Everything I Do, I Do For You

Epilogue 1

Kellan paced back and forth in front of his family portrait. For the first time since he had met Belinda nearly a year before, this was only the second time he felt like he couldn't help her.

Like before, he had been responsible for getting her into this situation. It was an accident. No-well this time it wasn't, but he still felt responsible for the pain he had put her through.

"Mother, I cannot imagine what she must be going through." He stopped his pacing.

"You being there is good enough." He imagined her answering.

"But I am not there for her, I am out here, standing like a coward. I feel like nothing I can do can fix this." he answered. From down the hall, he heard Belinda let out a scream. It echoed within his heart.

"Well maybe being out here is cowardly. Then go, son. Be with your wife." His mother insisted, at least in his mind.

Kellan made his way back to his wife's bedside. Flanked on either side of her were Clara and Belinda's mother Daphne, who had come to town just a few weeks earlier to help Belinda.

He squeezed past his sister in law and gave his wife's hand a squeeze, "You are doing perfect, my love."

"It doesn't feel that way" Belinda gripped his hand tightly enough.

"Just breathe Belinda" Daphne answered, "everything will be alright."

Belinda let out a wail.

"This is all my fault." Kellan said desperately.

"No. It's not" Belinda answered through gritted teeth. "This was bound to happen eventually."

Belinda let out one more deep cry. Then silence. The whole world seemed to go black. But like a bullet shot out in the middle of the night, the silence was broken.

She was the most tiny creature Kellan had ever seen, but she had a cry as loud as a biblical giant. He watched the midwife clean off the baby and hand her to Belinda, whose grunts of pain and frustration had melted into a happy cry.

With the most piercing glance Kellan had ever felt, he looked into the same flame filled eyes he had fallen in love with just the year before. He wanted to speak, but no words came out.

"Belinda, she's the most beautiful newborn baby I have ever seen. And I have had five of my own, and have now four of my own grandchildren." Daphne had managed to put Kellan's words into the world.

"She looks just like her mother," Kellan finally managed.

"I don't know," Belinda said, cradling the baby in her arms, "I think she looks like you, at least when she was letting out that angry wail."

Kellan smiled.

"Do you want to hold her,?" Belinda asked.

Kellan would have understood perfectly if she had never let go of the child. Having her in his arms felt as perfect as waking up next to Belinda each morning. This child, the product of one interesting year, would be one of the most loved children in the world.

"I love you." he leaned in and kissed the child's head.

"Have you thought of a name for the little girl yet?" The midwife asked.

"May. May Daphne Butler." Belinda answered, "Her grandmothers' names."

Little May smiled, almost content with the decision. Returning the baby to her mother, Kellan kissed the crown of Belinda's head. "Thank you so much for her. And for everything."