Shaun and Jon Page 6
“Going to be a strange name for a boy,” said Shaun.
“Yep, we’re going to have to teach him how to throw a punch for when he gets teased,” said Jon.
“You can joke and mock me all you like, but I can’t wait until Kathleen arrives,” said Sarah.
Chapter Ten
An October snowstorm had moved in that morning and Sarah guessed it had something to do with her going into labor as soon as she rose that day. The baby, like the snow, was early. She hadn’t told Shaun or Jon that she’d been having pains until they got so bad she cried out and had taken to her bed mid-morning. Whether it was a son or daughter, it was obvious it wasn’t going to come into this world with any ease and by the early evening, her body was racked with intolerable pain.
“I’m going to die,” said Sarah, another sharp pain gripping her. She squeezed the bed sheet tight in her fists. While doing so, she thought back to when she’d done the same thing when she, Jon and Shaun had enjoyed hours of pleasure on this very same piece of furniture. Maybe dying in childbirth would be her punishment for living such an immoral lifestyle.
“You’re not going to die. We’ll make sure of that. The three of us have a long and happy life together. Raising this child and any others we’re blessed to have,” said Jon.
He grabbed her hand while Shaun took the other one.
“The doctor’s on his way. Won’t be long now before you’re holding that baby in your arms,” said Jon.
The Grantsville doctor hadn’t wanted to attend to her but Jon and Shaun had found one in a neighboring town who as of yet didn’t know about the three of them. Shaun had ridden out to fetch him and come back saying he was delivering another baby but would be with them as soon as he could. However, by then it could be too late for her, but, hopefully, not the baby. She knew both men would take good care of Kathleen Anne should she not be around to raise her with them.
Another pain gripped her and she dug her nails into both Shaun and Jon’s hands with equal pressure.
“I wish we could take some of the pain for you,” said Shaun.
If only this baby would leave her body. He or she would be safe, and Sarah would be able to die peacefully knowing she’d brought her baby safely into the world.
“You hear that?” asked Jon.
All she’d heard was the wind howling around the house and the occasional pellet of snow hitting the windows.
“It’s got to be the doctor,” said Shaun. He let go of her hand and walked to the window, pushing back the curtain to peek outside.
“Yep, it’s him,” he said. “Baby will be here in no time now, Sarah.”
Shaun left and returned five minutes later with Doctor Myles in tow. The man looked cold and still had flecks of snow clinging to his hair.
“Which one is the father to be?” he asked.
“I am,” both Shaun and Jon said at the same time.
“So the gossip in town hasn’t been just hearsay.”
If the pain hadn’t been so bad, Sarah would have been mortified to learn that talk of their relationship that spread beyond Grantsville, but her one and only goal was to deliver a live baby.
“Okay, you men want to leave me so I can examine Sarah?”
“Sure, but we’d like to be with her when she gives birth,” said Jon. He raised his hand. “Yet another thing we do a little differently around here.”
There had definitely been a touch of sarcasm in his voice, almost making Sarah smile.
The doctor nodded and waited for both men to leave.
“Pains coming pretty frequent now?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said as another one took her body by surprise.
“Okay, let’s take a look here.”
She winced when the doctor pulled up her legs and set her feet flat on the bed.
“You’re doing good, Sarah. I can see the baby’s head so it shouldn’t be long. You probably didn’t need me as it looks like nature’s been taking its course just fine, but I’ll stay with you to see that everything goes smoothly.”
Sarah screamed out. The pain was getting worse.
“You two can get back in here if you want,” shouted the doctor.
Jon and Shaun sat on either side of the bed and held her hands.
“If you want to, start pushing,” said Dr. Myles.
Sarah didn’t think she had an ounce of strength left in her to do that, but she knew she had to for the baby’s sake. She squeezed both their hands and pushed as hard as she was able.
“You’re going to have to do better than that,” said Dr. Myles.
Didn’t he notice that she was red in the face, covered in perspiration, and that was the best she could do?
“Come on Sarah, push real hard,” said Jon.
She took a deep breath and pushed and pushed, feeling like she was going to pass out because she felt so lightheaded.
“Okay, that’s better but take a rest and then try again, but a lot harder,” said Dr. Myles.
“You can do it. Just grip our hands and get that baby out,” said Shaun.
Sarah pushed and then pushed and what seemed like hours maybe even days later she saw the doctor lifting the baby from her body.
“It’s a boy,” he said.
Jon and Shaun kissed her on the head.
“You’re not really planning to call him Kathleen are you?” asked Shaun.
“Guess we’ll have to go with Henry James,” said Sarah looking down at the baby. He had lots of dark hair which gave no indication as to his father as both men had a fine head of dark wavy hair.
“Can I hold him?” she asked.
“Sure can,” said Dr. Myles, he wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed him to her.
He looked like Jon. No, wait a minute. She could see that he definitely had Shaun’s eyes. But no, that was Jon’s chin staring back at her. They hadn’t thought this through when they’d started their three-way love affair. Who would they tell him was his real father?
“He’s gorgeous,” said Jon.
“He’s the most beautiful baby in the world,” said Shaun.
She looked at Henry James. He was going to be special and so would every other child their unconventional union produced.
****
Jennifer poured herself another glass of wine as she turned to the back of the journal. Sarah had gone on to produce four more sons for Jon and Shaun—one died when he was two weeks old, and at age forty-four, she finally presented them with Kathleen Anne. Shaun lived until he was sixty-two, Jon sixty-four. She’d sat by their side as each man took his final breath. Her eldest son James had filled in the final part of the story. Sarah had passed away at the age of seventy-one and been buried in the plot between Jon and Shaun.
Drinking the last sip of wine, Jennifer closed the book. Connor Nolan-Delaney sure came from a colorful background and it wasn’t surprising that his sister had recently opened Grantsville’s first sex shop. And yes, she was tempted to go through its door to see what lay on the shelves.
She fired up her laptop, bringing up an image of the man who wanted to be the county sheriff. Jennifer felt herself cream just looking at him. Those muscles, the broad shoulders, and yes, the lovely bulge in the jeans.
Now she knew all about the skeleton in his closet. Would she use it to garner herself the story of the year in Big Sky County Magazine? Or would she keep it to herself and use it to blackmail him into giving her a night of unforgettable sex?
She tapped her fingers across the keys. The annual Grantsville Bachelorette Auction was just around the corner. She’d entered before and come up with nothing but duds bidding for her. She could do a little arm-twisting to get Connor to pick her.
Jennifer brought up the entry form on the screen and began typing in her name
Jennifer Nealon.
She stopped typing. Yes, that Nealon. Great-great-granddaughter of the woman who wanted to run Connor’s great-great-grandmother and grandfathers out of Grantsville.
Things were about t
o get very interesting in Big Sky County.
The End
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