Page 118 of The Outpost (Jamison Valley 4)
Silas’s face appeared on the screen and my heart jumped. His smile was so wide, his happiness radiated through the phone. “Hey there,” he said. “We’ve got someone we’d like you to meet.”
Tears filled my eyes as he aimed the camera at Felicity in her hospital bed and a precious bundle in her arms.
“She’s so beautiful,” I whispered. The baby was swaddled in a white muslin blanket and her hair was covered with a pale-pink cap as she slept peacefully in her mother’s arms.
“I think so too.” Felicity smiled and turned her eyes to her daughter, touching the tip of Victoria’s tiny nose.
“I can’t wait to hold her,” I said. “How are you doing?”
Felicity looked back to the camera and sighed. “I’m tired. She came pretty quickly and I’m worn out.”
“She did awesome,” Silas said in the background.
“Of course she did. Is everyone healthy?”
She nodded. “We’re all perfect.”
“Oh, good. I wish I were there to give you both a hug.”
“Me too,” Felicity said. “Come and visit us soon?”
“Very soon.” When Victoria squeaked, I took it as my cue to say good-bye. “I’ll let you go. Thanks for calling me. Will you send me pictures?”
Felicity nodded and smiled. “Prepare to be flooded. I’ve taken about a hundred in the last three hours. Once we get home and settled, I’ll call you.”
“Okay. Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks. It’s been a day I’ll never forget.” The joy on her face was something I’d never forget.
Silas joined the shot and kissed Felicity’s cheek.
“Congratulations to you too, Daddy. You guys take care.” I waved and smiled, then ended the call. When I turned back to the living room, I was met with more smiling faces.
“That’s so exciting!” Mom said. “I hope Kameron or Kellan has a sweet baby girl.”
My phone started to ding as the flood of promised pictures started coming through.
“Let’s see those baby pictures,” Dad said.
I immediately went for my phone, not needing any encouragement to thumb through pictures. With me in the middle of the couch, Henry on one side and Mom and Dad on the other, I started swiping and saving pictures.
“Oh, she’s beautiful,” Mom said, “and Felicity looks amazing. You’d never guess she just had a baby.”
I smiled. “If I didn’t love her so much, I’d hate her for being so photogenic. It’s not fair.”
Henry scoffed. “Says the woman who had my entire team begging to be put on Sabrina duty.”
I blushed and swiped through more photos, pointing out the people that I knew and guessing at those I didn’t. When I got to the last picture, my smile fell and my fingers froze.
Felicity had sent me a picture of Beau and Victoria.
Beau was standing, smiling down at the baby, as his massive arms cradled her tight. His hair was longer underneath his baseball cap, its ends curling up at his neck. The skin at his forearms and cheeks was tanner than when he’d been here weeks ago. He looked so perfect with that baby I could hardly breathe. His expression was so soft and loving, it was hard to believe that little girl wasn’t his own.
“Who’s that?” Dad asked.
I forced my eyes away from the picture and swallowed the lump in my throat. “That’s Beau.”
“Oh.” Mom gave me a sad smile and patted my hand. “I’ll get us more wine. Henry?”
