The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) π

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- Author: Katherine Logan
Read book online Β«The Sapphire Brooch by Katherine Logan (best novels to read to improve english .txt) πΒ». Author - Katherine Logan
The Fraser clan arrived about noon. Four-year-old James Cullen climbed into a chair and kissed Charlotteβs tummy. βWhenβs my cousin coming out? I brung a present. Mommy, can I show Cousin Charlotte my present?β
Meredith pulled a stuffed horse out of her bag, and James Cullen clapped his hands. βIβm going to name him Thunder.β
βJames Cullen,β Meredith said, βitβs the babyβs toy, not yours. The baby gets to pick a name.β
βOkay. Iβll tell my cousin to name the horse Thunder.β He jumped down and took Davidβs hand. βUncle David, will you take me to get a hot dog? I saw the restaurant. Come with me.β
David glanced at Charlotte and shrugged. He adored the child, but she knew he didnβt want to leave her side.
βItβs fine,β she said. βWe have plenty of time.β
βOkay, buddy. Letβs get Jack and have us some hot dogs.β
James Cullen ran from the room, yelling, βCousin Jack. Cousin Jack.β
Meredith closed the door and rolled her eyes. βIf I had half of his energyβ¦β She gave Charlotte a hug. βHowβre you feeling?β
βGood so far.β
Elliott glanced around the room. βNice artwork.β
βFor nine months, Iβve thought Braham would change his mind and join me. A picture is the best I can do, though. I want the baby to know him.β
Meredith patted Charlotteβs hand. βThis baby will have friends and family who will love him and spoil him. Even our dear friend Louise called about an hour ago. She and her partner, Evelyn, are ecstatic. If you donβt get to Scotland soon, theyβll come here.β
βI might have a renter for yer house,β Elliott said. βUnless ye want to sell it.β
βI probably will, but not right now. A renter would be great. Is there anything you and David canβt do?β
βAsk me in three years,β Elliott said. βIf we do a good job training the foal born this morning, heβll have a shot at the Triple Crown.β
βWhat did David have to do with it?β
Elliott smiled. βHe picked the mare.β
Charlotte squirmed for a moment and decided to push the call button βWould you tell my nurse Iβm getting a lot of pressure down low?β The doctor came in while Charlotte was still speaking. βI think Iβm ready.β
βLetβs take a look.β
βIβll get David,β Elliott said as he gave Charlotte a quick hug and left the room.
The exam was quick. βYouβre fully dilated. With the next contraction, letβs see what you can do.β
The next two hours were grueling. Meredith hovered on one side of the bed, David on the other. They held her legs, propped up her back, and breathed with her.
At one point, Charlotte said, βThat damn Braham McCabe, if he walked in here right now, Iβd throw something at him. Iβll never do this again.β
Meredith and David chuckled.
βDonβt you dare laugh,β Charlotte said. βThis isnβt fun.β
βOne more contraction, and your baby will be out,β the doctor said.
Charlotte took a deep breath and pushed her child out. Her head dropped back on the pillow. When the baby cried, so did she.
βItβs a boy,β the doctor said.
Davidβs face flushed with his excitement. βCongratulations, Mom. I told ye heβd be a boy.β
She glanced at the picture, barely able to see through her tears. βWe have a son, Braham.β
βHeβs perfect, Charley.β
Meredith swiped at her own tears. βAnd beautiful.β She gave Charlotte a hug. βIβm going to go tell Elliott and James Cullen. Iβll be right back. Do you want me to send Jack in?β
βNo, not unless he wants to. You can tell him, too,β Charlotte said.
The doctor clamped the cord, handed David a pair of scissors to cut it, and laid the baby on Charlotteβs belly. David beamed like any new father.
For nine months, heβd come for extended visits and had taken on all the responsibilities of an expectant father. He held her head when she threw up. He brought her ice cream and pickles when she had cravings. He took her to the beach when she was bitchy. He told her she was beautiful, and he stayed up late with her when she couldnβt sleep.
And never once had he complained or asked for more than she was able to give. This was his moment, and she was so happy he was there to share it. He was more than the babyβs godfather, and she wished her heart was free to love him as he deserved to be loved.
Meredith returned with Elliott, Kevin, Jack, James Cullen, and Ken for a quick peek.
βHe has a penis, Daddy. That means I have a boy cousin. Yippee. I want to play with him. Can he ride my pony?β
βHeβs only a baby. He canβt play yet,β Meredith cautioned.
βWhenβs he going to stand up like Stormyβs baby did today?β James Cullen asked.
βNot for a while.β
βCongratulations, Charlotte,β Elliott said, smiling. βIβm going to take James Cullen to the playroom. Text me, Mer, if ye need anything.β
Jack walked over to the bed, wearing a relieved smile. The corners of his mouth trembled slightly. He kissed Charlotte on the cheek. βCongrats, sis. Heβs beautiful. It wasnβt as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe next time Iβll stay with you.β
βThere wonβt be a next time, Jack. You missed your shot.β
βHeβs a big one,β one of the delivery nurses said.
βYou donβt have to tell me,β Charlotte said. βHow much does he weigh?β
βNine pounds, five ounces, and heβs twenty-one inches long.β
After the nurse cleaned, diapered, and wrapped the baby up tightly, she returned the newborn to Charlotte to nurse. βDo you have a name picked out?β
A stew of emotions welled up in her as
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