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"I love you, Ben If David is involved, you can rest assured that no one in this family will blame you in any way for your son’s actions"
Her husband glanced up, and his eyes shone with appreciation "Thank you," he whispered, taking her hand at last "If David did this, I’ll personally reimburse Justine and Seth for their losses"
"Ben! You can’t possibly do that" Restitution for The Lighthouse wasn’t his obligation--and it would wipe him out financially "They have insurance"
"It doesn’t matter," he said "I won’t allow my son to hurt you, directly or indirectly"
Charlotte thought she ht weep for his pain, for his disappointation he didn’t need to
But that was Ben, wasn’t it? And those were the reasons she loved hi to help ed wo that identified her as Stacy Eagleton
"Honey, I’m fine," Maryellen whispered, her brow darip on Jon’s hand said differently
Jon orried Maryellen had been in labor for nearly twenty hours, and with each passing nancy had been difficult He didn’t knohy he’d assu else had
The hospital staff had all assured his take time," Stacy had repeatedly told hiht he ht not be able to control his temper Twenty hours wasn’t normal It couldn’t be Katie had arrived with far less effort on Maryellen’s part
"Give her so for the pain," he instructed the nurse
His wife opened her eyes and lifted her head frorown so pale, so weak "No," she said in a surprisingly strong voice "It’s not good for the baby"
At this point, Jon was far more concerned about his wife
Before he could try to convince her to accept roaned Then, as if she couldn’t bear the agony another second, she tossed her head fro he could think of to help her, but she no longer wanted hie her back The most she’d let him do was count off the seconds, and that seemed so daed Maryellen, after checking to see if dilation was coet Dr DeGroot for the delivery"
Kissing Maryellen’s hand, Jon whispered, "It won’t be long now"
His wife offered hi to be born"
Jon re he’d experienced at Katie’s birth Thea new life into the world had left hih much of the labor remained a blur in his memory How oblivious he’d been to the reality he faced now as he watched his wife struggle to give birth to his child
He loved Maryellen deeply, but never more than he did just then He laid a cool cloth across her brow and kissed her temple and whispered his love
"Are Joseph and Ellen still in the waiting roo up at him
Jon nodded Grace had called them, and as soon as his father and stepone into labor, they’d rushed to the hospital The truth was, he didn’t want the them to leave was his love for Maryellen
"Have you talked to theh he kneas a disappointive theular updates"
Her sainst the edge of the mattress He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept But he knew the tiredness he felt didn’t co these twenty hours
SheTrying to help her, he softly counted off the seconds The pain lasted a full minute and a half, and her contractions came so quickly now, there was barely a moment between them When this latest one had passed, a tear rolled from the corner of her eye
Dr DeGroot arrived and nodded at Jon "This seeood day to be born, don’t you think?" he said, as he took his position at the end of the birthing bed
Everyone suddenly seeet busy Several nurses surrounded Maryellen and there was a noticeable surge of energy now that the birth was imminent
"Let’s see e have here," the physician et ready to push"
Jon felt a little extraneous, as though he had no real role anymore There was some problem, but he didn’t co up instead of dohich had contributed to the lengthy labor
The pain that followed seeritted her teeth and bore dohat appeared to be an excruciating effort She half rose froood," Dr DeGroot said encouragingly
Jon was mesmerized He watched as the baby slipped free of Maryellen’s body and into the physician’s waiting hands with a lusty cry The doctor sratulations! You have a son"