Jack came into the room carrying a tray. He smiled. "Good morning, beautiful."
"You're really spoiling me, getting up early to make breakfast every morning."
"You're up all night with Levi. Plus, you had him growing inside you for eight months and you had to give birth to him. This is really the least I can do."
I shifted the baby in my arms. "Thank you."
"Here." He set the tray beside me and reached for the baby, lifting him from my arms. "Good morning, little man."
I took a sip of my tea. "Are the girls still sleeping?"
"Yes." He looked down at Levi. "Isn't that right, Levi? Your sisters are letting us have some quiet time with you this morning."
"Come here." I patted the bed beside me. "I want my boys with me."
Jack took a seat and grinned. "It's been three days, and I still can't believe we have a son."
"Are you happy?"
"You know I would've been thrilled with another girl, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't really hoping to have a boy this time."
I reached over and touched the top of Levi's head. "I really wanted a boy this time, too."
"He's just so perfect." He stared at our son, just studying his features. "We really do make the cutest babies."
Jane ran into the room and climbed up on the bed. "Mama! Dada!"
"And speaking of the cutest babies." I chuckled. "Good morning, Janie."
"Sorry that your quiet morning was disturbed."
I ran my fingers through Jane's hair. "It's okay. I love having our babies with us. Besides, we'll have plenty of quiet mornings once these little ones are bigger and don't want to snuggle with us anymore."
"Mama dada!" Ellie's voice floated down the hall.
"And there's number three." Jack smiled. "I'll go get her. Janie, do you want to help mama hold your brother?"
"Yes! I hold brover."
Once she was situated beside me, Jack carefully lowered Levi into her arms, then headed down the hall to get Eleanor from her crib.
I smiled at my oldest and youngest child together. "Levi, who's holding you? Is Jane holding you?"
He looked up at his sister, eyes wide.
"Love Levi." Jane leaned down and kissed his forehead.
"That's so sweet, Janie. Levi loves you, too."
Jack returned a few moments later with Ellie in his arms. Her dark curls were sticking out all over the place, and her eyes still looked a little sleepy.
"Good morning, sweet Ellie." I moved the breakfast tray to my nightstand. "Come see me."
Jack placed her in my lap, and she immediately snuggled up to me.
I kissed the top of her head. "Can you believe there was ever a time when these three weren't in our lives?"
"I know. It feels like we've had them forever."
...
"Jane, do you want to carry the picnic blanket?"
"Yes!" She held out her arms, and I passed the folded blanket to her.
"Go follow dad. You can help him and Ellie get everything set up. I'll be right out with your brother." I nudged her out the back door. "Okay, Levi," I peeked into the pram, where he was resting quietly, "are you ready for your first picnic?"
He gave a little grunt in response.
I chuckled. "I'll take that as a 'yes.' Let's go, sweet boy."
I managed to maneuver the pram out into the backyard. Jack and the girls were already seated on the blanket, and Jack was pulling food from the basket.
"Did you girls help mama make this lunch?"
Jane nodded, reaching for a piece of chicken. "I cook wif mama and Ellie."
"They're very good helpers."
"Well, of course they are. They're our children, so they're good at everything."
I laughed. "No need to give them big heads while they're still so young."
"True. They'll learn for themselves soon enough." He winked at me before starting to fill his own plate. "This all looks delicious. Hey, girls, did you know that your mama wasn't a very good cook when I met her?"
"Hey! Don't tell them that!"
He chuckled. "She also couldn't ride a horse."
"Great. Now they'll think I wasn't capable of doing anything when we met."
"Everybody has to start somewhere." He shrugged, giving me a little smirk. "And you're really good at cooking and riding horses now. You hear that, girls?" He ruffled their hair. "Your mother is a very capable woman, and she's very good at a lot of things."
"Thank you."
...
Jack chased the girls around the yard, their little giggles filling the air. Chief barked playfully, running circles around them. Levi was lying on the blanket beside me, watching his sisters. I put a hand on his belly.
"It won't be long before you're big enough to run around with them, Levi."
He turned his head toward my voice and started squirming, sticking out his little tongue.
"Oh, my sweet boy." I carefully lifted him into my arms. "Are you hungry for your lunch? It's about time for you to eat." I glanced over at Jack and got his attention. "I'm going to take Levi inside and feed him."
"Okay. I'll make sure everything gets cleaned up out here."
"Thank you."
Once inside, I got situated on the sofa and settled Levi in to nurse.
"There you go, Levi." I touched his cheek. "You were just hungry, weren't you? I think you eat more than your sisters did, but that makes sense since you're such a big guy." I tugged his little shirt down. At just four days old, he was already wearing—and outgrowing—clothes that the girls didn't fit in until they were closer to two or three months old.
He grunted, grabbing at the edge of my blouse.
I laughed softly. "Are you trying to tell me to stop talking? Okay, I'll let you eat in peace."
...
Jack came back in with the girls just a few minutes after Levi finished eating. "Carson is here to do a checkup on you and the baby."
"Perfect timing. Levi just finished up his lunch."
Carson came through the open door. "Good afternoon, Elizabeth."
"Hi, Carson."
"I hope now is a good time for this. Faith and I just got back in town this morning, and Rosemary met us outside the infirmary to tell us you had the baby."
"Now is fine. I was actually just telling Jack that you have perfect timing. This little guy just ate, so he's happy as can be. At least until he needs a diaper change."
"I just can't believe you went into labor during the one time Faith and I go out of town." Carson chuckled as he set down his bag. "Jack said this little one was born at Abigail's?"
I nodded and lowered Levi onto the sofa. "I was taking a walk, and my water broke right outside her door. I'm just very thankful she's delivered babies before, so I knew I was in good hands."
"That you were." Carson started checking the baby over. "His name is Levi?"
"Yes. Levi Jack Thornton."
"Good name." He put the stethoscope to Levi's chest. "Were there any issues with his birth?"
"No, not really. My labor was short, but that's it. It was much easier than Eleanor's."
"Is he eating fine?"
"Every two hours or so, like clockwork. And he certainly lets us know when he's getting hungry."
"How has he been sleeping?"
"He sleeps a lot but in short stretches. Needless to say, Jack and I haven't gotten a lot of sleep the past few nights."
"Well," he stood up, "he looks very healthy. Everything is just as I would expect."
"Good."
"And now for you." He motioned for me to take a seat.
I picked Levi up and sat down, cradling him against my shoulder.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired, of course, and I'm still very sore. He's bigger than the girls were."
He flipped through his notes, concern crossing his face. "How bad is the pain?"
"Tolerable, most of the time. It does keep me awake occasionally."
"Okay. I'm going to have Faith come by and do a physical check on you. Until she clears you, I want you resting as much as possible."
"But—" I began, before he cut me off.
"No buts. I know it's difficult with two other little ones in the house, but they need you healthy. I'll talk with Abigail about getting some meals brought over here, and I want Jack helping with the girls as much as possible. Your body has been through a lot, and it's going to take time to recover."
"I understand." I sighed. "I'm not happy about it, but I understand."
...
"Faith, please tell me I can finally get out of this bed."
I had been on bed rest for a week, only getting up to use the washroom and to nurse Levi, and I was going out of my mind. Jack had been more than helpful with the children, and Abigail and Rosemary made sure we were well-stocked with food, but I was ready to be able to do things for myself again.
"You're healing up nicely."
"And…?" I questioned hopefully.
"And, as much as I would like you to stay in bed for a few more days, you can get up now. But don't overdo it."
"I won't." I sat up, grinning. "Thank you, Faith."
"You're welcome." She packed up her things. "We'll need you and Levi to come in for another checkup in two weeks or so."
"Okay. We will be there."
After she left, I took Levi across the hall to the nursery and changed his diaper before heading downstairs.
"Hey, look who's up and about." Jack smiled when I entered the kitchen.
"Mama!" Ellie clapped her chubby little hands.
"What's going on in here?"
"We make cookies!" Jane squealed.
"You're making cookies? Well, they smell delicious."
Jack wiped the flour from his hands. "I thought they'd be a nice treat, plus I figured it would be a way to occupy the girls while Faith was here. What did she say, by the way?"
"She said I'm healing well. I still have to take it easy, though."
"You know I'm more than happy to help with anything you might need."
I put my hand on his cheek. "I know, and that's what makes you the very best husband, Jack Thornton."
...
I carefully folded up the Christening gown after I changed Levi out of it. We were in the back room of the café, having just returned from his baptism at the church a few minutes before.
"I can't believe you're my third baby to wear that gown, Levi." I lifted him from the sofa, cradling him against my chest. "Do you think you'll have any little brothers or sisters who will wear it in the future?"
He grunted softly.
"I agree. We should wait a little while before we think about adding more babies to our family. Your dad and I are busy enough with you and your sisters. Speaking of your dad and your sisters, we should probably go see what sort of trouble they're getting into out there, huh?"
I carried him into the dining room, where Jack and the girls were gathered with our friends.
"There's the guest of honor. May I?" Abigail held out her arms.
"You helped deliver him. You can hold him any time you want." I chuckled as I passed Levi to her.
Ellie toddled over and tugged on my skirt. I picked her up and kissed her cheek.
"Hello, Ellie. Are you having fun?"
She nodded. "Fun."
"Why don't you go play with Sammy until lunch is ready?" I placed her back on the ground and nudged her toward Sammy Flynn. "Abigail, where's Clara?" I looked around the café, finding Jesse over by Rosemary and Lee, but Clara was nowhere to be found.
She gave a knowing smile, shifting Levi to her shoulder. "She just stepped outside. She needed a little air."
"Is she…?" I raised my eyebrows in question.
"She is, but don't tell her I told you."
"My lips are sealed. Congratulations, grandma."
I scanned the room again. Ellie was now happily playing with Sammy; Jack was overseeing whatever game Jane and Patrick had come up with today; Hannah was standing with Faith and Carson, entertaining Meg by making silly faces; some of my students were standing by a table, waiting patiently for lunch to be served.
Abigail passed Levi back to me. "I should let you have your son back, so I can get lunch out before everyone gets too restless."
I crossed the room, joining Jack.
"There's my boy." He smiled, lifting Levi from my arms.
I chuckled. "Thank goodness he doesn't mind being passed around, because that's certainly happening a lot today."
"Well, he can get a break from it now. We need to have a little bit of father-son time. Don't we, little man?" He bounced the baby. "Yes, we do."
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Have I mentioned lately that I love you?"
"I love you more." Levi cooed in his arms. "That's right, Levi. I love your mama very very much."
