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“Go ahead and giveto crown We’re getting closer, Sadie girl You’re doing a great job”

“Mom, come hold ive any sign

I’d been atime, and over the years I’d seen a lot of shit Bravefor the club I can tell you with all honesty, though, that I never er than Sadie Baxter was that day Iit for yourself, well, that’s a different thing entirely I lost track of ti our baby into the world inch by inch Sweat ran down her face, but she clutched hands with her mom and Tinker and she pushed

It wasn’t fast and it wasn’t easy, but half an hour later our baby girl finally slid out into the midwife’s hands

She caiven how she’d been conceived We’d never knoho fathered her, and I couldn’t have cared less When the ry, smelly little miracle up and she screamed at all of us, I knew she’d be a survivor, just like Sadie

“Do you want to hold her?” the midwife asked Sadie She nodded, and I saw Tinker flinch Yes, we’d signed all the papers Sadie hadn’t wavered in her deternancy, but we’d gone into this knowing it could happen

“Yes,” Sadie whispered, glancing at Tinker “Just once I want to hold her once Then I’ll give her to her mother, okay?”

The midwife nodded, her face full of co the infant on her chest Sadie’s arms circled her, and she leaned down, nuzzled the small, damp head covered in a shock of black hair Tinker stepped back, and I ca my arms around her waist

“Would you like us to clear the room?” the midwife asked, and we all held our breath

Then Sadie shook her head

“No,” she said, looking up at Tinker “You know I’ll always love her But she’s your baby, not mine I’e my mind”

Tinkerthe child into her arry eyes What a little fireball I reached down, touching her soft cheek She ser touched her lips she opened the it in hard

“She’s strong,” Tinker whispered

“Yeah, she is”

“I’d like you to leave now,” Sadie said, and I looked over to find her lying back on the bed, head turned away from us “I don’t think I can watch”

“Of course,” a nurse said, and she led Tinker out of the roo Janelle’s shoulder as I passed She caughtit a squeeze

“I’ll take good care of her,” she said “And you take good care of randbaby”

“That’s a promise,” I said Then I walked across the hallway to the other roootten so damned lucky

Tinker looked up as I walked in, a s her face

“I think we should naht now”

Joy