Keira's Fire

Epilogue

An arm came around me, pulling me from sleep and I groaned in protest. Determined not to give in, I started drifting off again.

William kissed my cheek and I couldn't help smiling as I thought about how I used to react to being roused from sleep. Remembering William's journey to break me of that violent tendency made my smile grow.

After being hit in various places, he got wise and started using a pillow as a shield any time he disturbed me. Now I only felt like punching him when he did this.

I peeked at him with one eye and he gave me that obnoxious but breathtaking grin.

"You're annoying," I complained. "I wasn't ready to get up."

"I want to check on my boy before I get ready to leave." His hand splayed across my swollen belly.

"You know, it could be a girl." I yawned and chose to believe that the tiny kick I felt was affirmation of what I said.

William laughed. "Heaven help us if she's like you."

Sticking out my tongue, I turned on my side to face him.

"What in the world would you do if you have a daughter who's dainty and wants all the frills?"

"Easy." I shrugged. "My mother would love to dote on a granddaughter the way I never let her. And there's always Genevieve. And Cecily and Susan when we're up north." My sisters-in-law loved all the girly stuff as much as Cecily did.

"Cecily may want to trade if that happens." He smirked.

I couldn't help snickering at that. My poor sister was stuck with four boys and one girl who wanted to be a boy. I wasn't sure if she planned on having any more, but I prayed she got just one more girl who was like her.

But thinking of the trials that little Keira put my sister through with her stubbornness, not to mention my mother's newest favorite prediction that my child would be just like I was, had me thinking twice about wanting a girl. I would have no idea what to do with the typical kind, and I wasn't sure I had the patience to deal with one like me.

"Maybe it would be best if we had all boys," I agreed.

"A house full." He grinned.

"We'll see." I watched him doubtfully. I wasn't going to admit it, but I was scared to death about giving birth. I was no wimp when it came to pain, but I never experienced anything like childbirth. Just being in the room during Cecily's and Genevieve's labors made me realize that all the pain I ever felt was nothing by comparison. And it could literally go on for days!

No, I was definitely not sure about this. I was going to wait until after to say anything, but William might have to accept only ever having one.

"You're not scared, are you?" he asked, having that irritating ability to decipher my thoughts. I wasn't sure if he was teasing or if he planned to comfort me. With William, it could go either way, so I kept quiet, knowing he'd be able to tell if I lied.

"You're going to be fine." He cupped my cheek. "You're the strongest person I've ever known."

I didn't doubt that he was sincere, but he knew less than I did about having a baby. I thought it was sweet that he tried to reassure me though.

The sounds of another person in the house got my attention and I looked at William curiously.

"That'll be Michael," he said in answer to my unasked question.

"Why is my brother here?" I didn't mind. Michael visited often enough, and usually without an invitation. But apparently William was expecting him this morning.