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Michael held out a bottle of cold water, careful not to touch ood place to set off an electrical current I took the water, and like the two previous bottles, stuck it down the back of my shirt

"Childbirth is supposed to be hard on the mother Not the aunt If I passed out for this baby’s birth, how a you, by sheer will and force of determination," he said mildly "We’ll deal with it when it happens"

"We will, e?" I grinned at him

We both kneas only a h the waiting room doors with Lily behind him "Is it here?"

"There’s been a baby forrumpy

"You just did" Kaleb cocked his head to the side

Lily sat down besideme with the other "You know Thoirl or a boy It’s not Eood for him, you know," I said to Lily with a sniff, but I winked at Kaleb

He flipped

"Why are you so excited, Kaleb?" I asked "Babies don’t see"

"Neither do cookies, but you don’t complain about those"

A door opened and a nurse stuck her head out "Ready to meet your newest family member?"

My stomach tried to take a vacation by way of my mouth "As I’ll ever be"

"Thomas and Dru asked for all of you" The nurse stepped back so we could enter the birthing room

I wanted to take Michael’s hand, but I crossed my arms over my chest instead

Dru’s face shone radiant, and my brother was so puffed up with pride I half expected him to pop

"Emerson," Dru said, "meet your niece Clarissa Elisabeth"

"After Mom" I looked at Tho He had a few of his own

"And you," he said

And me

"Do you want to hold her?" Dru asked

"I … I don’t know What if I break her?"

"You won’t" Michael’s sement was all I needed

I bitmyself up "Okay"

Dru held a bundle of blanket and baby out to me, and I took her in my arms She was beautiful, tiny, and perfect

"Hello, Clarissa Elisabeth," I whispered "Welcome to the world"

I bent down to place a kiss on her forehead

And started laughing when every light bulb in the room blew