A/N: I'd love your feedback for this chapter. Thanks to all who continue to read :)
Chapter 14:
Adelaide's morning sickness hit full force the next day, putting them in a difficult situation. After much debate, Neil returned to Cutter Gap, staying at the mission with Simon and the Grantlands and doctoring the Cove. Adelaide and the lasses remained with her parents, under Edward's care, the latter who checked for signs of dehydration daily. Neil checked in often, concerned about his wife's health both physically and emotionally.
The worst of it passed after two weeks and while Adelaide was still fighting nausea, she was able to keep most foods down and Neil came to Asheville to accompany Addie and the girls home. She was so thankful to be home and settle into life again.
A few weeks later, Neil had come home late after two days away. He sneaked into the children's rooms to give them kisses and then ate the supper that Adelaide had saved for him. He filled Adelaide in on his patient visits and then asked her what happened while he was away.
"Anything interesting happen?" he asked as he was eating the leftover stew and bread.
"It's always interesting at our cabin" Adelaide said, wryly.
"Aye" Neil chuckled, "With our three wee ones, it surely is...how were the children while I was gone?"
"Annie and Juila fought because they both wanted to play mama and cook in their kitchen..."
"Oh boy" Neil chuckled, "did they pretend to burn the meal like their mama?"
Adelaide swatted him with the dishtowel she was twisting. "No, I hardly ever burn meals anymore as you very well know"
"Seven years and you have become quite proficient" Neil said, teasingly, "I still remember all the burnt piles of food I found in your hiding spots around the outside of the house"
"I was so concerned of what you would think of me" Adelaide told him, "I didn't want you to regret marrying me"
"As if that could ever make me regret marrying you" Neil smiled, "I knew very well your domestic abilities or lack thereof when I did marry you. It didn't stop me"
"I know" Adelaide smiled, "but I was young and wanted you to think the best of me"
"You are still young" Neil told her. "And I will always think the best of you, wife"
"Thank you" Adelaide reached out to touch his arm, her hands light across his shirt sleeve. "Anyway, so they had a huge fight- screaming, hair-pulling, pinching"
"Hair pulling and pinching" Neil raised an eyebrow, "Our lasses?"
"Yes" She nodded, "and it was a good thing Papa was away because they both got spanked and you would have had to spank our Annie..."
He frowned, "I haven't done that yet, have I?"
"I told you she has a side to her" Addie inclined her head, "it's coming, Neil"
"I know it's coming" Neil nodded, "but she has such a tender heart, it's going to be hard"
"I know it is hard" Adelaide offered, "she was so repentant and out of sorts the rest of the night. She asked me not to tell you about it"
"Poor lassie" Neil said, "she does like to please me. What did you tell her?"
"I told her not to worry about it and that even if I did tell you, you wouldn't punish her again. She was so worried you would be upset with her too"
"I'll talk to her about it tomorrow" Neil said, "how was Julia?"
"Repentant but she got over it quickly" Addie said, throwing the dishtowel down, "oh and Simon won the spelling bee in his class"
"That's my lad" Neil smiled, "smart as a whip that one"
"He is" Addie said, "Oh, and the babe moved" she added, causally.
His fork clattered down, "Way to drop that one on me. Truly? Did you have the quickening?"
"I did" she smiled, "and the little one has been fluttering ever since"
"Do you feel better?" Neil asked as he moved to sit next to her and cup her belly bump, rubbing it soothingly.
"I had the quickening with Samuel, Neil" Adelaide said, quietly, "and I lost him"
"You lost him under very unusual circumstances. You have to have hope, Addie" Neil told her, gently stroking her belly. "I can't wait until I can feel too" He patted her belly, examining the spread of it. "You are getting round. The children are going to start asking questions. We need to tell them now that the babe has quickened"
Adelaide bit her lip, "what if we lose the baby?"
"Then we mourn as a family" Neil told her, firmly, "but we can't deny that this is happening, Adelaide. This is our child inside you"
"The children will ask all sorts of questions" Adelaide said.
"Probably" Neil told her, "but their aunt just had a babe, so it shouldn't be too much of a shock"
"It's different when it's their mother" Adelaide pointed out.
"That's true" he nodded, "I'll help you with our wee ones questions"
"Good" Adelaide declared, "because we are going to need all the help we can get answer Julia and Annie's questions!"
Neil chuckled in response, knowing she was absolutely right.
After supper the following night, Neil led devotions and then put the bible aside and looked to Adelaide.
"Mama and I would like to talk to you about something" Neil told them.
The kids looked at him, curious.
"What is it, Mama?" Simon asked her.
"Well" Adelaide took a breath, "Papa and I have the most exciting news ever!"
"Ever?" Julia squealed. "Oh, what is it? I really want to know!"
Neil chuckled, "Mama is going to have a baby come May"
There was silence.
Adelaide looked at her children, "A baby! Like Aunt Christy has baby Adelaide. Isn't that exciting?"
More silence.
"Addie is so cute and snuggly" Adelaide continued, "don't you love your cousin? Now, you'll have a little brother or sister to love"
Complete silence until Julia started to kick her legs against the table. Adelaide looked to Neil, not quite knowing what to make of their reaction.
"Julia and Annie, you can help Mama take care of the baby like ye do your dollies. That would be so much fun, don't ye think?"
Again, silence.
"Okay" Neil put his hands against the table and slapped it. "What's going on here? Mama and I thought you would be so excited to have a baby brother or sister"
Julia frowned. "Addie is cute but she cries an awful lot"
"Iris says that baby Fairlight kept her up all the time" Simon added. "She couldn't get her homework done with all that hollering and then she got in trouble with Teacher"
"We don't need a baby to snuggle. We have our dollies. Lizzie and Emma don't cry and we like it like that" Annie said.
"I see" Neil nodded solemnly, "well, babies cry- that is true. But then they grow up too so you will have another person to play with. You'll have to teach the babe all sorts of things. You'll like that"
"I reckon that would be okay, Papa" Simon said, seriously, "as long as I don't have to change diapers"
"Yes!" Julia said, emphatically. "No diapers. They smell. Lizzie and Emma have pretend diapers and we like it like much better!"
"Where is the baby now?" Annie asked.
"It is in Mama's tummy, just like Addie was in Aunt Christy's tummy, remember?" Neil responded, patiently. "It is real small right now, but it will grow bigger"
Adelaide absently rubbed her belly, "I can feel it now, but soon you'll be able to feel it. Simon felt you two when y'all were in my tummy"
"Did I?" Simon asked.
"You did" Neil nodded, "You loved to feel the lasses kick"
Annie paused, "How did the baby get in Mama's tummy?"
Adelaide swallowed hard, "Papa, how did the baby get into my tummy?"
"Don't ye know, Mama?" Simon asked, innocently.
"Of course I do" Addie said, "but Papa is so better at explaining things than me. He's such a good doctor. He knows everything"
Neil cleared his throat, trying not to laugh. "but Annie asked you, Adelaide"
"I did" Annie said, "How did it get it your tummy, Mama? I really want to know!"
"Well" Adelaide struggled, "God put the baby in Mama's tummy" she offered, quickly.
"Hum" Julia thought it over, "Could God put a baby in my tummy too?"
"Not exactly" Adelaide said. "You have to be an adult"
"But..." Annie frowned, "how can God put a baby in your tummy?"
"He's God, silly. He can do anything!" Julia retorted.
Simon looked contemplative, "Iris says that her Mama and Mr. Bird's Eye did something and that's what gave them baby Fairlight"
"Oh" Annie's eyes were wide. "What did they do?"
"She said they make a bunch of noise and they lay..."
"Simon!" Adelaide looked shell-shocked.
"What did I do?" Simon asked, curiously.
"Nothing, lad" Neil quickly, intervened, "That's probably just something you and I should talk about privately whatever Iris told you. It might not be something that the wee lasses should hear since they are younger than you"
"We are five years old, Papa!" Julia protested, highly offended by his statement. "We can hear it too. Why did they holler?"
Neil tapped her nose. "Mama will explain it more to you when you are older"
"You and Mama sometimes make noises when we are tryin to sleep" Julia said, frowning. "Was that you trying to get the baby in Mama's tummy? Was it not working or something?"
Neil threw back his head and laughed loudly, unable to stop himself. "No, lassie. It was working quite well"
"Okay" Adelaide stood, abruptly, shooting Neil a deathly glare. "Who wants to help me wash dishes?"
"How long does the baby have to stay in your tummy, Mama?" Annie asked as she began to help Addie clear the table.
"Nine months" Adelaide responded, "and then the babe is big enough to live outside my tummy"
Annie titled her head, "How does the baby get out?"
"Through girl parts" Simon answered.
The dishes clattered on the table as Adelaide dropped them, startling everyone.
"How do you know that?" Addie demanded.
Simon shrugged. "I heard it from somewhere"
Adelaide put her hand on her hip. "where did you hear it?"
"I don't know, Mama" Simon said.
"Is Simon in trouble?" Annie asked.
"No" Neil stood. "That's right, lad, but it's not something we should really talk about in front of your sisters, alright?" he went over to squeeze the boy's shoulder. "Let me look over your homework. Annie and Julia, help your Mama with the dishes"
"Yes sir" the girls replied and the subject was dropped for the moment.
"I can't believe he knew that" Adelaide stewed as she roughly flipped the page on the book she was reading, sitting by Neil on the couch. "Where did he hear that?" she demanded.
Neil continued to smoke his pipe in the living room, the nights too cold to settle on the porch. "Now, Adelaide, I've told you how things work around here"
"Not for my children!" Adelaide insisted, she looked over at him. "We are so careful to protect them from that. He is only seven years old. There is no way he should know that at his age"
"He's in school" Neil said. "Don't get worked up over this. I talked to him when I tucked him in bed tonight. He doesn't understand anything more than the baby comes out girl parts. And Iris didn't tell him more about than just that they were loud and that's how she thinks babies are made. You know Iris. She thinks she knows everything"
"But that's still too much" Adelaide shook her head, "Should we send him to boarding school? I'll send inquiries out tomorrow. If school is a bad influence, he should be attending school in Asheville"
"Ye are actin crazy, woman" Neil told her, putting his pipe aside. "You have these moments with every pregnancy. All your common sense leaves you"
"I am not acting crazy!" she protested. "Our son is talking to us about where babies come out of!"
Neil laughed. "Adelaide, come now, sweetheart. You are blowing it out of proportion. This is how Julia would respond"
She glared at him. "And I wouldn't blame her one bit. My mother is quite reasonable"
Neil threw back his head and laughed again. "Now I know you are really far gone into your mood"
Her eyes grew wide as her hand twitched, holding the book she was reading.
"Don't ye dare" Neil told her, adamantly. "Now, that is not an example to set for our wee ones throwing a book at their poor Papa's head"
"They are in bed" Adelaide pointed out, "and you are anything but poor. You are asking for it"
He reached out to grasp her hand, pulling the book out of her hand and moving it to a safe spot. "Let's take away the temptation. Your aim isn't great, but still, best not take chances"
Adelaide rolled her eyes, but Neil reached to pull her up off the couch, so she was sitting on his lap instead of just beside him. "Now, Mrs. MacNeill"
"What?" she grunted.
"You are a nurse and I am a doctor. Our children are bound to know about some ways of life"
"Julia says she hears us" she buried her head in his shoulder. "I'm so mortified. We shouldn't make love ever again"
Neil chuckled, "That is not the solution, lass"
"I think it is a fine one" Adelaide told him.
"No you don't" Neil poked her side. "We can sneak outside if you feel inhibited now"
"It's wintertime" Adelaide shivered at the thought. "Too cold even with you to keep me warm"
"Regardless" Neil kissed her cheek, "It's not as big of a deal as you are making it out to be. Julia has no idea what she is hearing and Simon is fine. I took care of it. And for the time being, the Cove school is appropriate for him to attend. We'll discuss it further if more concerns arise. In the meantime, that's enough out of you about it"
She leaned back to look at him, "Excuse me?"
"We are done talking about it" he told her.
She slid off his lap. "I don't appreciate you just dismissing me like that" her fire was up again.
"And I'm not going to listen to you go on and on irrationally about it" he countered. "somebody has to stop the madness"
"Well" Adelaide reached for her book, "at least we won't have to worry about making too much noise and waking the children tonight" she added, rubbing her belly.
"Now, now, Adelaide" he reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. "You don't have to act so wounded. You know you needed someone to snap you out of it"
"You are such a know it all" Adelaide told him, tears springing to her eyes.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, wife" he added, kissing the tears that began to fall. "I just wanted to stop you before you got completely worked up and you don't stop easily these days. Don't cry"
"I don't want Simon to know about girl parts" Adelaide sniffled. "He's going to get married young like Ruby Mae"
"No" Neil shook his head, "We won't allow that to happen"
"He'll get some girl pregnant"
"Trust me" Neil told her, adamantly, "he won't. I'll make sure. I grew up here and I didn't marry at fifteen or get any girl pregnant."
"Because you wanted to leave" she said.
"Simon has ambitions even at seven" Neil told her, "I'm not afraid of talking to our son frankly about it. And who knows we might be somewhere else by then"
"What about Julia or Annie?" Adelaide asked, "what if they fall for one of the Cove boys?"
"Not a one of the Cove boys or a city boy will lay their hands on either one of my daughters. Are ye kidding?" Neil told her. "The girls friendship with Bird's Eye is enough to scare off any Cove boy"
She chuckled, "that's true"
"There's that laugh" he rubbed her cheek. "Now enough of this" he dropped his hands to rub her stomach. "It's not good for this sweet babe"
"Are we really that loud?" she asked, biting her lip.
Neil continued to rub her belly. "Nah. Cabin walls are notoriously thin, remember?"
"I remember" Adelaide sighed. "Why do our children have to ask so many questions about everything?"
He grinned, "It's good for them"
"You just like to see me embarrassed" she covered his hands with hers.
"Aye" he chuckled, "It is hilarious watching you navigate it all. You should have seen your face when Simon told you where babies come out of. I'll think I'll remember that moment for the rest of my life"
She reached up to kiss him. "Oh just stop already"
Adelaide continued to grow fuller and rounder- the babe becoming quite active. At the six month mark, Edward came to the Cove to check on her again, this time with his new wife in tow. She told him it wasn't necessary, him having examined her just last month when they were in Asheville for his wedding, but he insisted due to the fact that this was around the time she lost her last baby.
"Doctor Shaw" Julia said happily, "We missed you!" she ran and gave him a hug.
Edward leaned down and picked her up. "I missed you too, Julia!" He leaned down and patted Annie's head, "And you too, Miss Annie"
He put Julia down to greet, Adelaide. "Addie, I can tell already the baby is growing nicely" he told her, looking at her round belly.
She put her hand on her hip, "Charming, Ed. Really" She kissed his cheek, greeting him. "How you ever coerced Stella into marrying you, I'll never know. Congratulations again"
Stella laughed as she came in and gave Adelaide a hug. "It's good to see you again, Addie. It was so sweet of you and Neil to come out to the wedding, especially with it being so last minute"
"Neil and I know all about last minute weddings" Adelaide said, with a smile. "And it's so good to see you too"
"How long were you and Neil engaged for? Two days?" Edward teased. "That's what it seemed like to all of us"
"Well, it is somewhat true" Adelaide said, laughing.
Julia tugged at her shirt, "You and Papa were only engaged two days, Mama?"
"No, baby" Adelaide smiled at her daughter, "We were engaged for a few weeks"
"At least Stella and I knew each other for a long while"
She poked at him, "That's not something to boast about Ed. It took you long enough to get your act together"
Stella laughed at that. "Very true, Adelaide. I thought he would never speak"
Adelaide put her arm around her. "I'm very glad he did. You two are perfect for one another"
"Thank you, Addie" Stella responded.
She smiled, "Have a seat" She turned to the girls. "Ladies, why don't you go to your room and color for a bit."
"We will color one for you, Miss Stella" Annie said, shyly.
"I'd love that" Stella responded, brightly, as she and Ed settled on the couch.
Adelaide stepped towards the stove, to put water on to boil for tea.
"You settled into my parent's cabin alright?" she asked.
Stella nodded, "It really is lovely"
"Mother always spares no expense even out here" Adelaide said, "but I have to say I'm surprised you all want to stay a few days"
"Call it another honeymoon" Ed said.
Adelaide giggled, "In Cutter Gap in February?"
"Well, yes" Edward said, "I'm always the romantic, Adelaide"
"Listen to him" Adelaide shook her head, teasingly.
"Where's that husband of yours anyway?" Ed asked.
"I don't really know" she responded, "he was called away on an emergency yesterday, but I'm hoping he will be home tonight. We do never quite know"
"How do you do it?" Stella asked, "Ed is called away and I already get so lonely. I can't imagine if he is gone for days"
"I guess I'm used to it by now" Adelaide said, "And I have the kids" she sat in the chair across from them, while the water heated. "I do remember that first fall and winter with Simon. I was so lonely and scared out here alone"
"Scared?" Edward asked, surprised.
She nodded. "There are terrible storms that blow through in the fal..." her voice trailed off, "well" she absently rubbed her belly. "you know about that" she bit her lip, her face falling as she remembered the last storm she had been so frightened in.
Edward looked at her. "Do you want to wait until Neil gets home to examine you?
She shrugged. "I don't think it matters"
"What will Neil say?" Stella asked, knowingly.
"Probably to wait" Edward responded for her.
"Probably so" Adelaide said. "He's a little put out by me at the moment where that is concerned"
"Why is that?" Edward asked, curiously.
"I refuse to let him examine me" she said. "Since you couldn't find the heartbeat last month, he has been hounding me to let him listen for it, but since last time he found two heartbeats, I'd rather you do it. It's likely he would find three"
Edward chuckled, "You do remember that you are either pregnant at this point with one, two, or three babies or not, right?"
"And that is why he is a bit put out by me" Adelaide said, "but I am expecting and if I want to be irrational about it, then that is my prerogative"
Stella laughed, "I'll have to remember that one"
Adelaide rose and went to fix the tea for them, steeping it.
"Let me carry the tray, Adelaide" Edward said, standing up.
"Thank you" Edward carried the tray for them and Adelaide handed Stella a cup of tea and then Ed and herself.
"Is Simon in school?" Edward asked.
She nodded, "He is. He is excited that you'll have supper with us tonight. He was quite upset that he missed out on both our Asheville visits"
"I'm sorry he missed out on both your Asheville visits" Edward responded, sincerely. He shifted, glancing at Stella, before adding, "Adelaide, I really do hope as Simon gets older that I can have more of a relationship with the boy"
Adelaide took a sip of her tea, "You were his father's best friend. I hope so too" She said.
"When do you think you and Neil might tell him about his father?" he asked, "I'm not pushing you to or prying, I just was wondering. He is getting older"
"Soon" Adelaide said, "We've talked it over and gone back and forth. The timing has never felt right with Neil being away so long and now the baby. Especially if this child is a boy, I don't want Simon to have to feel out of place in his own family"
"Better to adjust to the baby and then talk to him" Edward nodded, "I just wanted you to know that whenever you do, I would be happy to talk to him about Simon"
"Doc and I would appreciate that" Adelaide told him. "Neil and Simon were close at the end, but you had more of the relationship with him"
"Do you think it will be hard when you do?" Stella asked.
"Maybe" Adelaide put down her tea cup and absently rubbed her belly, "but Neil is such a good father and Simon adores him. I think Neil will be able to ease whatever worries he has about his place in our family"
The girls ran in the room with their pictures for Stella and the subject was dropped.
"Papa, Papa!" The girls squealed.
"Let me wash my hands first, lasses" he told them, "Then I'll give you lots of snuggles"
Neil washed his hands and went upstairs to change, coming down and picking up both of the girls in his arms, squeezing them tightly.
"We miss you, Papa!" Annie said.
"Ever so much" Julia added.
He kissed both their heads before putting them down, "I missed my lasses too" He walked over to squeezed Simon's shoulder.
"Glad ye are back, Papa" Simon looked up at him.
"Thank you, lad"
Adelaide leaned over to give him a kiss and Neil kissed her head and rubbed her belly. "Edward and Stella should be here any minute for supper" Adelaide said. "We waited for him to examine me until you got home"
"Very good" Neil nodded, "Since I have to provide your emergency care, it's important that I'm a part of this too"
"Of course" Adelaide smiled, "and if he hears twins, I want a second opinion"
"I'll just hear triplets" Neil poked at her. She giggled and kissed him again, this time more passionately until they heard a throat clear.
"Who are the newlyweds here?" Edward asked, teasingly.
"They do that all the time, Doc Shaw" Simon said as he ran up to give him a hug.
"It's good to see you, Simon" Edward patted his back.
"All the time" Julia bounced up and down. "Do you and Miss Stella kiss all the time?"
"We don't ask that question" Neil went and scooped Julia up and extended his hand, "Ed, thanks for coming"
"My pleasure" Edward shook his hand and then leaned over to whisper to Julia, "all the time, Julia"
"ewww" Julia responded, much to the adult's amusement.
"Come on in and make yourself comfortable. Supper will be ready in a few minutes" Adelaide turned to Edward. "You better be careful, Ed. These girls ask a lot of questions. Better not open yourself up to it"
"What kind of questions?" Edward asked, poking at Julia.
"The kind about babies" Adelaide said, inclining her head.
"Oh, those question" Ed chuckled as he sat on the sofa with Stella. "Maybe ask Grandma about those questions"
Stella patted his arm, "Edward, stop"
"Yes, please" Adelaide said, rolling her eyes. "Ask Grandma. You are such a trouble maker"
"Papa, should we ask Grandma our questions about the baby?" Julia asked, still in his arms as he sat in his chair.
Neil laughed, "No, lassie. Ask me or your Mama and we'll answer them"
"Papa" Annie tugged at his shirt and Neil put Julia down with a kiss to turn to Annie.
"What is it, Annie?"
"Is the baby alright in Mama's tummy?"
"Why would you ask that?" Adelaide stopped to where she was preparing supper to turn to Annie.
"Doc Shaw is here" Annie said, "the last time he was here was when Papa was dyin"
Neil picked her up in his arms and gave her a huge hug. "Doc Shaw is here to check on your mama and the babe. That's what doctors do when they have patients who are expecting or if you are living out here, Mama checks on the patients because she is what is called a midwife and she delivers babies"
"Oh" Annie said, taking in the information, "okay" she nodded.
Edward smiled at her, "I'll take really good care of your Mama and your brother or sister, okay?"
"I know that" Annie said, smiling back at him.
"Now, go help Mama set the table" Neil said, with a pat, "Simon, are you done with your homework, son?"
"Yes, sir" Simon came over to give him his work to check his work.
Neil checked it over, "Very good. Go put it in your room and then get water for Mama"
He nodded. Neil looked to Julia, "Julia, lass, are ye being helpful to your Mama?" his voice was stern.
"Oh, I am" Julia nodded, seriously, as she colored on paper, lying on the floor, "I'm makin decorations to make it look pretty in here"
They all fought laughter with Neil adding, "That's a fine idea, but Mama really needs you to set out the glasses if Annie is working with the silverware"
Julia sighed dramatically, scrunching up her nose, "Okaaaay, but if it looks less pretty in here it's all your..."
Neil cleared his throat, "Julia MacNeill, I would stop talking now and move" his voice was gruff and Julia knew not to protest more. Papa was wonderfully understanding most days, but he didn't like talking back and that would only lead to a spanking and Papa spanked much harder than Mama.
"She's going to be a fun teenager" Edward said, smiling in her direction.
"Absolutely" Neil chuckled.
Edward looked up, "Just one" he told her, smiling. "Doctor MacNeill would you like to hear?"
Neil nodded and went over to take the stethoscope from Ed, listening carefully. Stella was downstairs entertaining the children while Neil and Edward consulted over Adelaide.
Adelaide looked to Edward, "Is the heartbeat strong, Ed?"
"Very, Adelaide" Edward told her, reassuringly, "And you are measuring perfectly. Any pain or discomfort?"
"No more than normal" Adelaide said.
"Back?"
She nodded, "And soreness around my belly sometimes"
"Be careful with how much you are lifting" he advised, "especially when Neil is gone"
"Yes, sir" she made a face at him.
"Mature, Adelaide" Edward laughed.
"Behave, Adelaide" Neil told her, with mock sternness as he handed the stethoscope back to Ed.
"Yes sir" she made another face, this time directed at him.
"And" Edward continued, from his spot next to her on the opposite side of the bed, "I want you to rest in the afternoons"
"Why?" Adelaide asked, "I'll rest if I am tired"
"No" Edward countered, "You'll rest even if you aren't"
"Tell her why" Neil said, "or she'll won't follow orders"
"Your blood pressure is a bit up and your ankles are swollen"
"You and Neil make me nervous" Adelaide said, "It's an abnormal reading" she dismissed.
"We don't make you nervous" Edward responded, "And you know very well if it is a problem, it's just going to intensify as you get further along and I want to make sure we keep an eye on it. Doctor MacNeill will take your blood pressure every day so we can make sure it was just a fluke"
"I really do feel well" Adelaide said, rubbing her belly.
"So, you are pushing yourself" Neil told her, "Ed is right. You are expecting. Resting in the afternoon is appropriate. Don't argue"
"I wouldn't dare" she frowned, "What else?"
"Bleeding, contractions, anything, tell Neil immediately and he'll call me to come down"
"Of course" she nodded. "Ruby Mae's baby is due in a month- do you think I can still deliver?"
"Hum" Edward sighed, "I'm not going to tell you no, but do be careful with how much you stand"
"I will" Adelaide said.
"And I'll check you one more time before we leave" Edward said, "but otherwise barring an emergency, I'll be back down for a couple days around your due date"
"And will Stella help me labor?" she asked, "especially if Miss Alice is gone, I want her and Opal to help"
"She wouldn't miss it" Edward winked at Adelaide, "plus, I like bossing her around too much"
"Oh my" Adelaide laughed, "It's a good thing she is down with the children instead of hearing this"
Edward just laughed, "We'll stay a few days too and help you adjust to the baby"
"Thank you" she responded, sincerely, "it really is a blessing to have you and Stella here"
"Adelaide's right" Neil added, "We appreciate your friendship and your help"
"We are happy to do so" Edward patted Adelaide's arm. "Nap in the afternoons, young lady"
"Yes, Edward" Adelaide squeezed his hand.
"Now, I'm going to go find my wife and see what shenanigans she and your children are up to"
"She's so good for you" Neil said.
"That she is" Edward replied and headed downstairs.
Neil leaned over and kissed her belly. "Doing great, wee one. Few more months and we get to meet you"
Adelaide's face turned pained, a look she tried to cover quickly, but Neil didn't miss it.
"It's going to be fine, Adelaide" he reached to pull her into his arms.
"Part of me is trying not to become attached" she said, quietly. "but then you kiss my belly and talk to our babe or he or she kicks and I am hopelessly so"
"This child is a part of us- a part of our family" Neil told her, "of course you are. And you should be. Don't be afraid to love him, Adelaide"
She buried her head in his shoulder, knowing that he spoke the truth. She was hopeful, yet with that hope, she was also afraid. She would be so thankful when May came and she was holding this child in her arms instead of carrying him or her in her stomach.
A/N: would love thoughts! :)