11. Chapter 11 - Kaitlyn

We waited and we waited and waited.

Doctors and nurses came and went, at times people bustled around the room where Sophie was, and we would stand and hover nearby hoping to hear what was happening. They rarely told us anything.

Other times it would be quiet and we would all return to our seats in the lounge, glancing through magazines, scrolling through our phones.

Beaty spent much of the time in the chapel, but had come to the waiting room because, as she said, "I am certain tis near time."

And then, around 10:15 pm, Emma said, "You hear that?"

I said, "Yeah, she's begun the howling."

Beatty said, "The bairn will be here afore the owls take flight."

Emma said, "Yep."

I said, "Absolutely."

And we stood together watching the door, waiting, mentally praying, until finally a nurse came out and said, "I'm happy to tell you that mother and baby are fine."

Then James strode out. "It's a boy!"

We hugged and rejoiced. "Sophie's good?"

"Sophie's great, she and the baby are perfect."

We hugged more, remarked how quickly it had gone. Then we all went to make phone calls to tell everyone that James and Sophie had a baby.

His name was James Andrew Cook II and James wanted to call him Junior. We all loved the idea. It fit him.