While on a trip to Rosedale ten years ago, Nick had a chance encounter with Jennie Hall and renewed their acquaintance. Following a few months of courtship, they were married. Jennie nearly died at childbirth and the baby was stillborn. Nick was devastated and as a result, refused to touch Jennie for months, fearing that if she got in the family way once more, he’d lose her for good. He longed to have children but if it meant losing the woman he loved, he preferred living without. Jennie exercised great patience and compassion towards her husband, though she yearned for his touch. At night, he felt like a stranger as he lay beside her in their bed. She felt alone and rejected, shouldering the blame for losing their child.

Two years following the birth of their triplets, Audra became pregnant again. Three months into her pregnancy, she miscarried after taking a bad fall off her horse. Audra sought comfort in Jennie while Heath and Nick mutually consoled one another, having shared a similar experience. Unlike Nick, Heath was ready to try at having another baby much to Audra’s relief for she feared he might turn away from her as Nick did with Jennie. Within a few weeks, Audra announced that she was expecting and when baby girl Caroline came into the world a healthy six pounds nine ounces, Nick slowly realized that he might have behaved harshly towards his wife, denying her the joy of becoming a mother. He was still petrified at the thought of jeopardizing Jennie’s life, but she convinced him that she needed to have a baby and that she missed him as her husband. He had kept his distance but was now beginning to return her affection.

Within a year, Jennie gave birth to a healthy boy named Luke. During the following years, Jennie bore Nick three girls: Sarah, Olivia and Eleanor.

After Caroline Sawyer, Heath and Audra had two more children: Andy and Victoria and were now expecting their seventh child in less than two months.

A large blanket had been spread out on the grass underneath an old oak tree that provided a welcome shelter from the sweltering heat. Tom and Victoria were huddled together, propped up against the tree trunk, watching their children and grandchildren at play in the field. The kids were playing ball with their fathers while the youngest stayed in their mother’s arms. Tom felt so proud of his children who had overcome many hardships over the years.

Victoria glanced at Tom. Her face registered deep concern as she saw tears pearling down his cheeks. “Tom, everything all right?”

He turned to her and fashioned a reassuring smile. “Fine. Just feel a bit old.”

She reached for his hand and rubbed it gently. “You’re not old, you’re wiser.”

He chuckled. “Maybe. I did learn not to argue with you.”

He kissed her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on his shoulder and admired their daughters-in-law dandling their cherubs on their laps. For her part, Audra sat on the blanket, legs outstretched, distractedly rubbing her tummy while cheering the teams on. Tom was particularly emotional following the dreadful news he had received from Dr. Merar. His last physical revealed that he was suffering from a congestive heart disease and that his days were numbered. He asked Howard not to breathe of word to Victoria or his family about his condition for he didn’t want any of them to fuss over him. He promised to follow his advice by taking his medication and curtailing his daily activities by delegating the ranch duties to his sons and grandsons. He wanted to spend as much time with his family as he could and was intent on being there for the birth of Audra’s child.

The fathers were losing to the kids and summoned the mothers’ help. Jennie and Laura gave little Ellie and Nathan to their grandparents and rallied to their husbands’ defense while Audra remained on the blanket on account of her delicate condition. Heath ran up to her, huffing and puffing. He plopped down on the blanket and she handed him a glass of cold lemonade that he drained in two gulps. “Thanks, I needed that. The kids are squashing us.”

“Looks that way,” she teased.

“Come on Heath!” Nick shouted, beckoning him back to the field. “No time to dawdle. We’ve got to win this game. Come on!”

“I’m coming!” Heath shouted back. He gave Audra a quick kiss and ran back to the field.

Two-year-old Nathan squealed with delight at each tug on his grandfather’s beard. Tom tried to bridle his emotions that kept gushing to his throat. He wanted to savor every moment he had left with his precious family.

Exactly nine months to the day of conception, Audra went into labor. Downstairs, Nick and Jarrod occupied the children in a game of billiard while upstairs, Laura and Jennie assisted Dr. Merar with the birth.

Having walked down that path four times before, Heath had grown accustomed to the routine but his stomach was nevertheless coiling up in knots during the waiting part. He declined his brothers-in-law’s invitation to a game of pool and instead, chose to stay in the nursery. He sat in the wingback chair, his head leaning against the back. His hands were folded on his stomach with his elbows resting on the arms. With eyes closed, he meditated to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Four-year-old Victoria peeked inside. “Papa?”

Heath opened his eyes. “Come here, Lambkin,” he invited with his arms outstretched.

Little Victoria hurried to her father and jumped on his laps. “Is mama going to be okay?”

“Of course she is. Why d’ya’ ask?”

“I heard her crying”

“She’s not cryin’. She’s happy. She’s about to give ya’ the lil’ sister or brother ya’ wanted.”

“I want a little sister. Boys are too annoying”

“There are, aren’t they?” Heath agreed facetiously “But ya’d be the big sister now. He’d be looking up to ya’ and you could teach him how to behave properly.”

“I could do that,” she said with a glowing smile.

Heath tweaked her daughter’s nose and pulled her close to his heart. At that moment, Laura appeared in the doorway. “Heath, you have a son.”

Heath lowered Victoria down on the floor and held her tiny hand as he walked up to Laura. “Is Audra all right?”

“She’s fine.” Laura reassured with her hands on his shoulders. “Congratulations brother-in-law.” She kissed him on the cheek.

Heath lifted Victoria in his arms. “Ya’ want to go meet your new lil’ brother?”

Victoria nodded with an enthusiastic smile.

Tom was lying on his deathbed with his wife sitting by his side. He clung to life to see his last grandchild come into the world. He smiled weakly upon hearing the room echoing with the joyful sound of muffled cries. Victoria felt the end was near but her stubborn Tom refused to cross the Styx before the birth.

Heath entered Audra’s room with little Victoria in his arms. Audra fashioned a strained smile and beckoned the both to come take a closer look at the new addition to the family. Heath gently put Victoria down on the bed and she gazed at her little brother while mother and father shared a tender kiss.

“He so tiny,” Victoria commented.

“Don’t worry, he’ll grow.” Heath chuckled. He turned to Audra with a mournful face. “He needs to see him.”

She nodded knowing Heath was referring to her dying father. She held out the baby to Heath who cradled him in his arms as he walked to Tom and Victoria’s room. He padded in and showed the baby to Thomas who forced his eyes open to look at his grandson. Heath gave the infant to Victoria who briefly cradled him in her arms before laying him in the crook of Tom’s shoulder. He swiveled his glazed eyes to peer at the baby and smiled before drawing his last breath and rendering his soul.

Victoria’s eyes welled up with tears as she sat staring at him. Heath slowly picked up his son and walked away, closing the door behind him, knowing Victoria wished to remain alone to bid a last farewell to her husband. In the hall, he took a moment to steel himself and gently kissed his son on the forehead. He blinked away a tear as his heart sank at the sound of Victoria sobbing behind the door.

His wife’s father had just died. How was she going to react? She was still very weak from the birth and feared the slightest shock might bear harmful consequences. He wavered over whether to tell Audra now or wait. He chose to head downstairs instead.

Heath’s children were the first to run to their father holding their new brother. Heath sat on one step at the bottom of the staircase and introduced Thomas Sawyer to the rest of the family.

“Guys, say hello to your lil’ brother.”

Pairs of eyes sparkled with enchantment. Jarrod’s and Nick’s children formed a circle around their cousins to get a peek at the new arrival, with their fathers standing behind. Heath looked up at the two misty-eyed men with a forlorn expression that was self-explanatory. They both ran upstairs to their parents’ room and found Victoria in tears. Slowly they made their way to the bed and squatted down by their mother. They all held hands before falling into each other’s arms.

Two days later at her family’s ranch, Audra was in her room, ensconced in a rocking chair and lulling her newborn infant son who was calmly sucking his morning breakfast at her breast. She gazed at him as she twiddled with his tiny fingers. She smiled and moved her hand down to pat his buttocks and turned to the photo album resting on her knees. She browsed through the pictures of her brothers and parents, and of her own family of nine.

Heath loomed in the doorway, dashingly clad in a black two-piece suit. He smiled at the heart-warming picture of a mother holding her child as he ambled over to her.

“Hi,” he said in a hushed tone.

“Hi yourself,” she smiled back.

He squatted down in front of her and beheld the small bundle of joy. “How’s my son?”

“Hungry.”

“I can see that.” Heath stroked the tiny tuft of golden hair on the baby’s head gingerly with his two fingers. He leaned over and kissed it. “So tiny and yet so strong.”

“He’s a tough one, just like his papa.”

“And how’s his mama holdin’ up?”

“I’m okay,” she sighed as she strived to contain her emotions.

“I’m so sorry about your father.”

“Thank you. I just draw great comfort in knowing that he had a chance to see the baby before he died.”

Heath ran his fingers through his wife’s cornsilk blond hair and gazed amorously into her eyes. “You’re magnificent,” he spoke caressingly, his hand lovingly stroking her cheeks. He kissed her softly on the lips.

“Are the children ready?”

“All except Rachel. She’s still fussin’ over what dress to wear for the funeral.”

“I thought I’d already sorted it out for her?”

“Apparently she changed her mind.”

“I’ll go help her.”

“No! I’LL go help her. Ya’ stay put and let lil’ Tommy finish his breakfast,” he said as he tickled the baby’s cheek. He stood up and crossed to the door.

“Good luck!”

“Don’t worry. I know how to handle my girls.”

“That’s what I said, good luck,” she twitted, casting Heath an amused smile shortly followed by an impish wink.

“That’s funny,” he scoffed, smiling sarcastically at the jocose remark. Audra chuckled.

Her laugh gradually faded into an elated smile as she glanced at her baby. His eyelids were dangling heavily, exhaling tiny murmuring sighs between sucks while his tiny fingernails clawed distractedly at her breast. She continued her gentle patting as her glinting eyes traveled down to the photo album. She flipped over to the next page. A wedding picture prompted her to reminisce about her first meeting with Heath. She leaned back against the chair and closed her eyes.

A few minutes passed and then, a loud howl slashed the silence and startled Audra out of her daydream.

“Rachel, give the shoe back to your sister,” Heath ordered his daughter authoritatively.

“Tell her to give me back my comb,” she retorted.

Audra tittered, knowing her husband was in trouble. She removed the baby’s mouth from her nipple and put her blouse back on her breast. Then, she slung a towel over her shoulder to gently burp the baby. Heath showed up at the door as she stood and walked over to the cradle.

“You can handle your girls, huh?” she chaffed with a mocking sidelong glance.

“I did,” he defended. “Leah got her shoe back and Rachel got her comb.”

“What about the dress?” she asked as she put Thomas down in his crib and pulled a blanket over him.

“I told Rachel that if she didn’t wear the one ya’ picked out for her, that I was gonna force he to wear the hideous yellow polka-dot one.”

“Urg! That’s cruel.”

“Exactly,” he boasted “Ya’ know I was all for burnin’ that gawdy dress when her friend gave it to her on her birthday last year, but I’m now savin’ it as a weapon.”

“You are wicked, Heath Sawyer,” she said, enlacing him in her arms.

“I know,” he gloated. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. Then they both turned to their infant son, gazing at him as he fell like a log bundled up in a wool-knitted blanket.