She paused as the reporters broke out in thunderous applause.
"Thank you. There will be a list of clinics where the services will be offered. I've been in the place where I began to feel desperate. And desperation can lead someone to do things they would never have considered before. Postpartum depression is another condition the doctors will be addressing. After the high of carrying a child, or in my case children, the crash can be quite devastating. Fortunately for me, I have not been through anything like that, which might be because I have tremendous support."
She turned to look at her husband again and reached for his hand. He joined her, much to the delight of the crowd, who erupted.
"Thank you for listening. That's all I have to say." She started to step back when the clamor began.
"Mr. Copeland, how does it feel to be a parent of four children at the same time?"
He was about to walk away without responding when he changed his mind.
With a rare smile that the camera captured, he bent towards the microphone and made the comment. "It's the greatest feeling in the world. We all should be so fortunate."
Stepping away, he left with his wife's hand in his.
"I do believe you're even more popular now than you were before." Samuel turned the laptop towards her as she buttered her toast. The press conference had been aired several times over the last two days and was still making headlines.
Eliza glanced at the screen before picking up her cup of coffee. Last night had been one of those rare nights when the children had slept through and she was feeling particularly rested and at peace. Not to mention the fact that January had started out with a winter storm that had dumped several inches of snow on everything in its path. From where she was seated in the blue and green salon, it looked like a winter wonderland.
"Just what I was hoping for," she murmured wryly.
"They're calling you a saint as well as a hero." He dropped a kiss on top of her head before sliding the chair across from her to have a seat.
"Fortunately for me, you know different." She poured him a cup of coffee. "I cannot believe it's behind us."
"Believe it." Samuel buttered his toast and looked up as the nannies walked into the room.
"Is everything all right?" he asked, senses alert.
"I asked them to bring the children in," Eliza told him. "I know you have some calls to make-"
"Which can wait." His smile came easily as he stared at the four of them. "Leave them with us. I take it they're already fed?"
"And bathed," Maeve told him with a smile.
"I can see that. Thanks. We'll take over."
"Let's finish breakfast and take them to the playroom."
"Good plan." Leaning over, Samuel nuzzled his daughter's cheek and could swear that she smiled at him.
Six months later...
"I think she's about to take her first step." Grabbing the camera he had ordered just to record his children's progress, Samuel crouched down and beckoned to his daughter as she eased herself up by gripping the edge of the chair. "That's it, sweetheart," he encouraged, holding his breath. "Take your time. You can do it." He gripped the lens and waited with bated breath as she let go of the chair and took one step forward, and then another. "Come on, darling, you can do it." He grinned as her lips spread and tiny teeth, all four of them, flashed in a widesmile. One thing he could say about his daughter: she loved an audience.
"I think she's going to be an actress," he announced.
"God forbid!" Eliza whispered fervently, her eyes trained on the little girl who was hesitantly toddling towards her daddy. They adored each other and had formed a bond that was unbreakable. Sofia would be crying and carrying on, but as soon as her father came into the room, she would stop and start smiling. Eliza had long since given up trying to get the little girl to pay her any mind. She was truly daddy's little girl.
"She's walking!" Maeve clapped her hands as she came into the room.
"Don't scare her. Come on, darling, two more steps," Samuel urged.
She had just taken the last one that would have her right in front of him when she said something that had him going as still as stone.
"Dada."
All the adults in the room froze as they stared at the little girl.
