She opened her eyes to stare at an unfamiliar ceiling and realized the bed she was lying in wasn't her own.

"Where am I? What happened?" She was surprised to hear how weak her voice sounded.

"You're in the hospital." She heard Paul's voice and turned to look into his smiling face. "We have a beautiful new daughter."

"But I don't remember!" she cried.

Paul's face grew solemn. "When I got back to the house with Dr. Banion, you were lying on the bed barely conscious, and there was blood everywhere. I was so afraid I'd lose you, Lizzie. You were brought to the hospital by ambulance. They had to perform an emergency Cesarean, and you've also had a blood transfusion." He clasped her hand and brought it to his lips. "Thank God you're out of danger now."

"Is the baby all right?"

He smiled again. "She's the prettiest little girl in the world. Eight pounds, two ounces. You did well, sweetheart."

"Can I see her?"

"Of course! I'll tell the nurse you're awake now." He helped her sit up in bed and then went to fetch the nurse. A few minutes later, the smiling young woman entered the room holding a bundle wrapped in a pink blanket, which she placed into Elizabeth's arms.

Elizabeth gazed with wonder into her new daughter's unfocused midnight blue eyes. "Laura Elizabeth Brimmer," she whispered. She looked back up at her husband. "It suits her well, don't you think?"

Paul nodded. "It's the perfect name for her." His finger lightly grazed the tip of the tiny nose. "Isn't that right, sweet pea?"

Laura gazed up at her father as she enthusiastically sucked a tiny fist. "I think she's hungry," said Elizabeth.

Paul helped her open her gown so the newborn could latch onto a nipple. "I think you were right!" he laughed. "Just look at her go!"

"I'm just so glad she's all right!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"I'm just so glad you're all right." Paul's voice was sober. "You'll never have to go through it again, that's for sure."

Elizabeth frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I could have lost you, Liz. I couldn't have taken that." His voice shook a little. "I heard there's an operation men can have that makes them unable to father more children. I'm going to look into it."

"No, Paul!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "That sounds so - permanent! What if, when Laura gets to be three or four years old, we decide we want another one? My parents had seven children!"

Paul was shaking his head. "We have two now, a boy and a girl. That's plenty."

"But you don't have to have an operation! There are other things you can do!"

Paul sighed. "Why would we want any more than two children? My parents only had two."

"I guess since I grew up in such a large family, I just always assumed I'd have a lot of children too," Elizabeth replied.

"Not all families are meant to include seven children," Paul said gently.

"I suppose you're right." Elizabeth raised Laura to her shoulder to burp her. "Well, if Laura's my last, I intend to enjoy her babyhood to its fullest extent."

Paul grinned. "So do I! Are you ready for your dinner?"

"I just now realized I'm starving!"

The nurse brought her dinner soon, and she gobbled down every bite. Later, John and Olivia arrived to meet their new granddaughter. Olivia reached for Laura, and Elizabeth placed the infant into her arms.

"Oh, aren't you precious!" Olivia cooed.

"Looks just like her ma," John remarked.

"She has Paul's nose," Elizabeth pointed out.

"Are you all right, dear?" Olivia asked her daughter. "Paul told us they had to rush you to the hospital in an ambulance."

"I'm fine, Mama," Elizabeth assured her.

Elizabeth and Laura were in the hospital for a week. Paul had to return to his job at the sawmill, but every evening, he left Max with a neighbor and came to spend the evening with them.

They came home on a sunny, breezy Sunday afternoon. Elizabeth, holding Laura, was rolled out to the car in a wheelchair. Paul helped them into the car, and they were on their way.

At the Brimmer home, Olivia stood on the front porch with Max. When the car came to a stop in the driveway, the little boy grinned and ran to meet his parents. Heidi ran after him, barking excitedly.

Paul opened the car door for his wife, then took his daughter into his arms so Elizabeth could embrace her son.

"Mommy!" Max cried as he dashed into her arms.

"I haven't seen you in a whole week!" Elizabeth exclaimed, marveling at how much bigger Max looked to her now. "I missed you so much!"

"I drew you a picture, Mommy." Max handed her a slightly wrinkled piece of paper with a crayon drawing of what she guessed was supposed to be a baby.

"Would you like to see your baby sister?" Paul asked his son. He held Laura so Max could see her.

"She's so little!" Max exclaimed.

"You were just as small as she is now right after you were born," Paul told him.

"I'm a big boy now!"

"That's right," Paul agreed. "You're a big boy now, so you have to look out for Laura, because she's little."

"Hi, Laura!" Max greeted his new sister. "I'm your big brother!"

"You sure are!" chuckled Elizabeth.