Page 24 of The Winter Bride

‘You’ve got a son, a beautiful little son,’ she told Monty, and just for the most fleeting of moments she thought she saw something like pain flicker in his eyes. But then it was gone and he was vigorously shaking Levi’s hand.

‘Congratulations, lad.’ Levi was thrilled with the news. ‘A son to carry on the family name, eh? Let’s hope he’ll be the first o’ many.’

‘I very much doubt that,’ Monty answered.

Peggy found this strange, but she made no comment.

‘So when can I go up to meet them?’ Monty asked.

‘As soon as the nurse ’as finished wi’ her an’ I’ve cleaned the little chap up.’ Peggy shot off back upstairs while Monty opened a bottle of malt whisky he had been saving especially to wet the baby’s head.

‘Any idea what yer might call him?’ Levi asked.

Monty smiled. ‘We’ve had a few ideas but I’ll leave the final choice up to Annie. She’s the one that’s done all the hard work after all.’

Three-quarters of an hour later, Monty was allowed upstairs to meet the new arrival. As the midwife left and Peggy went downstairs to join Levi, he entered the bedroom where Annie lay propped against pillows with the baby on her chest, looking tired but radiant.

He approached the bed and stared down at the baby with a look of wonder on his face.

‘What do you think?’ Annie asked softly.

Tears came to his eyes. ‘He . . . he’s just beautiful.’ Monty was so choked up with emotion he could barely speak. ‘But how are you, my love?’

‘I feel wonderful,’ she said, and she meant it. For the first time in her life, she had someone she could truly call her own flesh and blood.

Chapter Twelve

The baby was two days old when Monty asked, ‘Any thoughts on what we might call him yet? Are you still fond of William or James?’

‘I do still like those names,’ Annie answered as she stared down at the child who was snuggled against her breast. ‘But I thought I might like to call him Adam – Adam Alexander. What do you think?’

Monty blinked in surprise but managed a smile. ‘I think they’re both lovely names.’ He had hoped that the baby’s middle name might be Montgomery after him, but Annie clearly had other ideas.

‘Where did the idea for the middle name come from?’

Annie kept her eyes firmly fixed on the baby as she answered quietly, ‘I just thought the two names sounded nice together, but we can change one or both of them if there’s something you’d prefer.’

Hiding his hurt, Monty shook his head. ‘No, if that’s your choice I’m quite happy with it. So, Adam it is then. Oh, and by the way, Mother sent word that she’ll be visiting today. I had to let her and Father know the baby had arrived and I could hardly refuse when she sent word that she wanted to meet him. He is her first grandchild, after all.’

‘Of course,’ Annie agreed for Monty’s sake, although she wasn’t looking forward to it. She’d spent hours just gazing at the baby for any sign of who he might look like, but as yet he just looked like himself, although his hair was as dark as her own, which she was grateful for. It would have taken some explaining had he been fair.

‘Right, I’ll go and make us a cup of tea. Peggy’s coming round to make us some dinner. I’m not very good at cooking, as you know.’ That was rather an understatement. Annie often teased him that he could burn water.

Peggy had been marvellous since the baby had arrived, coming around to cook and clean and doing the washing, and not for the first time, Annie thanked God for her. She was the nearest thing to a mother she had ever known, but she couldn’t help wondering what her real mother would have thought of Adam.

Eve and Susan had also been to meet him, Eve bearing his first teddy bear and Susan with two tiny hand-embroidered nightgowns.

When Peggy arrived, Annie told her of her mother-in-law’s impending visit and Peggy frowned.

‘In that case we’d best get you washed and changed and get your hair brushed. We don’t want her pickin’ fault,’ Peggy declared as she bustled away to fetch Annie a clean nightdress.

‘I can get up and wash and change myself,’ Annie objected.

But Peggy wouldn’t hear of it. ‘You’ll stay where you are fer another few days at least, my girl,’ she told her firmly.

Annie shrugged and settled back against the pillows. Adam had just been fed and looked like a contented little angel snuggled against her. She had to admit that it was rather nice being waited on and having all the time in the world to focus on her son

At three o’clock that afternoon Peggy went upstairs to inform Annie that her in-laws had arrived.