Page 42 of Shining Pearls
I heard Mimi mumble something about needing to get to work at the diner and away from all of these ‘nauseating happily-ever-after endings’ before she quietly slipped out of the room. Although if taken out of context, her words would have sounded harsh, I knew the woman was just teasing and that she was secretly thrilled for all of us.
Alex and I pressed our foreheads together as he whispered, “Thank you, Claire, for being the best wife I could ever hope for.”
After a long moment of gazing at each other, we turned in unison to look at perfect, tiny Jaxson Aldean. Although this wasn’t even close to how I would have pictured our family or hoped for things to work out, somehow it felt just right for our perfectly imperfect lives.
Smiling down at his son and placing a warm hand on my enormous stomach, Alex said to all of us, “These little miracles are two perfect shining pearls in the long strand that comprises the winding paths of our lives.”
Evidently tiring of overflowing emotion, Dean quirked a brow in Alex’s direction before teasing, “That sounds like a sappy line in a cheesy romance novel.”
After snapping his fingers, Alex said, “Yes, it does. I better jot it down before I forget it.”
My husband turned away and began tapping frantically on his phone. Josie, Dean, and I shared warm smiles over the fact that we had finally, somehow made it to a marvelous, happy, and peaceful place, despite the significant challenges along the way.
I wished we could remain frozen in this deliriously happy state, but I knew nothing could last forever. Besides, the regular twinges of pain I’d been feeling in my stomach all night while we stood by Josie’s bedside told me that this tiny slice of the status quo wouldn’t last long at all.
It was a bit early for my baby to arrive, so I would prefer she waited a while longer to make her debut. But even if she was born today, she would not be so premature that she would face severe danger. We had reached the outer edge of the window of safety where she could be born small, but healthy.
Just as I was smiling over the fact that our little family might be growing yet again very soon, my phone jangled and pulled me out of my reverie. Tapping the screen to answer, I started “Hey, Meg! We have a perfect baby b––“
My words halted and the blood drained from my face as I listened to my sister’s frantic voice. Putting my free hand over my other ear, even though the room was silent, I said, “What?!? Slow down. You’re breaking up, and I can barely understand you.”
When I finally comprehended enough to get the gist of what she was saying in her panic, my frantic gaze wildly roved the room for my husband. When I locked eyes with Alex, he already knew something was horribly wrong. He crossed the room in four long strides to stand directly in front of me. He placed a comforting arm on my shoulder, but nothing could take away the fear and worry that had just shot through my nervous system.
My entire body was shaking. It seemed like I was somehow floating above the room, watching the horrific scene unfold from above.
Meg finally stopped wailing, and there was silence on the phone line. My voice started out as barely above a whisper when I said to my sister, “You have to find her.” My volume escalated to a desperate screech as I repeated, “You have to find her!”
Not giving Meg a chance to respond, I added numbly, “We’re on our way.”
Alex’s gaze was panicked as he stared at me, waiting for me to share the life-altering news. My tone came out sounding flat as the shock made its way through my veins. “The school bus had an accident on the way to Portland for the field trip. Harper is injured, and they can’t find Hannah.”
