“I think it’s soon,” Kenzie said, situating herself on the pillows. She spread her legs, allowing Laurie Smith to check her progress.
The woman nodded curtly, looking at Bryce with sharp eyes. “It’s good you came when you did. This is going to be a fast delivery.”
Outside, the wind began to howl, the snow barreling down viciously and coating their cars with another half-foot. But Kenzie’s mind was far away, focused only on the pain of being alive, and of bringing living beings into the world.
“You’re doing so wonderfully, baby,” Bryce whispered, clinging to Kenzie’s hand and supporting her head. “Just keep breathing, like Laurie says. Just keep going.”
Laurie Smith was quick in her movements, rolling up her sleeves and eyeing Kenzie clinically. “All right, Kenzie. On the count of three, I’m going to ask you to push.”#p#分页标题#e#
“Okay,” Kenzie said, knowing this was it.
“One. Two. Three.”
Kenzie pushed as hard as she could, closing her eyes and allowing small tears to run down her cheeks. She squeezed Bryce’s hand, sensing she was almost finished. In a flurry of activity, she heard the first cry of one of her children, who had dropped into Laurie Smith’s outstretched hands. The woman lifted the baby up to Bryce, who held on to it, gazing down at the tiny arms and legs. “It’s a boy, Kenzie,” he whispered.
Bryce began to wash their new baby, with Kenzie focusing on delivering the second twin. Kenzie watched through bleary eyes as the smooth, gleaming baby skin was revealed. Bryce wrapped the boy in blankets and placed him in a small bassinet, where he cried out for the second time.
“That’s a beautiful sound,” Kenzie whispered, feeling exhausted. But she pushed a final time, delivering her second child into the world.
The baby lay, splayed, in Laurie Smith’s arms before hiccupping and beginning to squeal. Laurie handed the baby to Bryce once more, who cleaned her while Laurie finished the delivery of the placenta and helped clean Kenzie up. Kenzie fell asleep almost immediately, her last image that of her two babies lying together, two tiny forms in their bassinet.
She awoke nearly three hours later to find her babies still sleeping and Laurie and Bryce sitting at the table, both drinking whiskey. Kenzie tried to rise up on her elbows but felt too exhausted. She smiled up at them and watched as Bryce rushed to her side. He placed his hand on her cheek, kissing her lips. “Kenzie, you were remarkable. Really. Laurie says it was one of the best and easiest births she’s ever had.”
“Ha. I’m just glad it’s over,” Kenzie whispered weakly, turning toward her babies. “I can’t wait to hold them.”
“Laurie says we can when they wake up,” Bryce said. “I’m going to set you up in the bedroom and let Laurie sleep out here, in the living room. The snow’s still falling out there. She’ll stay here till morning.”
“Okay,” Kenzie whispered. Bryce lifted her from the pillows and carried her into the bedroom, helping her change into a fresh nightgown. Afterward, he wheeled the babies into the bedroom, unable to take his eyes from them. “They’re glowing,” he said.
Kenzie watched as one of them, the girl, began to quiver and then cry, her eyes opening. Her tiny hands waved through the air, searching for comfort. “Bring her to me,” she whispered.
Bryce lifted the baby into the air and laid her in her mother’s arms, gazing down at them. Kenzie placed her finger gently against her baby’s nose, immediately calming her. But without his sister by his side, her brother began to squeal as well, causing Bryce to lift him into his arms. Bryce held the baby close, his large hand wrapped around his dark head.
“They have blue eyes. Did you notice?” he asked.
“And my dark hair,” Kenzie whispered, remembering her dream about the babies playing by the fire.
“Do you think we should name them? Are we ready?” Bryce asked, sitting at the edge of the bed.
Kenzie thought for a few moments, watching Bryce. He looked far happier than she’d ever seen, the weight of his past off his shoulders completely.
“I think we should give them names that mean something to both of us,” Kenzie said.
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Bryce waited, thinking. “We had all those names picked out already,” he said, counting them out. “There was Claire and Connor. Max and Charlotte. Matthew and Olivia.”
“And I do like all of those names, sure,” Kenzie said, interrupting, “but I think the babies deserve something more.”