Chapter 10

The last two weeks of Emma's pregnancy were definitely the hardest, physically. She was never really prepared for the toll that carrying a child would have on her slender frame. Constant fatigue and minor contractions were making Emma extremely uncomfortable and irritable. Poor Spinner lived in constant fear of his wife's ever-changing mood. He was just counting down the days until his daughter was here and Emma's behavior was back to normal.

"Your lives will never be the same," Snake joked with Spinner one evening after family dinner, "Sure, Emma will no longer be pregnant, but the hormones are still ever present. Plus, there will be a newborn crying all the time."

The look of fear and panic covered Spinner's face. Snake knew he had terrified his son-in-law with his bold realization.

"I did not mean to scare you. Trust me this will be the most rewarding time of your life, and you will enjoy every second of it. Just don't plan on sleeping soundly for the next couple of years."

"I am just so worried I will not be able to hack fatherhood. I have screwed up so much in my life, and I don't want to screw up my daughter's life as well."

"Don't be silly, Gavin. You are far from a screw-up. You are a successful business owner, and you did manage to marry my daughter. So, that is two things you got going for you. Fatherhood will come naturally to you, because you are good at taking care of others."

"Thanks, Snake. It means so much that I can talk to you. I am going to need the advice."

"Anytime."

Spinner and Emma were both as sleep a few nights later, when Charlotte Ruth decided it was time to meet her family.

"Spin, wake up! Spin!"

"What?" a sleepy Spinner yawned.

"Honey, I have been having stronger contractions, and now they are closer together."

"Oh ok. What do we do now?" Spinner asked now fully awake and completely confused.

"We need to get to the hospital now."

The couple rushed to Spinner's car and headed to the hospital. Emma phoned her parents and Irene while they were driving.

"Spin?" Emma said with a tone of panic, when they were about to pull into the Emergency Room parking lot.

"Yes?"

"I believe my water just broke."

"Well, good thing we are here, and that I have leather seats," he joked, trying to calm his wife's nerves (and his too).

Once Emma and Spinner got settled into the birthing suite, Dr. Hawkins met with them to check on Emma's progress. Soon after, Spinner called is mother and in-laws to rush to the hospital because delivery could happen anytime.

On May 15 at 2:45AM, Charlotte Ruth Mason was born. She was 7 pounds 9 ounces and looked just like Spinner when he was a baby with a head full of brown hair.

"AWW. She is so pink," Jack said as he saw his new niece for the first time.

"My baby granddaughter is everything I hoped she would be," Irene doted as she cradled Charlotte in her arms. "You were definitely worth the fight." She whispered to the newborn.

Later that day, while Emma was taking a nap, Spinner spent some quality time with his baby girl.

"Daddy is so excited that you are finally here. We are glad you got to meet Grandma Irene. She is going to spoil you, as well as Grandma Christine and Grandpa Archie. You also have and uncle and aunt who love you very much. You are a lucky girl, Charlotte. Your mother is the sweetest, smartest and coolest woman in the whole world, and you are going to be just like her. I am so glad I gambled on love that night in Niagara Falls, because now I have you. I love you, baby girl, so much," he said as he rocked his daughter in his arms. As he watched his wife sleep peacefully, he kissed Charlotte's forehead. "Life cannot get any better," he thought.