Page 44 of Finding Hope

“Not at all. I just wanted to marry you, and I did.” Shannon pushed up on her tiptoes and placed her lips on his.

“Okay, everyone, it’s time.” Jonathon kissed her once more before everyone began to line up and the music started. Moving toward his sister, he watched as one by one, everyone disappeared inside the chapel. He smiled as he watched Dylan walk his daughter down the aisle and then Shannon walked Henry and Betsy’s girls down the aisle.

When the wedding march began and they stood in the entryway, he watched as tears filled his sister’s eyes as she caught sight of Cash standing at the end. He’d never admit that he felt himself getting choked up as he began walking his sister down the aisle toward the love of her life.

***

Jonathon brought a glass of champagne to Shannon, who was talking to Tessa’s new sister-in-law, Journey. Journey was rocking a sleeping Henry in her arms while her youngest, Haddie, held his little hand in hers.

“Thanks, baby,” Shannon said as she sipped some of the bubbly drink.

A slow song started to play and he held out his hand. “Dance with me. Journey, you mind holding on to him a little bit longer?”

She kissed Henry’s head. “Go dance with your wife. I’ve got this little angel.”

Jonathon held out his hand and then led Shannon to the dance floor. He wasn’t much of a dancer, but Shannon didn’t seem to care as she smiled up at him. They swayed to the Ed Sheeran song, not saying a word, but letting the song “Thinking Out Loud” do the talking for them.

“I love you,” she said, staring up at him. Jonathon held her tighter and kissed her deeply. “I’m ready to have another baby.”

“Really? Okay, let’s do it.”

The smile she gave him was blinding. He couldn’t wait to start working on another baby.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ten Months Later

Shannon

The pain was unbearable. Shannon didn’t know if she could take much more. She never went into labor with Henry, not while conscious, so this was all new to her. Jonathon rubbed her back through each contraction.

“Baby, you’re doing great. Just keep breathing.”

“You can fuck off,” she snapped, and then cried. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she added, burying her head in her pillow, embarrassed she’d yelled at him when he was only trying to help her.

It had taken them no time at all to get pregnant and her OB/GYN gave her the option to have a scheduled C-section or VBAC, which was a vaginal birth after a C-section. Shannon and Jonathon talked about it for a long time before finally decided on the VBAC. Now she was thinking she should’ve chosen the former. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this.

“Don’t be sorry,” Jonathon said. “You’re doing great, and pretty soon we’re going to meet our little boy or little girl.” They decided not to find out what they were having this time, although Shannon thought it was a girl. Either way, they just wanted a happy, healthy baby. Henry was almost two, and no one would’ve guessed he was a preemie. He was at the top of the growth chart and right on track for his milestones.

Another contraction hit her and she moaned and breathed through it. It was so much more intense than the previous one. She gripped Jonathon’s leg, squeezing it hard. His lips rested against her sweaty forehead. “That’s right, baby. Keep breathing through it. You’re such a bad ass.”

An hour later, Shannon felt like she was being split apart. They had just checked her and she was ready to start pushing. She watched them set everything up while Jonathon held a cold washcloth to her head, and soon they had her start pushing. She felt an overwhelming urge to go to the bathroom and they told her once a contraction hit to start pushing. Jonathon held her hand, but also helped pull her leg back, which the nurses asked him to do.

She didn’t know how long she had pushed, but all of a sudden a burning sensation hit her vagina and had her crying out. She swore she heard Jonathon say something about the head coming out. Opening her eyes, she could see in the mirror they had set up a head of dark hair emerging from her body. It got her to push harder until, with a primal yell, the head was out. They suctioned the baby’s mouth and the sweetest little cry filled the room.

“Okay, Shannon, just one more push and your baby will be here,” Dr. Koehler said from the foot of the bed.

Shannon bore down and finally she felt their baby slip from her body. The doctor lifted up their crying baby and announced, “It’s a girl!”

She cried happy tears as they laid their baby on her chest. “Oh my goodness. You’re so beautiful.”

Jonathon kissed Shannon’s head and placed his big hand on their baby girl’s back.

“She’s beautiful like her momma,” he said. She smiled up at him and then they both looked at their daughter.

***

Shannon sat down on her bed after Jonathon helped her shower. The baby was asleep in her bassinette next to the bed. It felt good to put on her own nightgown instead of a hospital gown. They wouldn’t be going home until the next day, but since she was done with the birthing part, they said she could wear her own if she wanted. Jonathon helped her put her hair up into a knot on top of her head and then helped her rub lotion on her body.

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