Their wedding day came and went. It was small. Autumn wore her mother's dress. They had to make adjustments so it would fit around her large belly. After the wedding, there was a reception. Ryan, her brother, came up to them. He kissed his sister on her cheek. He smiled at her.
"I"m so happy for you, sis," he said.
"Maybe one day I'll be going to your wedding," she said.
"I doubt it," he said. "I'm not the marrying type."
"Just wait until you meet your soulmate," she said. "Then you will change your mind. I did." She smiled lovingly at her new husband.
"Maybe," Ryan said.
Autumn's grandmother came toward them. She gave her a hug. "I'm so happy, Autumn," she said. "I wish your parents were here. I know they would have been proud of you."
"I wish they were here, too," Autumn said. "But I'm sure they are looking down at me, smiling."
"I"m sure they are too, dear," her grandmother said. She turned to Daniel and hugged him. "Welcome to the family," she said.
"Thank you," Daniel said.
Toward the end of the reception, Autumn and Daniel left to go on their honeymoon in Hawaii. It was a gift from Autumn's grandparents.
Two months later, at midnight, Autumn went into labor. Daniel called 9-1-1 as soon as she began having contractions. An ambulance came to take her to the hospital. There, she was wheeled into the delivery room. The doctor came in when her contractions were a minute apart.
"Why is the baby coming early?" Autumn asked fearfully. "It's a month early."
"It's all right, Autumn," the doctor said. "You were a month early. There's nothing to worry about."
Daniel took her hand. "I'm here, angel," he said.
She smiled. She squeezed his hand.
"Okay," the doctor said. "I want you to push on the count of three. One...two...three."
Sweat broke out on her face as she pushed. Pain whipped through her. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her hand squeezed Daniel's painfully.
"Now..." the doctor said, "relax."
Autumn collapsed, breathing heavily. Daniel moped her face with a towel. She smiled weakly at him.
"Now, you have to push again," the doctor said. "One...two...three."
Autumn pushed again. Five seconds later, she relaxed. "This hurts so much," she said.
"Yes," the doctor said. "But in the end, it's worth it."
Autumn had push three more times before the doctor could see the head.
"You are doing great, Autumn," the doctor said. "After this, the baby should easily slide out."
"All right," Autumn said. "I'm ready."
The doctor counted to three. With one push, the baby's body slid out easily. The doctor looked up at Autumn, smiling.
"It's a girl," he said. "You have yourself a daughter."
Tears slid down Autumn's cheeks. Daniel kissed her forehead. The doctor looked at him.
"Mr. Taylor," he said, "would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"
Daniel nodded. The doctor handed him the scissors. He quickly cut it. The nurse wiped the blood off the baby before wrapping her in a blanket. She handed the baby to Autumn.
Autumn gazed lovingly at her daughter. "Hello, little one," she said.
Daniel stroked his daughter's head gently. "What are we going to name her?" he asked.
"I was thinking Sarah Marie," Autumn said. "If it weren't for Sara MacDarren, I wouldn't have gone back to your house. We might not be together now if it weren't for her. Except it will be Sara with an H. Marie was my mother's name."
"Sounds great to me," Daniel said.
Sarah Marie was taken to the nursery. Autumn was taken to her room. Her grandmother came, bringing a suitcase for Autumn. She put it down and hugged her granddaughter.
"What does she look like?" she asked. "What did you name her?"
"She is beautiful," Daniel said, beaming with pride. "Her name is Sarah Marie."
"I can't wait to see her," Autumn's grandmother said.
Sharon and John came an hour later. Sharon hugged Daniel. She turned to Autumn.
"How was the labor?" she asked.
"Hard," Autumn admitted. "And painful."
"It always is," Sharon said. "But it's worth it in the end."
Autumn nodded in agreement. A nurse brought Sarah Marie in so that everybody got to see her. She was the center of attention. Sharon took a picture.
Autumn's grandmother handed her a book. "It's a baby book," she said. "I thought you would like to have one."
"Thank you, Grandma," Autumn said. She hugged her.
An hour later, everybody had to leave. Daniel was allowed to spend the night with Autumn. He sat on the bed beside her. He kissed the top of her head.
"I love you, angel," he said.
"I love you too, my love," she said.
She sighed happily. She knew that no other woman would be happier than she was. She felt very lucky. She looked forward to the years with Daniel and watching their daughter grow. She was the luckiest woman in the whole wide world. And she knew the next day would be even better. She couldn't wait for the future.
