Chapter 20

Soon, Abbey had been cleaned up and had on a fresh nightgown. She was assisted upstairs to bed, where, exhausted, she quickly fell asleep. The new baby was placed in the bassinet that, luckily, had yet to be brought into town.

Jed and Millie sat in the kitchen, eating breakfast and drinking coffee. The power had returned a half hour ago so now the whole house was finally getting warm again.

"Wow, what a night."

"Yeah. I never thought I could do this, but tonight was so special. To be a part of this...," as tears of happiness threatened to overflow from Jed's eyes.

"You did great, Jed. You did great."

Jed smiled that magic smile of his. 'I owe you a big one, Millie. I don't know how I would have done it. To deliver my own child…"

"I understand Jed. It was hard enough knowing that I held my childhood friend's life in my hands as well as her baby. I can only guess what you would have gone through."

A period of silence followed, with each person thinking their own thoughts.

Finally, Jed spoke. "What's next, Millie? I mean, does Abbey and the baby need to go to the hospital? Can her doctor come out here? I need to call Mom and tell her as well as Abbey's parents. I need to name my daughter. We have already picked out Eleanor just in case but we don't have a middle name. I guess I have to wait for Abbey to wake up to decide…"

"Whoa there. Slow down. One thought at a time. No, Abbey doesn't need to go to the hospital. I'll call the pediatrician and her obstetrician and tell them what happened. They can fill out the paperwork with that information. Then, in a few days, they can both have check-ups in the office. About calling, just wait. I think Abbey would want to be on the phone calls. Why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep? I'll handle things from down here."

Jed leaned over and hugged Millie. "You are a best friend and I'm so thankful for your help."

"Go! Now! I'll start crying if you don't go." Millie smiled. She knew how much her friendship meant to the Bartlets. It was mutual. "I need to call my own family and give them an update."

Jed quietly entered the bedroom. He walked over to his sleeping daughter and touched her blond hair. "Welcome Ms. Eleanor Bartlet. Welcome to the world." He leaned over the bassinet and kissed her forehead.

He turned to see Abbey smiling at him. "You did good, Abbey. You did real good." He laid down next to his wife. "I love you so much. Thanks for Eleanor. She's perfect."

"Are you okay with a girl? I know you so wanted a son."

Jed lightly stroked her face with his fingers. "Abbey, I love my daughter. You and she are both healthy. That's what really counts."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Abbey. I'm very sure."

Abbey smiled and gave her husband a kiss. Hugging each other, they both fell asleep, dreaming of their recently expanded family and the days ahead. Days filled with love, with hope, with dreams for a bright and shining future.

THE END