When Love Calls

Chapter 38

"Where flowers bloom so does hope." - Unknown

"It was spring time once again, the snow melting, the warm sun is coming back, and the beautiful flowers are blooming again. I'm very pregnant at this point I waddled more then I walk, I'm going Hope Valley until the baby arrives. A few people volunteered to teach school until summer and I'm very thankful for them. Gabriel is doing well still fighting for safety up there, I hope every day that he can come home soon.

"We'll miss you." Grace hugged as the stagecoach arrived, "You could always come visit me." I smiled as we pulled apart from our hug. "Safe travels, Adeline. I want a telegram when that baby arrives." Lillian smiled before we hugged. "I'll make sure to send one." I chuckled at my friend. With some help from Grace I claimed into the stagecoach, I waved out the window till we turned the corner. I sighed thinking about the long journey head from me, it was going to be exhausting.

When I saw the sign for Hope Valley I was more then ready to be done with traveling. "She's here!" I heard my Auntie yell as she saw me, she ran over to join the rest of my welcoming party. "Welcome home, Adeline." Uncle Lee smiled opening the door to help me out, everyone smiled when they saw the big baby bump. "Adeline." My mother smiled before hugging me, "Oh your definitely having this baby any day." My mom smiled pulling her hand on my stomach, "I'm so ready." I said which made them all laugh. "There's someone here who wants to see you." My mother smiled looking over to the Cafe which made me look over. "Aunt Abigail!" I yelled out as I saw her, it's been quite a long time since I've seen her. "Adeline." Abigail smiled before hugging me, "Oh look at you, all grown up and about to have a child of your own." Abigail smiled as we pulled apart from our hug with tears in her eyes while I had the same. "So your mom wouldn't tell me who the lucky man is, so who is he?" Abigail asked which made me chunkle. "Gabriel Kinslow, he's Brookfield's Mountie." I told her smiling thinking about him, he would love Auntie Abigail. "What's it with young woman and Mounties?" Abigail smiled making me laugh, "He's a wonderful man, Auntie." I told her with a smile. "I heard he's fighting in the Northern Territories, that can't be easy for you. I remember what it was like for your mother." Abigail told me with a gentle smile, "It hasn't been easy especially since we're expecting but I've tried to be strong. For him." I half smiled at her. "We have lots to catch up on, are you feeling up for a cup of tea?" Abigail asked, "I would love a cup." I smiled as we headed for the Cafe.

That day was filled with laughter and joy, it's probably the happiest I've been since Gabriel been gone. I was happy to be back here, in Hope Valley. I really did have the best family.

"Its been almost two weeks since arriving in Hope Valley and two more weeks closer that this baby will arrive. I've been having lots of braxton-hicks contractions since Monday, I'm hoping that means it'll be any day now."

I was helping Abigail in the Cafe, my mom was busy with school. "Have you heard from Gabriel recently?" Auntie Abigail asked as I was rolling out some dough for beard. "No. It's been almost a month, I try not to worry about him but-" I started, "He's your husband and the father of your child." Abigail smiled which made me, "I head things are only getting worse up there." I shook my head in worry.  "Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better." Abigail smiled she always knows what to say. Just as I was about to say something I felt a sharp pain go through my stomach, "Adeline are you alright?" She immediately stopped what she was doing and came to my side, "Yeah, I'm okay. That felt stronger then the braxton-hicks." I told my aunt still holding my side were the pain recently was, "You could go any time now, Adeline. Its possible that you could be starting early labor, and I know you wish Gabriel could be here." Abigail said with made me tear up, I missed him so much and I wanted him here more than anything. I didn't say anything but just started crying, "I just want him home, I miss him so much." I told her as she pulled me into a hug, "I know. I know." She said comforting me. "Gabriel is working his hardest to come home safely to you. He'll be here soon." She said as we pulled apart I wiped my tears away, "Thank you for everything, Auntie Abigail. I'm feeling quite tired I think I'm going to head home and rest." I told my aunt, "That's a wonderful idea. Have a good rest." She smiled as did I before I walked home to take a nap.

My nap was going wonderfully until I woke when I heard my mother arrive home from school so I decided to head downstairs and see her but when I did I suddenly felt very wet. "Mother!" I yelled out first her, "What's wrong sweetheart?" She said worried, "My water just broke." I told her kinda shocked but also excited because that means I'll meet my child soon, she smiled excited for me. "I'll go get Doctor Carter! Will you be okay alone for a minute?" She asked I nodded my head as she took of to go get Faith.

It was probably just about midnight and my contractions were getting worse and worse every time I had one they were about 3 minutes apart at this point. "Alright, next contraction in gonna need you to start pushing." Faith told me, "When Gabriel gets back remind me to smack him, he did this to me." I said in a lot of pain but it made everyone laugh. I pushed for a about a half hour before Faith saw the baby's head, "One more push, Adeline! You can do it." Faith smiled as I nodded my head, I gave it everything I had left and it was enough because the room filled with the cries of a newborn baby.

"Congratulations, Adeline. You have a beautiful baby boy." Faith said handing him over to me. Tears instantly filled my eyes as I looked down at my beautiful baby. "He's beautiful, Ad." My mom said crying as well. "Gabriel and I agreed on a boys name if we ever had one." I said still looking at my son, "What's that?" She asked. "Timothy. Timothy Gabriel Kinslow." I smiled looking at the newborn baby before looking up at my mother. "That's a wonderful name. It sits him." My mother smiled before looking at my baby who was in my arms. "Now daddy just needs to come home huh, little guy." I said smiling at him.