Resilient (2) (38 page)

“
Lady and the Tramp
?”

“It’s one of my favorite Disney movies. You’d like it, it parallels our story rather well. I don’t need to tell you who the tramp is in our scenario.” He laughed and kissed her hand. The look on his face let her know just how much she meant to him.

She lifted her stomach a little. She was beyond stuffed.“You sure know how to fill a girl up, Mr. Abbot.”

“Now you’re getting ahead of yourself, that was the next part of my plan.”
 

His grin was so mischievous she couldn’t help but grin back.

“I was wondering where my dessert was.”

Chapter 39

All’s well that ends well. And end it must…

“Okay, one more time and we can call it a day…That’s it, that’s it.”
 

Her face was red and strained. The veins in her neck bulged, hair plastered to her face by sweat. The hands gripping the metal bars looked as if the knuckles would split apart. An agonizing cry of effort and pain...And then the wait. The wait for the sound that everyone in the room was holding their breath for. A high pitched cry pierced the silence and then the collective exhale and tears. Katrine let the tears fall freely, her shoulders sagging in relief.

“She’s beautiful,” Katrine crooned tearfully.

“Can I see her?”
 

“They’re cleaning her up right now, baby,” the proud new father declared, snapping a picture of the unsuspecting little being in the incubator. Then with her newly donned pink striped knit cap, the baby was brought towards her mother’s awaiting arms. Once in possession of the precious cargo, the world stopped. At least the one she knew before.
 

Now a new one would begin. What was once black and white would now be in vivid technicolor.

“Oh, Janie, she’s perfect,” Katrine cried, kissing her dear friend’s wet brow. She peered into the newborn’s face and pondered the blessings this little lady unknowingly brought upon her parents. A child so desired and so loved before she even arrived. The thought, that became a hope, that became a reality.
 

Jane’s husband whispered words of love and adoration into his wife’s ear, still in awe over what his wife had just accomplished.
 

“What are you going to name her?” a nurse asked. Jane and Marcus looked at each other, a smile and a nod.
 

“Natasha Rose,” Jane announced, her deep blues eyes bright. “We’re going to call her Rose, after my nana.” Katrine gave Marcus a sad smile and a hug. Natasha was a tribute to his sister, who died many years before.

 
“Katrine, thank you for being here. Marcus has been wonderful, but for some reason I wanted a woman’s energy in here, a calming one. My mom hated to miss it.”

“Well, that happens when you go into labor two weeks early. And it was an honor. I’ve only been in the driver’s sear, so to be able to watch it happen was a gift. Thank you.” She kissed baby Rose twice, inhaling the sweet scent that only new babies have, then she gave one to Jane.

“I’d better get out there and alert the horde. I’ll let you have some alone time with your new angel before I send anyone in.” She left, giving the new family of three a chance to get acquainted.
 

Katrine walked into the waiting room. Charlie and Paige were sharing a couch. Tristan and Maddie were side by side in seats, laughing over a trash mag. Izzie was in the corner on her cell phone. When they finally noticed that she’d entered the room, they all looked at her with expectant faces.

“Well?” Maddie asked.

“It’s a girl!” Whoops and cheers. A couple of ‘I knew it’s’ and lots of hugs and tears. Tears for the effort their sweet friend and her husband had put into this conception and it paying off in the best way possible.

“How is she?” Paige asked.

“She’s doing great, you know how it is. She’s on a mommy high right now, feeling no pain.”

“Not yet, but wait until her epidural wears off,” Charlie said. “If they cut her she’s gonna feel like she’s sitting on razor blades.”

“Oh, Charlie, she’ll be fine,” Izzie said.

“Spoken by someone who’s never had their vadge guillotined,” Charlie snipped.

“Ladies, can we focus on the important stuff, please? Is the baby cute?” Tristan asked in a whispered voice.

“Tristan! All babies are cute,” Katrine said.

“What? That’s a bunch of bullshit. I saw one on Facebook the other day…looked like a tomato wrapped in a tortilla,” Maddie added. “Really, the pieces of black hair sticking out of the little hat could have totally been the stem.”

“My babies came out looking like they’d just lost a prize fight. Swollen, blotchy, crooked noses. My daughter’s head looked like a safety cone.”

“Charlie, that’s a horrible thing to say about your kids!” Paige gasped.

“What? They’re cute now, hell, they were cute a few days later. It was just right after they were born. Of course, I didn’t notice at the time. To me they were the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. But now I can look back at the pictures without breast milk in my eyes, and call a spade, a spade.”

Katrine shook her head. Was there nothing sacred to these people?

“I have to admit when people post pictures of their newborns, some of them look like old men to me. But you have to say how cute they are, right? So how do you know if your baby is really cute or not, everyone’s probably lying through their teeth. You guys will tell me if my kid looks like a troll doll, right?” Izzie asked. She never talked about having kids in the first person, so they were a little shocked.

“Yes, Izzie, I promise I’ll tell you if your baby looks like a troll doll.”

“I knew your filter free lifestyle would work to my advantage one day, Charlie,” Izzie smiled.

“It’s okay if they’re not cute right away. They’ve just had a pretty rough ride. I mean, think about it,” Katrine said.

“That’s exactly why I stick to dicks, girls. If that’s what happens when you’re coming out, why in the hell would you want to go back in?” Tristan bristled.

“Well, whatever, guys. I’m telling you Rose is beautiful.” They smiled and loved the name. When Charlie saw the baby, she cried and nuzzled her soft skin. In fact, everyone had the same reaction. Maddie had to arm wrestle Tristan for a turn. It was no secret, baby Rose was not only beautiful, she was going to be a very spoiled little lady indeed.

The next day, between two sets of grandparents, balloons, flowers, and the crew, the room was bursting at the seams. Rose was content in her mother’s embrace, blissfully unaware of the cacophony going on around her. Katrine leaned back against a solid chest, strong arms wrapped around her stomach. She was feeling many emotions, but contentment and peace were the two that stood out. Katrine wasn’t a soothsayer or a psychic, if this was her forever or for right now remained to be seen. But all she knew to be true, the irrefutable truth, was that she was happy. And if she had these people around her, her future held joy, laughter, and most of all, love.

Xander squeezed her tight and kissed her temple. He had a far away look in his eye as he gazed down at the tiny newborn who was the center of everyone’s attention.
 

Katrine laughed quietly. “You seem quite taken with little Rose.”

“How could I not? She is absolute perfection.”

“Well…don’t get any ideas, mister!” she teased, leaning her head against his chest and squeezing his arms.

She felt his soft mouth on her ear.
 

“Too late.”

   
The End

Resilient Soundtrack
:

1. Dog Days are Over-Florence + the Machine
 

2. Mr. Brightside- the Killers

3. Cut it Out-Kitten
 

4. By the Way-Big Wreck
 

5. Shelter-Ray LaMontagne
 

6. Hypnotize-Notorious B.I.G

7. On Your Side- Pete Yorn

8. Trista Peña- Gypsy Kings (Mexico)

9. Now- Paramore

10. Grand Optimist- City and Colour

11. Movement and Location- Punch Brothers (speak easy)

12. Smashing Pumpkins- Luna

13. High and Dry- Radiohead

14. Club Foot- Club Foot

15. Tear in your Hand- Tori Amos

16. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor “Moonlight Sonata”- Beethoven

17. Here’s where the story ends- Sundays (Happy dance, it’s over and fade to black)

Bonus Track: The way I am- Ingrid Michaelson
 

Gracias and all that jazz:

Well, what a difference a year makes. I’ve learned so much and met so many wonderful people. It has been such an adventure and an eye opening experience. It’s not easy putting yourself out there and I had to thicken my skin quickly. The fact that I had even one person that wasn’t a friend or relative excited about this book was a miracle in my mind. The fact that people thought I was a good writer, another miracle. I thought Rebound may have been a fluke and I had no idea if I could write another book or not. And when I did and I was proud of it, that was amazing. I almost feel like a real author.

I would like to first thank my betas Cheryl, Mandi, and Misti. Your input, suggestions, honesty and support got me through this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
 

Also thank you Cristina and Shawn, beloved blogger buds, for reading it early and for your great feedback. You all helped make this book better

Thank you to Tasha Brown for my beautiful cover. Thank you to my editor Toni Rakestraw. Any subsequent errors are on me. I tend to change things until the last minute.

A big thank you to my friends and family who have been so supportive. Especially my beloved sisters, you cheered me on and were my biggest fans. I thank you.

 
A special one to my handsome hubs who works so hard so that I can stay at home to raise our amazing kids. It also gives me the freedom to pursue this very time consuming “hobby” as he calls it. But perhaps the hobby will turn into something more.

Thank you to all of the bloggers that took a chance on me. The ones that said you’d review it and followed through, because that wasn’t always the case. Shawn with the former Book Geeks Unite for your enthusiastic support of me and my book. Cristina’s Book Reviews thank you for you friendship and for your guidance.
 

Kathy with Panty Droppin Book blog for hosting my tour and for doing such a great job! You rock really hard.

Some more I’d like to thank:
 
Lookin’ for a Bookin’, Book Boyfriend Reviews, Crystal’s Many Reviews, Maria’s Book Blog. Globug and Hootie, Panty Dropping Book Blog. Book Bosses, Nina with Beauty, Brains, and Books, I heart Books, The Indie Bookshelf. And Ana’s Attic for including me on one of your summer lists. To Kris with Pimpin’ ain’t Easy for creating a space where writers and bloggers can promote and support each other.

 
A special thank you to Rachel Thompson a wonderful non-fiction writer and guru in all things self-publishing and social media. You’ve helped me so much and answered every question. I’m proud to call you an e-friend.
 

Last but not least my wonderful and fabulous readers and members of the Rebound Mafia. Without your support and your excitement I wouldn’t have written this book. I’ve so enjoyed getting to know you and cultivating friendships with a lot of you. It’s funny that you can love someone you’ve never laid eyes on. Thank you for making me feel like a rock star. To Dennise and my latin beauties in Florida. To Kimberly and the merry band of ‘’book whores’’ who pimped me out on twitter like nobody’s business. To Natasha and so many others for your unrelenting support. Thank you for the emails and messages, they meant so much to me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

And a final thanks to Katrine and her friends. I fell in love with you all and
 
you
 
coming to life on the page has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It’s been a wild and funny ride.
 

I am forever humbled, forever grateful, and forever improved by this experience.

Much love,

Nikki

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