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"I hardly think fathering a child is much of an accomplishment, Samuel," I told hihed and shook his head athich he didn't agree

During the last nancy, I spent less tiht hoht I had so and I had to be taken to the hospital It turned out to be nothing serious, but I was irritable and uncoh ht before dinner, my water broke and Samuel rushed me to the hospital where I delivered my first-born, a son, e named Jacob for my father's father

I heldface

"He's the best piece of e've done together, Olivia," he declared

"We've done?"

"Well, I did have a little to do with it, didn't I?" he protested

"Yes, you did, a little That's what men contribute, a little You didn't have back pains, voh hell in a delivery roohed

"I guess not, but he looks like row out of that," I said and Sahed harder

"I declare, Olivia, if I didn't know better I'd think if you could have been both mother and father, you would have, and liked it, too," he said

Maybe he was right In any case, I thought, looking at Jacob's tiny face and hands, I had begun my own family

We hired a nanny immediately to help me with Jacob Her name was Thelrown and away living their own lives Her husband had died two years before She was looking for work to keep her occupied and had served as a nanny for a year and a half for a couple I kneho had recentlyI was lucky to have her, especially during the early days because Jacob was a colicky baby

Nevertheless, Saht of Jacob did appear to help brighten Daddy's spirits He truly enjoyed our visits with Jacob and seemedhiained use of his arth to cradle the baby for a fewas Thelma stood over him I didn't have to ask her to do so From the first day she came to work in our home, Thelma was as protective of Jacob as I would be

Belinda had a strange reaction to the sight of her newborn nephew She co hi for that matter She told Thelma that babies made her nervous When she looked at Jacob and then lifted her eyes to look at me, we both knehat put this tension in her face

"Who'd have thought you would have ever becoh She lared at her

"Why not?" I replied after a "