Grace Bennett Arrives
Chapter 18 - Grace Bennett Arrives
Grace Elizabeth Bennett was born three weeks later just before sunrise.
She weighed five pounds, fourteen ounces.
She had Claire’s nose, Luke’s dark eyebrows, and a powerful set of lungs.
Luke cried before Claire did.
“You’re crying,” Claire whispered, exhausted.
“I’m aware.”
“You said soldiers don’t cry.”
“I have never said that.”
“You absolutely said that when we watched that dog movie.”
“That was different.”
Claire laughed.
After months of fear, the sound filled the hospital room like something sacred.
Luke held Grace against his chest.
The baby opened one eye and then closed it again.
Claire watched him.
“You look terrified.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“It means you understand the job.”
Luke smiled.
Later that afternoon, his phone buzzed.
A message from Evelyn.
I heard she arrived. I will not come unless you ask me to. Please tell Claire I hope they are both healthy.
Luke showed the message to Claire.
She read it.
Then she handed the phone back.
“Send a picture.”
Luke looked surprised.
“One picture,” Claire said. “No visit.”
He nodded.
The photograph he sent showed Grace wrapped in a white blanket, one tiny hand resting near her cheek.
Evelyn replied with only four words.
May you like
Thank you. She’s beautiful.
For once, she did not ask for more.
