Quick A/N: Can I just say that I am soooo very sorry that it's been over two years since I've last updated? But on the bright side the next couple of chapters SHOULD com out quickly because they're all being written the same night I'm writing this. There'll be a longer explanation at the end of this chapter so please don't be mad! I also apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter. Onward to the story!
It was only moments later that the carriage arrived and Ben was downstairs explaining the situation of how Nellie had gotten "sick" and could no longer attend the judge's ball. The driver, who could care less as he was being paid anyway, left without a word other than his assurance to Mr. Barker that he would relay the message to the honorable Judge Turpin himself.
Ben slowly trudged his way back upstairs lamenting on his previous conversation/argument with his best friend. He didn't think he was being irrational when he said he wanted her to stay, he was only trying to be a good friend by trusting his gut instinct. He was nearing the top of the stairs when he could hear sobs coming from Nellie's room and he was contemplating on whether or not he should go to comfort and maybe apologize to her when a piercing scream emanated from his very own room. He was sad to say later that there was a slight hesitation between his room and Nellie's before he bolted to check on his wife. He burst through the door and saw his wife in bed. The sheets were thrown off to the floor and a puddle was formed around her. Lucy's eyes were wide and fearful.
"I think the baby's coming!" she said frantically. Ben rushed to her side and held her hand.
"Okay, I'll go fetch the doctor down the road." He gave her hand a squeeze and tried to get away but she held onto him.
"No! Please don't leave me!" Torn between her health and her wants, he called Nellie to the room. She emerged with a tear-stained face.
"What's the mat'er?" She quickly took in the scene in front of her. "I'll get the midwife." she said without waiting for orders. Meanwhile, Ben tried to comfort his wife whose breaths were becoming shallower.
"Deep breaths, my pet." He stroked her f ace sweetly, brushing the hair and sweat from her eyes, trying to keep his cool for her while secretly freaking out on the inside.
The moments that passed from Nellie's departure were exaggerated because the clock told him it had been six minutes later when she returned, but it felt like six years.
When the midwife arrived with a bucket of water and washcloth in tow, Ben was shooed out of the room. Nellie felt it wasn't her place to be in the room while Lucy gave birth, so she moved to stay out with Ben in the hall. The midwife called her back though.
"Please, I need someone else here." Reluctantly, she turned back and the door was closed behind her.
Ben was feeling more anxious than he had ever felt in his life. He could hear the groans, the midwife instructing Lucy to push, and the harsh breathing that followed. Ben slid down the wall he was leaning against wishing that he could be in that room to see when his baby would enter the world of the damned.
It was maybe an hour of two after labor began when a sound of a baby's cry echoed through the building. Ben jumped up to stand eagerly at the door, waiting for it to open. Moments later, when the crying has ceased, Nellie appeared in frame of the door, cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms with the baby cocooned safely inside. She stepped out in the hall to give Lucy some privacy during her sponge bath.
"She's a real beau'y, Benny." A sad smile crossed her face as she handed her to him. The smile hadn't gone unnoticed by Ben, but he wondered if she was sad because she never got to have a child in her short-lived marriage or, well, he couldn't think of another reason why.
"She? I've got a baby girl?" his grin stretched from ear to ear, looking down at the sleeping baby that was now in his arms, as tears were welling in his eyes.
"Congratulations, love," she whispered, placing a hand on his shoulder. The midwife opened the door to leave. Ben uttered a thank you to her without taking his eyes off the baby and went to join Lucy in the room. Nellie stood into the doorway to watch the family moment. Ben sat on the edge of the bed beside an exhausted Lucy.
"Look at what we made." He said, passing the baby onto his wife. He then turned to his friend in the doorway. "See? Aren't ya glad I didn't let ya go to the Judge's ball? You would've missed this!"
Neither of them saw the glare Lucy sent the widow's way, before she fell asleep.
Long A/N that you may feel free to skip:
So, year before last was a really tough time for me, I was slightly depressed and lost all will to write. Then this last year was my freshman year of high school, which was torturous beyond belief! I was stressed out all the time. But now it's summer, and while I still have summer homework to do for next year, I'm planning on squeezing in as much time as possible to finish this story. So I do hope you all continue to read this despite the two year hiatus. Thank you soo much for all the reviews, adding this story (and me) to your favorites and to the story alerts. =)