Maternity Leave

Part IX

An R.L. Mathewson Chronicle

“You’re pretty,” came the announcement that had Devin dropping his hands away to find his wife watching him with a thoughtful expression on her face.

“How are you feeling?” Devin asked as he reached over and placed his hand on the large swell of Charlie’s belly, careful of the fetal monitors secured around her belly.

“Really pretty,” Charlie said with a wistful smile on her face that made it hard to believe that only an hour ago she’d been demanding that he put her out of her misery and get the baby out.

“You think so?” Devin asked, unable to help but smile as he leaned over and kissed his wife.

“Super pretty,” she assured him with a firm nod.

“Those must be some pretty good drugs,” he said, chuckling as he took her hand in his and gently caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.

“They’re the best,” Charlie agreed with a sleepy little smile.

“I bet they are,” Devin murmured absently as he glanced over at Aidan to find his cousin nodding as he gestured for the nurse standing next to him to get ready.

“Did I have the baby already?” Charlie asked, sending him a hopeful smile.

“Not yet, but I think we’re about to rectify that,” Devin said, slowly exhaling and-

It was happening.

As he stood there, holding his wife’s hand, listening as he heard Aidan tell her that it was time to push, as he thought about the moment that his Abbi and Dustin were born, how terrified he was the first night he took them home, the sleepless nights that followed, and found himself thinking about the first time Abbi wrapped her tiny fingers around his, the first time that he held them in his arms, the huge smile on Dustin’s face when he saw him, watching them take their first steps, and-

He couldn’t wait to do it all over again, Devin realized, smiling as he leaned down and kissed his wife’s forehead. But this time, he was going to do it with the love of his life, Devin thought, never taking his eyes off his wife as he held her hand, telling her how much he loved her as she brought their third child into the world. He-

“It’s a boy.”

-thought he’d never stop smiling.

©Rerum Carta Industries, Inc. 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Reader,

This January, I am going to be making some changes to the Chronicles. The goal is to combine the Naughtier Chronicles and the Sunday Chronicles to make it a little easier for me to get them done and keep up with them without having to cut into my writing time for the main book. I’m still working on the main details, but right now, the main feature for the Chronicles will change to new characters to make things interesting. I will still post Chronicles for all of your favorite characters, but not every week. I want to keep the stories alive, but not if it means destroying the stories.

I will have more information as we get closer to January.

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-R.L.