Chapter 24 - Two Pink LinesSadie took the pregnancy test at 6:14 the next morning.
Ronan waited outside the bathroom.
He had faced armed men with greater composure.
“How long?”
“Three minutes.”
“It has been four.”
“It has been forty seconds.”
Silence.
Then:
“Now?”
“Ronan.”
“I am merely asking.”
“You're making me nervous.”
“I'll stop.”
Ten seconds.
“Now?”
Sadie opened the door.
Ronan stopped.
She held the test.
Two pink lines.
For perhaps the first time in his adult life, Ronan Cain had absolutely nothing to say.
Sadie smiled.
“Hi.”
He looked at her.
Then at the test.
Then at her stomach.
Then back at her.
“Are you sure?”
“Unless two lines suddenly mean we're getting a new refrigerator.”
Ronan laughed.
Then cried.
Sadie's smile broke.
He knelt and pressed his forehead against her stomach.
There was nothing to feel yet.
No movement.
No visible change.
But Ronan placed both hands there as though protecting something impossibly precious.
“Hello.”
Sadie touched his hair.
“You know it can't hear you.”
“I know.”
“Okay.”
“I'm practicing.”
Poppy found them.
Naturally.
“Why is Dad on the floor?”
Ronan stood too quickly.
“Nothing.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes.
Sadie sighed.
“Come here.”
They told her.
Poppy stared.
“A baby?”
“Yes.”
“In your stomach?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Ronan immediately stood.
“I have a meeting.”
Sadie grabbed his sleeve.
“Coward.”
Poppy looked suspicious.
“Did Dad put it there?”
Ronan closed his eyes.
Sadie struggled not to laugh.
“We'll discuss that when you're older.”
“How much older?”
“Thirty.”
Poppy considered this.
“Can it be a girl?”
“We don't choose.”
“Can we name her Sparkle?”
“No.”
“Falcon?”
“No.”
“Elias?”
Sadie stopped.
Poppy's face became serious.
“If it's a boy.”
Ronan looked at Sadie.
Sadie touched Poppy's cheek.
“We'll think about it.”
They told Eleanor at breakfast.
She cried.
Maeve cried.
June cried.
Bell pretended not to cry.
Wesley asked whether this meant another baby shower and was ordered out of the kitchen.
Months passed.
Charles Hawthorne was charged under dozens of federal statutes.
Daniel testified.
Victims of the Crown network were identified across multiple countries.
Maeve chose to remain in Ashport.
Not at Raven Hill.
“Too much family,” she explained.
She bought a cottage six minutes away.
Eleanor considered that insulting distance.
Sadie's pregnancy progressed normally.
Ronan became unbearable.
“You lifted a box.”
“It weighs six pounds.”
“Doctor said avoid unnecessary strain.”
“The doctor said normal activity.”
“Define normal.”
“Not being followed around by my husband like I'm made of glass.”
At seven months, Sadie banned him from prenatal forums.
At eight months, Poppy began sleeping with a baby monitor in her room despite there being no baby yet.
At thirty-eight weeks, Sadie woke at 2:11 a.m.
Wet sheets.
Contraction.
She looked at Ronan.
“Ronan.”
He sat upright instantly.
“What?”
“My water broke.”
Ronan stared.
Then jumped out of bed.
He put on one shoe.
Grabbed his gun.
Picked up a lamp.
Sadie stared.
“What are you doing?”
“I don't know.”
She started laughing.
Another contraction hit.
She stopped laughing.
“Hospital.”
“Yes.”
He dropped the lamp.
Poppy appeared in the doorway fully dressed.
Sadie blinked.
“Why are you dressed?”
“I've been ready for three weeks.”
Ronan pointed.
“See? Prepared.”
Sadie glared.
“Do not encourage each other.”
Eleanor appeared behind Poppy.
Then Maeve.
Then June.
Sadie stared.
“Does everyone live here now?”
Another contraction.
“CAR!”
Ronan moved.
Fast.
Six hours later, Sadie held a tiny baby boy against her chest.
Dark hair.
Gray-green eyes.
Ronan sat beside her.
Poppy stared.
“He's wrinkly.”
“He was just born.”
“Was I wrinkly?”
“Yes.”
“Rude.”
Sadie laughed weakly.
Ronan touched the baby's hand.
The tiny fingers closed around his index finger.
“What do we call him?” Poppy asked.
Sadie looked at Ronan.
They had decided weeks earlier.
“Elias Nathan Cain.”
Bell, standing near the doorway, froze at the middle name.
“Oh, come on.”
Sadie smiled.
“You saved his sister more than once.”
Bell wiped his eyes.
“I hate this family.”
“No, you don't,” Eleanor whispered.
Bell looked at her.
“No.”
He smiled.
“I really don't.”
Poppy leaned toward the baby.
“Hi, Elias.”
Then she corrected herself.
“Little Elias.”
Ronan looked at Sadie.
“Home?”
May you like
She smiled.
“Home.”
