Where the Heart Lives

Chapter Five: Karina

Abbie sighed, slowly tapping her foot. Mrs. Sweeny had called a meeting of the teachers and their assistants in order to discuss new regulations that had just been passed. To Abbie, the meeting seemed to be lasting forever, and no matter how hard she tried, she simply could not get comfortable. But, she reflected, she was currently in her ninth month of pregnancy. 'Oh my baby, I'm so ready to meet you.'

Her pregnancy had been an easy one, and Willard had been well able to handle her mood swings. After one particularly bad one, when she had been sobbing in his arms and hiccupping out her apologies, she asked him why he was putting up with her.

"I'm such a muh…muh…mess, Willard. Why haven't you run away?"

"Well, for starters, you're my wife, and husbands don't run from their wives. Second, you are not a mess. You're absolutely gorgeous. Pregnancy is definitely a good look for you. Third, I'm pretty used to being yelled at, although the apology part is something new. And finally, I am madly in love with you and I'm not going anywhere. Now, dry your eyes, babe. You're stuck with me."

Abbie sniffled. "Promise?"

"I promise."

After that, Abbie's mood swings had become less frequent, and she fully embraced her upcoming motherhood. But, she thought with a chuckle, her joy and elation was nothing compared to Willard's. He was in Heaven, and occasionally Abbie would catch him smiling at her in a way that made her feel more loved than she ever had before. She remembered when they had felt their child kick for the first time:

Abbie lay in Willard's arms, sighing happily as he massaged her neck. He was quite talented at that, and he had eased her aching back and shoulders many times. She shut her eyes, moaning quietly as his talented fingers worked out the kinks in her neck and shoulders when she suddenly felt her stomach give a jolt. "Oh!"

Her eyes flew open in surprise and shock, and Willard stared at her, scared and concerned. "Abbie? Are you alright?"

Abbie blinked, then slowly placed her hand on her stomach, gasping as she once again felt the jolt. "Willard…she just kicked."

Willard gaped at her. "She…the baby?" Abbie nodded, tears in her eyes, and Willard gasped in wonder before gently placing his hand on her stomach. The babe kicked once more, and Willard beamed. "Wow. This is…amazing." He caressed Abbie's stomach, speaking softly. "Hello, little one. I know we won't meet for another three months, but I'm your Daddy, and the beautiful woman who's carrying you is your mommy. We both are so excited at the thought of meeting you, and I want you to know that we already love you bunches and bunches."

Abbie smiled at him. "Bunches and Bunches?"

"My mom used to say that when I was a baby. I love you bunches and bunches." He smiled sadly. "She was a good mother to me. It was only after Father died that she begin to…change, and after she got sick, everything changed. But, I still loved her. I think she would have liked you."

"I'm sure she would, and I'd like her. Now, as for my parents, they would love you. My father could be quite formidable, but anyone that treated his Little Treasure the way you do would definitely be on his good side. My mother liked everyone."

Willard chuckled. "Little Treasure?"

Abbie blushed crimson. "That was his name for me. I was Daddy's Little Treasure."

Willard smiled, and then gently kissed her. "And what a priceless treasure you are."

Abbie sighed, trying her best to not fall asleep as Mrs. Sweeney continued to read the new regulations. There seemed to be hundreds of them, and Abbie felt herself drifting, but still tried her level best to look alert and attentive.

All thought was driven out of her when she felt her stomach give a sharp, painful jolt. She gasped in harsh surprise, and then whimpered as a second, stronger jolt hit her. "Mrs. Sweeney?"

"Yes, Mrs. Stiles?"

"I think…I think I'm about to go into labor." She yelped as another contraction hit, and she began sobbing. "I want Willard!"

Mrs. Danvers, the Three Year Old Teacher, gently patted her arm. "Calm down, sweetheart. Mrs. Sweeney just left to call Dr. Silver, and I'll drive you to his office."

"Want Willard."

"I'll give him a call when we get to the Doctor's, okay?"

"Okay." Abbie yelped as another, stronger contraction hit. "DAMNIT THAT HURT!"

Mrs. Danvers smiled in sympathy. "It's alright, Abbie. You're going to be fine."

Willard was stocking books when his phone went off. He sighed, fumbling for it, and managed to press it between his chin and shoulder. "Willard Stiles speaking."

"Mr. Stiles? This is Beth Danvers. I work with your wife."

Willard stood up straight, worry coating his voice. "Is she okay? Has something happened to the baby?"

"She's fine, but she went into labor about an hour ago. Now, I took her to the hospital, and I called Dr. Silver at his office, and I wanted to call you and tell you that she's doing just fine. But she's rather insistent that you be here. We're at Our Lady of Mercy."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." He ended the call, and then ran to find Mr. Devons.

Abbie groaned in agony as another contraction hit. 'Why didn't anyone tell me how much this HURTS? !" She gripped the side of the bed and bit her lip to keep from crying in pain. "WILLARD!"

"I'm here, baby."

Abbie turned her head, and beamed at him. "Bout damn time you showed up."

Willard came forward and kissed her. "Sorry, traffic was a bit bad. Did I miss anything?"

Abbie shook her head and was about to answer when she felt her water break. "OH!"

Luckily, the nurse was right nearby, and she came swiftly into the room. "Mrs. Stiles, is everything alright?"

"My water just broke!"

The nurse smiled. "Well, then let's see what we can do about getting this baby born." She looked over at Willard. "You the husband?"

"Yes. Willard Stiles."

"Abigail Mason. Nice to meet you. Could you do me a favor and have your wife sit up a bit? It will make delivery easier. Also, you might want to get behind her and support her."

Willard smiled. "Okay. Abbie, sit up for a second." He slid behind her, and she leaned back into his chest. "You comfortable?"

"Willard, the last thing you ask a woman who is about to pass something the size of a watermelon out of a hole the size of a pea is if she is comfortable! I'll be comfortable once I have this baby out!"

Mrs. Mason smiled. "Well, then start pushing."

Abbie gritted her teeth, crushed Willard's hand in a death grip, and then pushed with all her might. "YEEEEOOOWWW!"

Willard gently encouraged her. "Come on baby, keep pushing. You're doing great, love. You're doing just great."

"GOD DAMN YOU WILLARD STILES! YOU….ARE….NEVER…TOUCHING…ME AGAIN!"

Willard pouted, and Mrs. Mason chuckled at his downcast expression. "Mr. Stiles, don't pay any attention to that. I'm sure Annabelle will let you touch her again. Keep pushing dear, I can see the head. You're almost there."

Abbie panted in exhaustion. "I…can't…"

"Yes you can. Just a few more pushes. Your baby is nearly here."

Abbie took a deep breath, and then bore down with every bit of strength she had, screaming in pain.

The sharp, indignant wail of a newborn infant pierced the silence, and Abbie fell back against Willard exhausted but happy. "I did it."

Mrs. Mason smiled. "Indeed you did. Congratulations, you have a daughter. Would you like to hold her?"

Abbie immediately stretched out her arms, and Mrs. Mason gently wrapped the baby and placed her in her momma's arms. Abbie and Willard stared in rapt wonder at the little bundle. Willard was the first to find his voice. "She's perfect, Abbie."

Abbie nodded, tears of happiness running down her face. "She is. She's so small." She smiled as her daughter opened her eyes. "Hello, little bit. I'm so glad to finally meet you. You've got your Daddy's hair, and my eyes. I wonder if you'll have your Daddy's smile."

Willard gently touched her tiny forehead. "I have a daughter."

Abbie smiled. "You do. What should we call her?"

"Karina. Karina Rebecca."

Abbie glanced down at her babe. "Hello, Karina." She rocked her gently, singing.

"Tell my ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone,
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's all right 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city,
She is courting, one two three
Please won't you tell me who is she?

Albert Mooney says he loves her,
All the boys are fighting for her,
Knock on the door and they ring the bell
Oh my true love, are you well?
Here she comes, as white as snow,
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
Old Johnny Mary she says she'll die
If she doesn't get the boy with the roving eye.

Tell my ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone,
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's all right 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city,
She is courting, one two three
Please won't you tell me who is she?

Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high
And the snow come tumbling from the sky
She's as nice as apple pie
She'll get her own boy, by and by
When she gets a lad of her own,
She won't tell her ma 'till she comes home,
Let the boys stay as they will,
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still.

Tell my ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone,
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's all right 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city,
She is courting, one two three
Please won't you tell me who is she?

Tell my ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone,
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's all right 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city,
She is courting, one two three
Please won't you tell me who is she?

Tell my ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone,
They pulled my hair and stole my comb,
But that's all right 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Belfast city,
She is courting, one two three
Please won't you tell me who is she?"

Willard smiled as his wife sang to their daughter. "I never thought my life could be as perfect as it is now. I never thought my heart could feel so alive. I never thought I could be this happy or love two people this much. Abbie, I swear that I will never let anything happen to Karina or you, and that I will love both of you until the day I die."

"I'll hold you to that."

Willard smiled. This was one promise that he knew he would keep.

THE END.