Page 120 of Sweet Escape
Chapter 35
After the Rain
?Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Wilder
Storm pacesacross the expansive stall, swishing her tail as she glances back at her flank.
“Griff, get the foaling kit and make sure Angie’s on standby,” I say. “It’s almost time.”
Keeping hold of Emmy’s hand, I pull Olivia into my side as she cradles a sleeping Gracie against her chest.
“Your turn, Stormy girl. You’ve got this,” Olivia says, murmuring encouraging words to her heart horse. She’s putting on a brave face, but I know she’s scared for Storm, having experienced her own traumatic birth not even two months ago.
“Angie’s on call, and we have everything we need to make sure mom and baby are good,” I say.
“How long will this take?”
“Hard to say. Could take hours. You can take the girls up to the big house,and I’ll come get you when it’s getting closer to time. If you want to be here, that is.”
“I do.”
I lean down to kiss Gracie on the head, inhaling her new baby scent, before planting my lips on Olivia's temple.
Just as I’m about to lift Emmy into my arms, a splashing sound fills the silence, and Emmy squeals in disgust.
Olivia glances once more toward the stall, her face pulled into a frown. “Did… did her water just break?”
“Ok, no time. This is it.”
I holler for Griff, and he comes rushing into the barn. “Can you take Emmy to the big house?”
“Sure thing. Come on, Emmy Lou.”
I crouch to give her a quick kiss on the cheek, and she barrels over to her Uncle Griff as quickly as her little legs will carry her. It’s clear she has no intention of sticking around for the show.
It’s not the first foaling I’ve witnessed. I lean back against the adjacent stall, arms crossed over my chest, my gaze bouncing between Storm and my girls. Olivia watches everything unfold with rapt attention, with the occasional glance toward our daughter when she stirs.
Storm lies on her side, and it’s not long before the first hoof is out. She stands and lies down, repositioning herself several more times until a dark grey dapple foal with white markings along its muzzle emerges, safe and whole.
Storm sets to work cleaning her baby, who tries and fails to stand on wobbly legs a few times, until it’s fully upright and feeding.
Tears trail a path down Olivia’s cheeks, and she clings to our baby girl like a lifeline.
“You okay, honey?”I ask.
She nods jerkily, pressing her lips to Gracie’s forehead as the baby squirms in her hold. Gracie blinks her blue eyes open and lets out a discontented wail. Acting on instinct, Olivia pulls down one side of her dress, unclipping her bra. Gracie roots around before latching, her piercing gaze locked on her Mama’s face.
“That’s my girl,” I murmur, sweeping some of the dark hair from her forehead.
Olivia sniffles and gives me a watery smile. “That was amazing. What are you going to name it?”
“How do you feel about Memphis?”
She smiles wistfully. “Lovely city. Holds some of my fondest memories.”
“No, I mean, for a name.”
