Chapter Eighteen

"You're not supposed to be here when she's giving birth," Grizel ordered.

"She's my wife." Alex tried to push his way past his mother, but she blocked the chamber door.

"This child will be born too soon," his mother said quietly. "The chances of it being able to breathe on its own aren't good. Laren knows it." She touched his shoulder, her face weary. "I am sorry that it had to happen to both of you again."

The anguish of losing another child wasn't something Alex wanted to face at all, but he would never leave Laren's side if it happened.

He pushed his mother aside and opened the door. Laren was lying naked upon the bed, holding her stomach with both hands. She was trembling with pain, her eyes closed tightly. A coverlet lay discarded beside her.

From the worry on the women's faces, he knew it wasn't going well. Nairna was holding a rosary, silently praying, while Vanora wiped Laren's forehead with a damp cloth.

"I'm here, a ghràidh." He moved to sit beside his wife, and Laren's eyes opened.

"I want to talk with Alex alone," she said to the other women. With a weak smile, she added, "It will be hours yet. I'll call out if I need you."

Vanora and Nairna obeyed, closing the door behind them. Grizel didn't look pleased about being dismissed, but she left after a sharp look from Alex.

"I'm afraid," Laren said. "It's too soon, and…I'm bleeding." She started crying and the sight of her tears augmented his silent fear.

Alex touched her face. "Whatever happens, I'm here for you. I won't leave."

"I can't bear it." Her hands moved to cover his and she struggled to sit up. "I don't want to lose another bairn. Not like David."

He helped her lean against him and held her in his arms. "Don't give up hope."

"It's too soon," she protested. "And I can't stop the labor pains. Not now."

He touched his lips to her forehead. From a pouch at his waist, he pulled out the tiny droplets of colored glass. "Do you remember when I gave these to you?"

She nodded, touching the stones. "You wanted to give me jewels."

"Some day I might." He placed a few of them on her distended stomach, and they caught the firelight, gleaming. "But you're the greatest treasure I have." He stroked her hair back.

"Stay with me," she whispered.

"I'll not leave you. Not during this. No matter what happens." He raised up the coverlet to her body, moving to support her.

Laren's labor continued through the night and into the next morning. Alex couldn't sleep at all, and when the sunlight pressed its rays through the crevices of the window, Vanora and Grizel interrupted. "Laren, there's someone here to see you."

A young woman with hair as red as his wife's entered the room. Despite the vicious pain, there was a startled joy upon Laren's face. "Suisan? Is it you?"

Her sister came forward and took her hand. "I received a missive from Grizel. She tried to send for our mother, but Rós couldn't come. She's too weak, but she sent you this."

Suisan pressed a small wooden cross into Laren's hands. His wife braved a smile. "She's happy at St Anne's, then?"

"She took her vows years ago. And she is content to live there, as is Gara." Suisan sent her a teasing smile. "I was the black sheep of the convent and got married two years ago. I live on the Isle of Skye now, with my husband."

Alex sent his mother Grizel a questioning look, and the old woman muttered, "I thought she would want her family here. But it took a long time to find them."

He said nothing but went to his mother and gave her a slight hug. "You have our thanks."

Grizel frowned. "Be off with you. A birthing chamber is no place for a man."

"I'm not leaving." Even if the worst happened, if the child didn't live, he'd not abandon Laren now. Not when she needed him.

"Nairna, you should go," Vanora ordered. "Fetch hot water for us."

When Bram's wife hesitated, Grizel clamped down on her wrist and none too gently shoved her out.

"Why would you send Nairna away?" Alex asked.

"There's no need to frighten her. Not when she's expecting her own bairn in the winter," Vanora explained.

Suisan took her sister's hand, murmuring prayers. In the next few minutes, his wife's labor grew worse and she cried out in pain. Grizel and Vanora examined her, proclaiming that it was time to push.

Alex moved to her side, supporting Laren as she eased into a squatting position. She took a deep breath, straining to give birth. He held on to her, trying to lend her his strength.

Over the next quarter of an hour, Laren endured the pain, pushing as best she could. Suisan retreated into the corner, murmuring more prayers.

Soon, the head appeared and Grizel helped to deliver the tiny infant. Alex heard the miraculous newborn cry of life and saw that he had another daughter. Vanora cut the cord and wrapped the child in a soft blanket, handing the infant to him. While Laren worked to deliver the afterbirth, he marvelled at how small his newest daughter was. Blue-gray eyes stared at him, and her hand was the size of his thumb.

Let her live,he prayed. Let her grow strong.

"Keep pushing, Laren," he heard Vanora urge. To his shock, he heard the cry of another child. Alex watched as a tiny baby boy emerged from Laren.

"Two of them?" he asked Laren, feeling as though he'd taken a blow to the stomach. He sat down on the edge of the bed and handed their daughter to Laren, while he took the precious bundle of their son. A fist seemed to grip his heart and he couldn't say a single word, seeing the miracle in his hands.

"They're alive?" his wife whispered, unable to tear her gaze from the babies.

"Aye. And breathing." He held his son close, vowing that he would do everything to protect him. "They're going to live. Both of them."

He laid the children in her arms and embraced the three of them, feeling as though they'd been given a second chance.

Laren sent him an exhausted smile. "Neither of us will sleep much over the next few months."

"But we'll manage," he said. "Together."