The Best of Us (Sullivan's Crossing #4)(89)

“The pleasure was all mine.”







Love is the only thing that we can carry with us when we go, and it makes the end so easy.

—Louisa May Alcott



EPILOGUE


Valentine’s Day

“SULLY!” HELEN YELLED into the store. “Sully! I’m going to Aurora! Leigh’s in the hospital. She’s going to have the baby.”

He came from the back. “I’ll drive you.”

“I can drive,” she said. “You don’t have to go. You know first babies. It could be hours and hours.”

“I’ll bring one of your books,” he said, coming up the steps. “Get myself a little cat nap.”

“Oh, you’re hilarious.”

“It could be slick. I’ll drive. Just let me lock the store.”

“I can’t believe it’s time,” Helen said. “I better take my duffel, my computer, my phone charger.”

“There’s prolly no rush,” Sully said, taking her arm and walking her back toward the house.

“But she’s there,” Helen said. “She didn’t want to call until she was sure she’d be admitted. She waited to call because she didn’t want me sitting around for hours. Now she’s had the epidural and said it will be a couple of hours.”

“Whatever that is,” Sully said. He whistled for Beau so he could leave him in the house.

“The anesthesia,” Helen said. “So she doesn’t have a great deal of pain. Oh, Sully, it’s here! The baby is here.”

Sully stopped in his tracks and just looked at her. “We knew it would come, Helen. Are you a little wound up?”

“Can we just move it, please?” Helen said.

“Certainly,” he said. He paused long enough to fill Beau’s water dish, put on his coat; he held Helen’s coat for her, then followed her to the truck. “Let’s try to stay calm,” he said. “Let me give you a boost.”

“I can do it,” she said, grabbing the hand grip and pulling herself up and in.

“I like the boost part,” he said, giving her a little pinch instead.

When they were under way, she fidgeted and that made him chuckle. “I knew you would be exactly like this. You’re jittery as a cat.”

“I can’t help it,” she said. “I’ve been so looking forward to this.”

“I didn’t hear a peep about the winter being too cold for you,” he said.

“It wasn’t so bad. And you kept your promise—you made delicious soup and you kept me warm.”

“I know four kinds of soup and that’s all, but they work. And keeping you warm is one of the perks. And I think you get some good murdering done in front of that fire.”

“I do,” she said.

Indeed, it was a whole new life for Helen. They still had walks, sometimes in town. The fire was cozy, but even though there was snow, there were days warm enough to sit on the porch for a while. The skating and gliders on the frozen lake were fun to watch. Despite the weather, despite the absence of campers and hikers, there were still plenty of people stopping by. Christmas with Leigh, Rob and the boys was a circus—they had a full house for Christmas Eve, including Sid and Dakota, Cal, Maggie, Sierra, Connie and all the little ones. Then that huge family gathered on Christmas Day, as well, including Connie’s mother and brother. There was a ton of food, nonstop cooking and baking, enough laughter to raise the roof.

Neither Helen nor Leigh had ever had so much family. It was fabulous.

When they got to the hospital, they found Sean and Finn in the waiting room with Sid and Dakota.

“I didn’t expect all of you,” she said.

“No one did,” Sid said. “Sean came over with Rob and Leigh and we brought Finn from Boulder. No one wants to miss it.”

Helen left her purse and coat with Sully and headed for the room. When she went inside, she found Leigh was holding a little bundle in a pink blanket. She was flushed with happiness, a beautiful smile on her face. “I’m sorry, Aunt Helen. I couldn’t wait.”

“Oh! How long has she been here?” Helen said, rushing to Leigh’s side.

“Fifteen minutes,” Rob said. “The doctor had just told her it would be a while—she was only at six centimeters. Impatient little devil.”

Helen reached for the baby. “Oh my God, look at her.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you,” Leigh said.

“There’s a full house in the waiting room,” she said, snuggling the baby girl close. “And after the crowd that gathered for the holidays, I suspect there will be a crowd for every event.”

“Quite a change for us, right, Auntie?”

“A perfect change,” Helen said. “Like finding home.”