The timing of herbor was fortunate. The hospital was quiet at night, with only a couple of doctors and nurses on duty, making it easier to conceal their n. It seemed their baby knew how to help.


    But it meant Yvonne would have to endure a lot.


    Emma said, "I''ll have the staff at home make some soup and send it over. Yvonne can have it as soon as she''s done giving birth."


    Yvonne had entered the delivery room at one in the morning. Bet, Frank, and Emma waited outside the entire time.


    They waited until dawn, but the baby still hadn''t arrived.


    Bet''s face was dark, and he was losing hisposure, pacing back and forth in front of the delivery room door.


    "Stop pacing, you''re making me dizzy. Can''t you just sit still for a minute?" Frank said, pressing his aching temples.


    "Why isn''t Yvonne out yet?" Bet said.


    Frank replied, "Giving birth isn''t that fast. Your mother was inbor for a whole day when she had you."


    "Mybor was only difficult because an ident forced me into prematurebor. Yvonne is young and healthy, she should be out soon."


    Emma shot Frank a re and warned in a low voice, "Watch what you say. Say something auspicious."


    Frank nodded and wisely kept quiet.


    At six in the morning, there was finally some movement from the delivery room.


    The door opened, and a nurse walked out holding a swaddled bundle. "Yvonne''s family? The baby is here. A girl, six and a half pounds."


    "She''s born! She''s finally born! That''s wonderful!" Emma walked joyfully to the nurse''s side and took the baby in her arms.


    Newborns are always wrinkled and red-faced, and this one''s eyes were closed, her eyelids swollen.


    New babies are rarely pretty, but in her grandmother''s eyes, her granddaughter was the most beautiful little princess.


    "Our little princess, you''re so beautiful. Grandma finally gets to meet you. Grandma will make sure you''re the happiest little baby in the world."


    Emma held the baby, her eyes filled with delight.


    Bet only nced briefly at his daughter before asking the nurse, "Where''s my wife?"


    "The mother will be out in a little while," the nurse replied, her gaze toward Bet filled with a strange hint of pity.


    There were no other women inbor at that moment. Since it was a natural birth, only Mrs. Powell and one nurse were inside.


    This nurse clearly knew something, but not everything.


    After speaking, the nurse went back inside.


    The delivery room door closed once more.


    Just as Emma was about to take the baby back to the room, Dana arrived.


    "Dana, what are you doing here?" Emma asked.


    "I called your house this morning,


    and the staff told me Yvonne was in


    baby girl


    then looked at the fitte


    Emma''s arms.


    "Is this our Thompson family''s little princess? Oh, she''s so cute." Tobias looked at


    the baby, then asked, "Where''s Yvonne? Why isn''t she out?"


    Emma replied, "She''s not out yet."


    "Wasn''t it a natural birth? The


    mother and baby shoulde out


    together, Dana said, a little


    confused. But thest time she''d been a maternity ward was when


    Nic was born


    ears ago Maybe...........


    things had changed.


    "I''ll take the baby back to the room first. You all wait here," Dana said, handing a thermos she was carrying to Bet. "This is some soup fhad made for Yvonne. Giving birth takes a lot of energy. Have her drink it while it''s hot when shees out."


    "Okay, thank you, Aunt," Bet said, taking the thermos and thanking her quietly.