Time Makes You Bolder (Sequel to No One's A Fool)

Chapter 14

"You were the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. I knew the moment you were born that you and I would both be fine." She told Wrenna, almost breathlessly. "I worried so much during my pregnancy, but when you were finally here, none of it mattered. And I knew I could keep doing music. Somehow I just knew I could do both really well.

"When I was married to Kim for that short time, and Matthew was a little baby, I was getting ready to go out on tour. And it was all just a disaster. I knew I couldn't do both. But it turned out that's because I wasn't supposed to at that time. I wasn't Matthew's mom, but I was yours.

"And your dad – oh my God, Wrenna, you have no idea. He didn't adopt you until you were seven, but he came and met you that first day. And I think I knew then that you would always have him. I'd known Mick since 1975, but I'd never seen him like that, not until you were born."

"What was he like?" Wrenna asked, and Stevie nodded to Mick.

"He can tell you." She offered. Mick smiled and began.

~~~~~~~

The afternoon that Stevie went into labor, something told Mick to go to Phoenix. He didn't know why, or even if she was in labor, but he packed some things and started driving, arriving at the hotel late in the evening. When he got up to his room, he called Amy.

"Dad! I was just about to call you!" Amy breathed into the phone. "She's in labor. The midwife is on her way over now." She reported.

"Okay. And you're feeling like you want to stay there?"

"Yes, absolutely!" Amy said.

"Alright then. I'm going to go to sleep in a bit. Call me when the baby's born, or if you need anything before then. Don't be afraid to wake me up if you need me. Otherwise, I'll come after Stevie and the baby are settled."

"Okay."

"How's she doing, Amy?"

"I think she's in a lot of pain, but she's doing okay. Barbara and Lori and Mary are all here. Dad, I'm gonna go back and sit with her. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay, darling. Be sweet to her."

"I will. Love you. Bye!" The line went dead before he could even respond, and Mick took a shower and went to sleep. The next time the phone rang, it was Amy, telling him the baby had been born, and that Stevie wanted him to come see her.

When he arrived at the house, Amy answered the door, her energy frenetic. She gushed about how beautiful the baby was as she led him upstairs. Stevie was sitting up in bed, the baby asleep on her chest, Stevie gently rubbing her tiny head. Mick noted that though Stevie looked exhausted, it was the happiest and most content he'd ever seen her.

"Ah, I knew you'd be a natural!" He grinned, moving closer to kiss her on the cheek. "Congratulations, darling. You're a mum!"

"Can you believe it?" She asked.

"Actually, I can." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "When you came to me in the fall and told me you were pregnant, I had a feeling you wouldn't miss this opportunity." She looked at him, and then the baby.

"I'm so glad I did it." She said, quietly, her eyes welling up with tears. "She's everything I was missing."

"I'm glad to hear that, Stevie. You waited a long time to have a child, for the sake of the music. I'm glad you didn't wait forever. You deserve this."