She turned to face Kellen and her sleeping child. “Thunder Mountain is never short on drama,” she whispered.
He grinned back at her, looking impressed as he whispered back. “You’re a force to be reckoned with, Ms. Nygard.”
Lila pushed Gibbs toward the hallway. “Go! Go!”
Gibbs did as he was directed.
Minutes later, the entry door opened again, sending the little bell ringing. This time, Nicola Cavendish and her husband, Wooster, entered the room. Trailing them was Fleet Southcott, the town deputy.
Nicola quickly surveyed the gathering. “No baby yet?”
They collectively confirmed the baby had not yet arrived.
Fleet held out a box of cigars. “For when the time comes,” he said, with a hint of a smile. “I figured we’d all want to celebrate properly.”
Albie, who had now begun pacing near the fireplace, took the box with a nod. “Thank you, Fleet. That’s thoughtful of you.”
Nicola parked her hands on her hips. “So, how’s the little mama doing?” she asked, her gaze fixed on the door leading to the hallway and the room where the event of the hour was unfolding.
“Lizzy started pushing a while ago,” came Capri’s reply. “Shouldn’t be much longer now.”
Wooster leaned against the reception desk, watching the small group gathered in anticipation. “This town hasn’t seen a birth in a while. It’s good news, really good news.”
Albie finally stopped pacing. His face finally broke into a smile. “It is. After everything that’s happened this year, we needed some good news.”
The conversation lulled as each person retreated into their thoughts, the air filled with the shared understanding of the hope this new life represented. Outside, the wind whispered through the trees, as if nature itself was joining in the wait for the new arrival.
The door leading to the hallway creaked open, and Gibbs appeared, a broad smile stretching across his face, lighting up the room with a joy that was almost tangible. Behind him, Charlie Grace stepped in, her expression a mirror of Gibbs’, though tinged with a bit of exhaustion.
“It’s a boy,” Gibbs announced, his voice rich with emotion. “Both mother and child are doing splendidly.”
A collective sigh of relief and happiness swept through the room, followed by a chorus of congratulations and the sound of clapping hands. The atmosphere was electric with joy, a stark contrast to the tense anticipation that had filled the space just moments before.
Jewel, who had been perched on the edge of her seat, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress, looked up at her mother with wide, expectant eyes. “Can I see the baby now?”
Charlie Grace knelt beside her daughter, her eyes softening. “Yes, sweetheart. Let’s go meet your new brother.” She extended her hand, which Jewel took eagerly, and together, they made their way toward the hallway. Gibbs grinned widely before turning to follow them.
After taking several steps, he paused and turned to Albie. “You coming?”
Albie beamed. “You bet!”
The group parted to let him through, their faces alight with warm smiles and nods of encouragement. As Charlie Grace and Jewel moved down the hallway, the murmur of conversation resumed behind them, now filled with stories of births and babies, a fitting soundtrack to the new beginning unfolding down the hall.
Reaching the closed door, Charlie Grace gently grabbed the doorknob and pushed it open to the room where Lizzy lay, a tiny bundle cradled in her arms. Jewel tiptoed closer, her curiosity mingling with a hint of awe at the sight of her new sibling.
“Say hello to your brother, Jewel,” Charlie Grace whispered, her voice filled with emotion as she guided her daughter closer.
Jewel leaned over, peering at the sleeping infant with fascination. “Hi, baby brother,” she whispered, a gentle smile blooming on her face. The little girl glanced at Lizzy. “What’s his name?”
“Bodie Albie Nichols,” Lizzy announced, looking worn yet happy.
“After my grandpa…and Lizzy’s favorite uncle,” Gibbs added, with his hand on Jewel’s back.
“A fine name,” Albie said, tears welling. He gave Gibbs’ back a hearty slap. “A right fine name.”
In that quiet room, under the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the curtains, a new chapter began—and a sweet new addition was welcomed into the residents of Thunder Mountain.
29
