"Donnie, look at these! My mother is so thoughtful," she said happily.
"Yes, she is," Donnie agreed. "Now come with me, my Angel." He picked her up and carried her into the living room, where she was stunned by what she saw. There were all her friends, all her favorite people, trimming a huge tree that scented the house with its lovely pine fragrance. Lisette and Warren, Paris, all of Donnie's nieces and nephews, and, best of all, Matt and Nicole, too, as well as her dearly loved stepfather, Bump. Neesha, who did party planning and weddings as a sideline, was busily directing everyone, and the room was taking on a festive air that was intoxicating. Even Danny was there, tacking greenery across the fireplace. There was a table set up with piles of presents wrapped in baby paper on it. On cue, instead of screaming "Surprise," Prescott and Drew, Donnie's nephews, unrolled a banner that read Welcome to Your Baby Shower.
Angelique was totally blown away. The effort that had gone into this, the love and the ingenuity it had taken made her teary-eyed. She was amazed that so many people cared about her. It wasn't a loud or boisterous celebration, given her need to stay tranquil, but it was a lot of fun just the same. Her Deveraux sisters-in-law had come through handsomely, sending expensive and beautifully wrapped presents, which Bump brought with him on the plane. She got so many beautiful and thoughtful gifts, including really practical things like cases of diapers and baby wipes, she couldn't contain her emotion.
She was trying to thank everyone and stem the tide of happy tears. "This is the most thoughtful thing I've ever heard of," she sobbed happily. "You are the most loving people in the whole world."
Danny informed her that it was all her husband's doing. "He's the one who dragged us all out of our beds at the crack of dawn. I'm still trying to digest yesterday's dinner," he said with a smile. "Donnie is just extremely persuasive."
At that point Donnie got everyone's attention. "I have something I'd like to say to my wife, and I want you all to be witnesses," he said. "I did something truly stupid not too long ago. Actually, ‘stupid' isn't the best word, criminally ignorant and cruel is more like it. I've been trying to think of a way to make it up to her, since she was kind enough to allow me a chance to stay in her life."
Angelique wanted to be embarrassed, but she couldn't because Donnie was looking at her with such love and tenderness, she couldn't look away from him, couldn't feel any shame.
"I want you all to know that I'm a very, very fortunate man. I have the privilege of being married to the most incredible woman in the world. She's beautiful, she's brilliant and talented and she's funny, compassionate and kind. She is the most fascinating woman I've ever known, and she can do anything. Anything she decides to do, she does and she does it in a way that's totally unique, totally her. She's tough, she's resilient and she doesn't take any mess, so don't ever try to put one over on her, she'll see right through it," he said with a wry smile.
"She makes every day a delight, and I won't live long enough to have a boring day with her. Every moment I get to spend with her is a treasure beyond price. That's why I want to marry her all over again on our anniversary. Next Valentine's Day, I want her to be my bride all over again, but this time I want her to wear this ring, the ring that my father put on my mother's hand when he took her in marriage. Will you do that for me, my Angel? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife once more?"
He knelt beside the chaise and opened the box. Angelique's eyes lit up: this was just what she had in mind for a ring. It was yellow gold and there was a nice round one-karat diamond in a simple Tiffany setting with smaller stones on the matching band. It was simple and old-fashioned and just beautiful. She wanted to reach for the small box, but something stopped her.
Donnie knew true panic as he looked at her face. "Angel, won't you accept this from me?" he asked again.
Angelique finally spoke. "No."
Everyone gasped, which made her wave her hand impatiently. "Oh, no, of course I mean yes, yes, of course yes, just not right this second, if you don't mind. We have something to do right now, honey. My water just broke."
Chapter Twenty-Four
"Come on, baby," Donnie said encouragingly. "We're almost there, Angel. You're doing so well, sweetheart, you can do this."
He was at the head of the narrow delivery-room bed, holding both of Angelique's hands. It had been a long and difficult labor, and he was trying not to let his anxiety show. Angelique wanted to have a natural childbirth, but he was ready to tell them to do a cesarean or whatever it took to have it over with. Her hair was covered in one of those horrid paper caps and she was bathed in sweat, her face red from exertion but to Donnie's eyes she'd never looked lovelier. He kissed her temple and put his forehead against hers. "You can do this, my Angel. Just one more push, baby, just one more."
Suddenly her face contorted into a mask of determination and a shout was heard from the doctor. "Beautiful! Here she is ... oh, Mom and Dad, you have a beautiful little girl!"
Lusty cries filled the delivery room and a huge sigh of relief issued from Angelique. Donnie's eyes flooded with tears and he kissed Angelique's forehead and cheeks, thanking her over and over again.
"Dad, would you like to cut the cord?"
That task completed, the baby was whisked away for a moment to make sure her breathing passages were clear and to quickly weigh her and wipe some of the mucus from her tiny face. Then she was placed into Angelique's trembling arms.
"Adonis, look! Look at her, isn't she wonderful? Isn't she the most beautiful baby you've ever seen? Hello, sweetheart. I'm your mommy," she crooned. The baby opened her eyes and stared into Angelique's face for a long moment. "That's right, darling. I'm your mommy. I'm going to take good care of you, sweetie. And this is your daddy. Oh, Adonis, isn't she amazing?"
Donnie could barely speak through his tears of sheer gratitude and love. "She's perfect, Angel. Just perfect. Thank you, baby, thank you so, so much."
The delivery-room staff allowed Angelique a few more moments to bond with her daughter, who continued to look into her mother's face. Then they had to take her away to make her pretty for her public. They also had to get Angelique into recovery and then to her room.
"Daddy, you can go to the waiting room now and make the big announcement. She'll be in her room in about an hour," a nurse said.
Donnie could hardly stand to let Angelique out of his sight, but he kissed her forehead and her hands and said he would see her soon. "I love you, my Angel. You made me so happy, I can't express it. I love you."
He left the birthing area and stripped off the paper gown, the hat and the shoe covers and threw them away. He was still shaking and all he had to do was watch. It was incredible what women had to go through to give birth. He was awed, humbled and very, very grateful that she had trusted him and loved him enough to give him a child. He leaned back against the cool, hard wall and said several prayers of thanksgiving. Finally he went through the automatic doors to the waiting area, where their family was anxiously awaiting word of the delivery.
"She's here. Our baby is a beautiful, absolutely adorable little girl. She's fine and her mommy is the most wonderful woman in the world," Donnie said proudly. His father was there, and Martha, Lillian and Bump, Lisette and Warren, Paris, Renee and Andrew; almost everyone who loved Angelique was there. Donnie was overwhelmed with love and support. He could feel the tears running down his cheeks but he didn't care. He was so grateful, so thrilled and so very thankful, he couldn't have cared less that he was crying in front of everyone. After hugs and kisses and congratulations all around, he made an announcement.
"The baby will be in the nursery soon for everyone who wants to see the prettiest little girl in the world. In the meantime, I'm going to go see her mother and tell her again how much I love her."
***
Angelique was sitting up in bed, looking tired but radiant. As exhausting as her labor had been, nothing could compare to at last being a real mother. The nurse handed the baby to Donnie, who stared down at the little girl who'd already won his heart. Angelique held out her arms and Donnie placed the baby into them.
"Here she is, my Angel. I know I'm a little biased here, but this is the most beautiful child I've ever seen in my life. Look at her, Angel, look at what we made."