Page 36 of The Chance

Guthrie understoodthe panic that had been in his brother’s eyes. Probably for the first time, fully, in his adult life. Ronnie was his brother’s heart and soul. She and the children.

He, more than anyone else in the family, knew exactly what could have happened today. He would never forget seeing them brought in like that.

His heart had practically stopped. His brother, two of his sisters, Ronnie—and Aubrey. All of them there. They all could have been hurt today.

Aubrey stayed next to Ronnie’s ear, talking to her, soothing her. Ronnie wasn’t looking away from her. Guthrie did what he could to comfort his sister-in-law until the anesthesia took effect. He stood at one side of the head of the gurney—Aubrey stood at the other.

Then, the surgical and obstetrical team he worked with every single workday went into action. Within a few moments, he heard what he had long thought was the most beautiful sound in the world.

A baby’s first cry.

That sound never got old.

His brother’s fifth child took their first breath. And cried. Healthy and whole.

Thank God.

Guthrie’s eyes teared up, surprising him. He saw this miracle multiple times each week. Yet… this was his family. It was different. So different now.

Dr. Laird called out. “Get ready, people. Second baby coming now!”

Guthrie tuned back in to what was going on, instead of staring at his brother’s baby. “We didn’t know she was having twins.”

Leave it to Ronnie to surprise everyone—that was probably what they’d been intending to tell the family at dinner. Twins. No wonder there had been complications.

He stayed back—as family, he technically couldn’t treat his sister-in-law. But he could be there in George’s place. And he was going to be. For his brother.

Three short minutes later, and his own cheeks were wet.

He was never going to forget watching George’s sixth child enter the world tonight,notsqualling and fighting, the cord dangerously wrapped around the baby’s neck.

The baby wassilent.That was never good.

He watched Dr. Laird move the umbilical cord properly.

And then the baby began screaming in utter fury.

Thank God. The baby was breathing. Alive.

Ronnie was hanging on. Her stats were rising. There was some internal bleeding, but it proved to be minimal. And easily repaired. Most of the blood had been due to a placental abruption—caused by the car accident.

Ronnie was going to make a full recovery. His brother’s wife would be okay. Guthrie was shaking at the knees when it was all done, but Ronnie was going to be okay.

Dr. Lewis laughed after everything had settled a bit and they were getting Ronnie taken care of to go up to recovery. The nurses had wrapped the babies up warmly. They’d handle the process from there.

“Congratulations, Uncle Guthrie. You have a new niece and a new nephew. The boy was first. A bit on the small side, especially our little lady, but almost full-term and looking healthy, despite her being in distress for a minute there. Her placenta had torn from the impact,” Dr. Lewis said. No kidding, the baby’s cord had been tightening. Dangerously so. She had been a bit too blue and far too silent when she’d arrived.

Guthrie would never forget. He wouldneverforget how close it had been.

“One of each,” Dr. Laird said. “Congratulations to the mama and daddy—and Uncle Guthrie.”

Dr. Laird sent a look toward the beautiful blonde standing near the nurses. His gaze lingered. On Aubrey as she hovered over the babies.

Guthrie’s brother’s babies. One of each. Nothing had ever sounded more perfect to Uncle Guthrie than that.

George had gotten his daughter. Ronnie had gotten her son. Guthrie stepped over to the newest little Hillers and took a good look at them.

Time to welcome them to the world, Hiller style. Since he was going to be the favorite uncle, after all.

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