Chapter 17
Unexpected Blessings
By Randi Elkins
Little Jack and I are laying in the floor playing with the wooden Mountie set Bill brought back from his trip to Hamilton. Elizabeth was in her study writing a follow-up book to the one she had written about me. As soon as the publishers heard what happened, they contacted her to write the new book. She is so excited.
Elizabeth walked in the great room, smiling. "What's the smile for? You look happy about something." I inquired. Her smile widened, "Oh Jack I just love writing about your return to us. It is so exciting that the publishers wanted me to do a second book. I love telling our story so the children will have this for their children to read." I stood and wrapped my arms around my ever-growing wife. "I am so glad this makes you so happy. But you look like you could use a hot bath and rest a bit." She nodded in agreement, "Yes, I am as soon as… OH!" Elizabeth knelt forward grabbing her stomach. I bent down in front of her, "Elizabeth what's wrong?" Elizabeth had panic on her face. As she let out a scream, she said, "call Carson! Something is wrong!" I rang the switchboard, "Florence it's Jack I need Carson immediately! Something is wrong with Elizabeth." Carson picked up, "Carson we need you something is wrong with Elizabeth! She is doubled over screaming in pain." He said he would be right here. I got Elizabeth a washcloth and tried to calm Jack reassuring him that everything would be fine.
There was a knock at the door, and I yelled out for Carson to come in. The door opened, but it wasn't Carson; it was Abigail, Rosemary, and Lee. They rushed in; Rosemary picked up little Jack. She takes him upstairs so he wouldn't see what was happening. Abigail was immediately by Elizabeth's side, "what happened?" She asked as she wiped Elizabeth's forehead with the rag. "She had been working on her new book and had just joined little Jack and me. She was about to go up to get a bath and rest when she began cramping." Elizabeth was in apparent pain, and I couldn't stand not being able to do anything to help her. "I think they are contractions, Abigail. I think I am going into labor. I had been having tiny cramps for a week or so. I saw Carson, and he said everything checked out fine that they were probably false labor pains to prepare me for the real ones." Elizabeth then screamed out again. This wasn't the time to fuss, but she had not told me, and I think that is something a husband should know about his pregnant wife. "Where is Carson? We have to do something for her pain."
"I am here. What is going on? Elizabeth has your water broke?" Carson asked. From behind us on the staircase, Rosemary said, "I know this is not a good time, but my water has broken." What! We all swing around and there she stood holding little Jack's hand. Carson was obviously shocked, but Rosemary was due any day, so it makes sense. Lee runs to her side grabbing up little Jack. He helped Rosemary down the stairs. Lee had panic on his face. "What do we do? What do I do?" Abigail went over and took Jack from him. Carson, we need to get them upstairs in beds so we can manage them both. "Great idea, Jack, which rooms can we use?" Upstairs to the right is the guest room that Rosemary can use, and our room is just across the hall for Elizabeth. Carson do we need to call Faith?" "Yes, please tell her what is going on and to bring all the medical supplies we will need. Tell her to hurry. I need her now!" Abigail spoke up, "Jack I will call Faith and watch little Jack here you and Lee go with your wives."
I was standing next to Elizabeth with her screaming in pain. Her water had broken while we were getting up the stairs. Carson was across the hall, checking on Rosemary. I could see Lee from where I was standing, and he looked just like a soon to be new father would, panic, excited and scared. I wondered if I looked like that too. Faith and Abigail appeared at the door of Elizabeth's room. She was breathing hard but not screaming. "Abigail if you are up here who has little Jack?" I asked. "Nathan brought Faith and took Jack to Florence. She is going to watch him. Once she heard what was going on, she wanted to help, and that was the best thing for her. Nathan will be back to help with whatever he can. Faith what can I do to help?" Abigail asked. Keep this clothe on her head, and I think you have delivered enough babies you know what you are doing. Carson or I will be right over to check on her." From across the hall I heard the worst scream I had ever heard come from a person. I heard Carson encouraging Rosemary to push. Faith shut the door so I couldn't see Lee.
Between the back and forth screams of Elizabeth and Rosemary, I was very shaken, but I didn't want to show it. All I could think was Elizabeth went through this without me once. She endured this pain after losing me not long before. She is stronger than I gave her credit. Just then we heard a tiny cry and the door swung open and Lee exclaimed, "It's a girl! It's a girl! I have a baby girl!" I went into the hallway to congratulate him. "That is wonderful, Lee! How is Rosemary?" Lee was smiling from ear to ear. "I think she is ok. Faith asked me to step out so they could get Rosemary and the baby cleaned up. Elizabeth let out a scream, and I went to her. Abigail looked at me, "Get Carson!" I began screaming his name trying to get him quickly. "Carson, Carson Abigail needs you with Elizabeth."
Carson was at Elizabeth's bedside, "What's wrong, Abigail? Jack you need to leave the room until we figure out what is going on." "No, I want to stay with Elizabeth. I don't want her going through this alone. I am here this time." Abigail got up and took my hand, "Do as Carson said. It is best for Elizabeth right now." She ushered me out of the room, and as she shut the door I said, "Elizabeth honey I am right here. You aren't alone, and I love you!"
I paced the hallway for what felt like forever. Lee and Rosemary were taking a few minutes alone with the baby. Faith went in to assist Carson. I turned toward the stairs, and Nathan was just coming to the top. It was so good to see my friend. Standing in this hallway alone, listening to my wife scream and then not hearing a sound coming from the room. I am anxious. Without thinking I went and hugged him. He hugged me back, "What is going on? Where is everyone?" he questioned. "Lee and Rosemary are with their beautiful baby girl in the guest room. Rosemary and the baby needed to rest. Carson, Faith, and Abigail are with Elizabeth in our room. I am worried. Elizabeth has stopped screaming, and I haven't heard a baby cry. What if…" "STOP," Nathan interrupted me. "Don't go there, Jack. It isn't a good place. They are fine. If they weren't someone would have told you." "Ok, Ok You are right, but I can't help it. What if something is wrong?" Just then our bedroom door opened, and Elizabeth was sitting in bed holding a beautiful baby.
I went to sit on the side of the bed. "Jack Thornton meet your beautiful baby girl." Girl! I have a girl! "Oh, Elizabeth we have a daughter. Oh, my goodness, she is gorgeous. Can I hold her?" Elizabeth was smiling, "Of Course." She gently handed me, my daughter. I was in love immediately. It is amazing at the love we have for our children. There was a knock on the door frame, and Lee had helped Rosemary into my old wheelchair and brought her and their little one across the hall.
At the same time, Elizabeth and Rosemary exclaimed, "I had a girl!" In surprise, they stopped and looked at each other. They began to laugh. In her usual Rosemary way, she began to rattle about all the things they could do together and how they would be best friends with the same birthday. Then she got quiet. "Everything is ok with your little girl since she is early?" Carson spoke up, "The baby is at a good weight, lungs sound strong and all of her motor skills seem to be fine." He looked at me, "we did have a complication, but everything, like I said, is fine now." "Complication? What complication?" "Her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, but we got it loose, and I gave her some additional air. That is why we waited to let you in. I wanted to make sure she had her color back. Jack she is fine. You have a healthy little girl." Elizabeth was patting my leg to reassure me everything was ok.
From the corner of the room Faith said what everyone else was thinking, "Okay guys you are killing me! What have you named these precious little girls? We all laughed. Lee spoke up "who wants to go first?" "You and Rosemary go first since your little one was born first," I told them. Rosemary was smiling, "Our little girl's name is Sophie Elizabeth Coulter. We will call her Sophie Beth. Elizabeth when I first came to Hope Valley you had every reason to hate me but even when you didn't want to you were always so gracious and kind. Now you are my dearest friend, and after watching you walk through your toughest time with incredible grace and strength I knew if I ever had a daughter, she would be named Elizabeth." Elizabeth was crying and made her way out of bed to Rosemary and Sophie Beth. "Rosemary and Lee, there are no adequate words to express what this means to me. She is beautiful, and I can't wait to be a part of her life." Elizabeth sat back on the bed. "Jack can you tell them the name of our beautiful baby girl." Holding our daughter, "I would love to. Elizabeth and I had 2 special ladies from our youth that we decided to name our sweet girl after. My Aunt Sarah was always there for me when I needed her after my Dad passed and Elizabeth's 4th grade teacher Ms. Katherine is the reason she wanted to teach so we would like to present Sarah Katherine Thornton. We haven't decided what we will call her.
Carson stood, "I think it is time for the families to get some rest. We can visit later. Let's all go and let them have some time alone. Everyone left then Nathan knocked on the door holding the hand of a proud big brother. I picked him up, "Jack I want to introduce you to your little sister, Sarah Katherine." Little Jacks nose crinkled, "A girl?" We laughed. Nathan left, and Jack and I laid on the bed with Elizabeth and the baby.