Page 33 of An Alaskan Twin Surprise (Home to Owl Creek 2)

“I can’t believe I’m this little charmer’s mama,” she whispered.

“He’s healthy and about as perfect as they come. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s just under seven pounds,” Rachel explained. “A really solid birth weight, especially since he came a bit early.”

Tears slid down the new mother’s cheeks as she cradled her son in her arms. She looked up at Rachel. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done without you here by my side keeping me focused on what was coming. It’s so easy to give in to fear, especially considering what happened the last time.”

Rachel knew all too well how fear could paralyze a person. Tabitha hadn’t given in to it even though her past experience would have given her every reason to panic. Rachel wished she had been as tenacious as Tabitha when she’d come up against adversity in her relationship with Gabriel.

Rachel squeezed the new mother’s shoulder. “You were incredible, Tabitha. And now you have a beautiful, healthy baby boy to love and nurture. Gary will be over the moon when he sees him.”

“I need to call him! Mama, can you get my cell phone and put the phone on Speaker so I can give him an update?” Tabitha asked. Nodding, Iris produced the cell phone and made the call in record time.

“I’ll just be outside getting some air,” Rachel said, wanting to give Tabitha some privacy so she could rejoice with her husband without an audience. It was such a special time for new parents as they heralded in the arrival of their newborn.

When she reached the door, she felt a tug on her sleeve. Iris was standing there with tears pooling in her eyes.

“I can’t thank you enough,” the older woman said, her voice choked with emotion. “After what happened the last time, I think we were all fearing the worst. This is such a blessing.”

“You don’t have to thank me. This isn’t the first time I’ve helped out with a delivery, and I hope it won’t be the last. Your daughter did all the hard work. She’s a trooper.”

The door suddenly opened, and Gabriel was standing there looking a bit out of sorts.

He was breathing hard as if he’d run the whole way from her house. “I tried calling both of you, but no one answered. Did the baby come?”

“We were a little busy,” Rachel answered in a teasing voice. “And yes, the baby has arrived safe and sound. Why don’t you go check in on Tabitha? She’s in the living room.”

Gabriel strode toward the other room with his mother trailing behind him talking a mile a minute about her new grandchild. From her vantage point Rachel could hear his animated voice as he met his nephew. She watched as he took him in his arms and gently rocked the baby back and forth in a soothing manner. She didn’t need to see his face to know it was lit up with joy. For what felt like the hundredth time since she’d been back in Owl Creek, Rachel thought about how Gabriel was made for fatherhood. He was gentle and caring, as well as loving and patient.

An uncomfortable sensation began to prick at her. She felt a little breathless watching Gabriel cradling the newborn. Rachel turned away from the sight of him and wrenched the front door open, desperate for a distraction from the heartwarming sight she hadn’t been able to look away from. For the first time since she’d come home she was battling against a strong yearning. She didn’t know how to put it into words, but the feeling threatened to overwhelm her. It left her feeling completely out of sorts.

She was definitely in the danger zone with Gabriel. All this time she’d been telling herself it was important to make amends with him without realizing how tricky it would be to constantly be in his presence. Memories of their relationship were everywhere. Delivering Tabitha’s baby had dredged up an abundance of emotions. One year ago she had given birth to her girls without having the benefit of a partner, husband or any family members for support. Faith and Lizzy had been premature, and as a result, had needed to stay in the NICU—neonatal intensive care unit—for more than a month. Rachel had never been so scared or humbled in her life. If she hadn’t been a nurse, Rachel wasn’t sure how she might have coped with twin babies with health complications. It had been a time of huge stress and uncertainty.

Rachel knew she couldn’t change the past, but she would have given anything to have had a strong, faithful man like Gabriel by her side as she brought her babies into the world.

Chapter Eleven

Gabriel had never seen anything as precious as his newborn nephew. God was so good! He had watched over Tabitha until Rachel could arrive at his sister’s home and aid in the delivery. As a result, this amazing miniature being had come into the world, safe and sound. His sister and brother-in-law now had the family they had always dreamed of.

He was consumed by the baby and the way his adorably shaped lips were slightly moving as he clung to Gabriel’s finger. He’d counted the baby’s fingers and toes, marveling at how perfect he was.

“What are you going to name him?” he asked his sister, unable to tear his gaze away from her son. With his russet-colored skin and chubby cheeks, he was already a heartbreaker.

Tabitha grinned. “We decided on Casey for a boy.”

“I like that. It suits him,” Gabriel said, studying his nephew’s face. “It’s a good name. Casey Jones. Sounds like a future baseball player.”

“Not many of those in these parts,” Iris said with a chuckle. “He’ll be a fine boy no matter what he does.”

Casey began making little fussy noises and Gabriel delicately handed him back over to Tabitha. Seeing him cuddled up against her made his chest tighten with emotion. He’d once thought he would have his own children by now, but things hadn’t worked out that way. Holding his nephew in his arms made the longing for his own child even more intense.

“Where’s Rachel?” he asked, looking around him. He hadn’t seen her since his arrival. Surely she hadn’t left without saying goodbye.

“She went outside. I don’t think she’s come back in,” Iris said. “It was an intense delivery, son. She probably just needed to take a few minutes for herself.”

“I think I’m going to go outside and look for her,” he told her. “She really came through for us.”

His mother narrowed her gaze as she looked at him. “Are the two of you testing the waters again?” she asked, her tone blunt.

He bristled against the question. “No. Not in the way you mean. We’re just friends,” he said lamely. The moment the word slipped out of his mouth he knew it wasn’t exactly the truth. Friends didn’t share unforgettable kisses in the Alaskan moonlight. But he wasn’t going to tell his mother that. Although she’d once adored Rachel, she’d become one of her harshest critics after her desertion of him.

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