Chapter 13 - SAMUEL IS BORN
Abigail delivered at thirty-seven weeks after medically recommended induction.
No dramatic collapse.
No emergency hallway birth.
A long labor.
Claire stayed.
Richard stayed.
Christopher did not.
That was appropriate.
Samuel arrived small but healthy.
Seven pounds exactly.
Abigail cried.
Richard cried harder.
Claire laughed at him.
“You’re a surgeon.”
“I know.”
“You’ve seen births.”
“Not mine.”
That sentence changed something in Claire.
Richard was not only her father-in-law.
Not only Christopher’s father.
He was Samuel’s father.
Abigail’s husband.
A man beginning another chapter late in life.
Strange.
Real.
Claire held Samuel.
He had dark hair.
Wrinkled forehead.
Tiny clenched fists.
She whispered:
“Hi, Uncle Samuel.”
Then laughed.
The family tree was ridiculous.
Her mother’s son was technically Claire’s half-brother.
Her husband’s father’s son was Christopher’s half-brother.
Samuel was both Claire’s brother and Christopher’s brother.
No scandal could make genealogy less weird.
May you like
Abigail smiled.
“Welcome to the mess.”
