakfast and into the car. “I love you, little sis.”
I smiled up at him. Things had been rough between us at first but it had been easier to forgive him after finding out what he’d done to track down Leo and make things right between us.
“I love you too, big brother. Don’t burn down the place while we’re gone.”
“I’ve got it under control, Quinn. Stop micro-managing and focus on bringing that little person into the world.” Jonah said with a roll of his eyes before shutting the door.
The drive to the hospital was a blur, the doctor wheeling me straight into the delivery room.
“It was close,” The doctor said from behind the surgical mask, “If you’d have waited any longer that baby would have been born. The baby is coming now.”
Leo gave me a look out of the corner of his eyes and I just shrugged, but then the contractions hit once more and the doctor was telling me to push. All I could focus on was Leo’s hand holding mine. He was by my side every second as pain like a vice squeezed around my middle but it was a distant sort of pain.
My eyes met Leo’s, the rest of the world disappearing until there was just the two of us and the love that shone between us with a life all its own. The moment was shattered as a high-pitched cry broke the silence and I collapsed back onto the hospital bed as exhaustion and exhilaration filled me.
Minutes passed like quicksand until one of the nurses finally placed a small bundle of joy into my arms and I looked down with tears in my eyes.
“A girl. A baby girl.” I whispered, glancing up at Leo.
“She’s perfect.” He was staring at her with pure love shining from the depths of his dark gaze.
“What should we name her?” I asked quietly as she wiggled in my arms, healthy and wonderful and the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen in my entire life.
“Rachael. Ray, for short.” Leo said, his voice hoarse with emotion as I looked at him quizzically.
“Ray?”
“She’s a little ray of sunshine,” His eyes met mine, “Just like her mama.”
I sent him a tearful smile before cradling our daughter even closer to my heart, “Hello, Ray.”
She gurgled happily as Leo wrapped his arm around us both and suddenly Lily’s words echoed in my thoughts and I nearly shook my head. She’d told me that everything happened for a reason, and sitting there, surrounded by my family, I finally believed her. Everything had happened for a reason. The best reason in the world. Love.
***The End***
If you enjoyed Quinn and Leo’s story, you would love Jonah and Sabrina’s Happily Ever After.
It’s steamy, hot and suspenseful.
Read On!