Chapter 68

January flew by for the parents-to-be. Joan was training Sheila and Liam; Brett and Niall were finishing up their new company logistics.

Niall and Joan were packing up and moving to a little three-room bungalow they found about a block away from William and Liza and were so excited.

Beth arrived at the end of January to find a miserable Maggie. Her back was hurting, and while she looked great, she felt like a beached whale.

Liam tried every night to get her to walk on the beach with him or swim to help relieve some of her discomfort.

The day before, Maggie’s doctor had told her she was effaced and the baby was head down, engaged, and ready to go.

Liam had finished up everything at the office and was ready to go at a moment’s notice. Maggie had her bag packed, as well as the baby’s.

Now all they needed was a baby. As miserable as Maggie was, she didn’t want a baby born on Groundhog Day.

“It’s a stupid day and I just won’t want our baby’s birth associated with that!”

“Well, darling, you have a talk with your body, and let’s see what happens!”

Beth helped make meals for them and stuck them in the freezer for when they were just too tired to cook.

She went with Maggie on slow walks like the doctor recommended and sat with her on the double loungers, talking about when Liam was little and what she remembered of her childhood.

They forged a very close bond during those few days, and Maggie loved every second.

On the last day of January, Maggie was feeling restless and antsy, like she was forgetting something, and Beth took her to the baby store to get some last-minute items.

Beth wasn’t going to argue with Maggie, remembering how she felt those last few days before she gave birth, even if they had enough supplies for a small country.

Beth noticed that Maggie kept grimacing and rubbing her back as they drove and walked around the store. Maggie assured her that she was fine, but Beth wasn’t buying it.

She thought Maggie might be in early labor, but kept her mouth closed. Maggie bought some more receiving blankets and several more sleeping sacks.

Beth raised an eyebrow as she noticed that they were all in varying shades of blue.

She talked Maggie into going to lunch, even though she wasn’t particularly hungry. They were seated in a nice booth, and Beth ordered the Cobb Salad and Maggie had a bowl of soup and some bread.

They talked a little before the food came, but the pregnant mommy only picked at the bread and played in the soup. Beth knew things were going to happen soon.

As Beth was paying the bill, Maggie’s eyes went as wide as saucers.

“Oh shit, I think I just peed myself, Beth!”

Beth looked at the liquid trickling down Maggie’s leg from under her dress.

“Sweetheart, your water broke! I think we should head on over to the hospital and get you checked out, okay?”

“But I haven’t had any contractions! Shouldn’t I be having some before this happens?”

She chuckled. “Things don’t always go according to the book. You have been having some back pains, right?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“You have been rubbing your back and grimacing every so often. I think you may be having some back labor. Please, let’s go to the hospital and just get you checked!”

Maggie nodded her head and took the arm that Beth had offered as they walked back to the car.

She didn’t want to sit on the seats, afraid to ruin them if her water continued to leak. Beth found a towel in the back and set it on the seat, helping Maggie in.

As they were pulling away, Maggie had her first contraction and sucked in some air. Beth talked her through it, encouraging her to breathe in a soothing voice.

As soon as it was done, Beth used the Bluetooth connection to call Liam while she drove.

“Hey, Mom, how’s the shopping? Everything okay?”

“Love, Maggie is in labor, we are on our way to the hospital. Can you get her bag from the house and meet us there?”

Maggie heard his sharp intake of air. “Are you okay, darling?”

“I’m fine, babe. Just—”

Another contraction stopped her from finishing the sentence. Beth talked with her again as they heard Liam slam a door, yell at Nick, and get on the elevator.

“I’m on my way, darling! Keep breathing, I love you! Don’t have our baby until I get there!”

Liam hung up. Maggie was very nervous and said a prayer asking her mom and grandma to watch over her and her baby.

Twenty minutes later, Beth pulled into the lot and ran inside to get a wheelchair. She came back with an orderly, and they helped her into the chair and whisked her to the Labor and Delivery ward.

She was settled into a private room that Liam had requested and hooked up to the monitors.

A nurse came in and saw her water had broken and that she was two centimeters dilated.

“I will let Dr. Morton know, Maggie. Get some rest; we have several hours ahead of us, okay?”

Maggie nodded and leaned back, trying to get comfortable. Beth took her hand and rubbed the top, relaxing them both while they waited for Liam to arrive.

Beth texted the London branch of the family to let them know that things were happening. She then took Maggie’s phone and texted Brett, Sheila, and Makayla.

Liam arrived about an hour later, getting the bags and changing into joggers, T-shirt, and running shoes to be comfortable for the long day ahead.

He rushed to his wife and kissed her telling her how much he loved her and how excited he was to finally meet their baby.

“You still think it’s a boy?”

“Oh yes! I bought some more boy clothes today!”

Liam laughed. “I hope you are right, or we are going to be donating a lot of clothes to a shelter!”

Maggie and Beth laughed as another contraction, the first one that Liam had witnessed, started.

Liam hated to see her in pain and he knew that it was only going to get worse. He had to muster up some strength for the both of them.

Beth saw the grimace on Liam’s face as he watched Maggie. She caught his eye and sent him a silent message about being there for her, and he nodded in understanding.

The afternoon turned into evening, which turned into night. And after walking the halls, sitting in the birthing tub, and finally getting a well-earned epidural, Maggie was on the last pushes.

With encouragement from her husband and mother-in-law, Maggie gave birth to a baby boy at 12:01 a.m. on February 1st.

The three of them were crying as the nurse placed the crying baby on Maggie’s chest, rubbing him off.

“He’s so beautiful!” Beth sniffled, kissing Maggie’s forehead.

Liam was just in awe of the little boy that was flailing his arms and legs. The nurse took Liam and the baby over to the warmer to be measured, weighed, and checked out.

Liam watched and talked to his son as Beth took pictures and the nurse did what she needed to.

“Seven pounds on the dot, Daddy. He is twenty inches long and his Apgar score is looking good! Are you ready to go take him to Mom? I think they are finished up with her and she is ready to hold her son.”

Liam nodded and picked up the baby and walked him over to his wife.

“Darling, here is our son!” Liam whispered as he kissed them both.

Maggie accepted the bundle in her arms as the tears still flowed. Liam sat next to her on the bed, watching them.

“He looks just like you, Liam!” Maggie marveled. “Look at his hair!”

“Liam didn’t have that much hair when he was born! This little man needs a stylist already,” Beth proudly boasted.

The nurses talked with them as Maggie ran her fingers all over his little face and hands.

The baby would open his eyes slowly and look around at the people making all the noise around him. He started to fuss and root around, looking for food.

The nurse helped Maggie get him latched on, and he started to feed heartily. Beth took her phone and went to call everyone in England and send photos.

She called her husband first. “Hello, Granddad!”

They talked for several minutes, and she sent him photos afterward.

She called Bethany next, knowing that Ellie was an early riser. Beth filled her in and sent the pictures after she assured her that everyone was doing well.

She called Liza last and listened to her daughter gush about the pictures. After hanging up, she took Maggie’s phone and sent pictures to their dear friends and Joan and Niall.

She went back into the room and stopped in the doorway as she took several pictures of the perfect scene in front of her.

The family was still on the bed, with the new mommy feeding the baby and the new daddy kissing her while gently rubbing his son’s head. It was so sweet and perfect.

“So have you chosen a name for my perfect grandson?”

Liam and Maggie looked at each other and smiled.

“You’re sure that’s what you want?” Liam asked.

“As long as you agree, I love it!”

“Well, Mom, we would like you to meet your first grandson, Patrick Charles Olsen.”

Beth grinned. “Well done, you two, well done. Your father will be so pleased! England sends its love to you and congratulations as well.”

They talked a few more minutes before she kissed all three of them and headed home, promising to come back tomorrow.

A nurse showed Liam how to set up the couch for him to sleep and then had Liam follow her down to the nursery for Patrick’s bath and some shots.

By the time he finished eating, Maggie was fading fast after her exhausting day.

Liam came back, pushing the baby in a bassinet, to find his amazing wife sleeping.

He positioned the baby between them and curled up on the double bed that used to be a couch, falling asleep with a huge grin on his face.

***

Maggie and Patrick were discharged two days later, and Maggie couldn’t wait to sleep in their bed. So many friends came to visit and see Patrick.

Brett had the best reaction as he held the little boy in his arms, promising him that he would be the best uncle in the world.

Sheila had a dreamy look on her face, and Liam bet that there would be some action on that front soon.

Beth came and helped get them home. There were bags, plus the flowers and stuffed animals that arrived.

The adults finished the several trips back and forth from the car as Maggie sat and watched them work.

Maggie took Patrick upstairs and changed his diaper, then laid him in the cradle in their room so that they could both take a nap.

Liam, Beth, Joan, and Niall all sat at the table having tea and snacks. No one realized that the baby monitor was on until they heard Maggie walk into the baby’s room, talking and cooing at him.

“You’re hungry, aren’t you? Well, let’s sit in this comfy rocker and fix that. Now, my love, you have two very special angels looking over you.

“Your grandma and great grandma would have loved you so much and spoiled you just as much as your other grandma does…

“There was a song that my mom used to sing to me when I was little and I want to sing it for you too…”

Everyone in the kitchen looked at each other, almost feeling guilty to be listening, but loving the sentiment that Maggie had in her voice.

“Baby mine, don’t you cry. Baby mine, dry your eyes. Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine…”

That’s all they heard as Beth turned the machine off to let the mother and child have their moment. Joan handed out Kleenex so they all could wipe their eyes.

Liam got up and went to the nursery to see his wife.

He went in as he heard the last few words of the song. He would never let her know that they heard such a private moment, but he knew that they would all remember that.

For Liam, it was burned into his photographic memory and also his heart.

“There you are, darling. Was the little man hungry?” he asked gently, kneeling at her feet.

“Yes, he was letting out a good wail. I love this chair and wanted to rock a bit.”

“No problem. After he is done, I want you to go shower and relax a bit more. Get some more rest before dinner, okay? I’ll keep an ear out for him.”

Maggie was grateful he was so involved. When she was done nursing, he took Patrick and let her shower.

When he went back to their room, he found the new mom wrapped in her robe, sleeping peacefully. His heart swelled with love. With her, he had found everything he ever wanted.

February went by fast. Beth went back to England to finish everything for their big move. Joan and Niall had moved to their new home.

Sheila was now the full-time manager of Liam’s investments and properties. Maggie loved having her around every day and their friendship grew.

Makayla would come over a couple of times a week so they could have lunch with Sheila. Hannah also dropped in.

The moves went very well. Everyone was getting settled in their new houses and jobs. The family and friends all got together for dinner once a week at the different homes.

It was a noisy and loving group, everything that Maggie had ever wanted.

Patrick was a wonderful baby, and Maggie was deeply and truly in love with everything he did. She took pictures of him all the time and was constantly sending them to Liam while he was at work.

Liam went back to work two weeks after Patrick was born and was grateful for the pictures. He loved the time with him and Maggie and was sad about going to the office every day.

He rushed home every night to scoop up his son and do some reading, talking, or playing with him, giving Maggie some time to herself.

As each day went on, Patrick looked increasingly like his father. He could even pass for his twin when you saw the pictures! You could tell he was going to be just as handsome.