Scarlett Rose's Arc

Chapter 52 of 57

Between contractions, Scarlett looked at the bassinet against the wall and remembered the room at home. The crib frame still sat in pieces by the closet. The dresser had no drawers pulled. The wall Clayton painted three weeks ago still had blue tape along the trim. The babies would come today and there was nowhere to lay them down. "The nursery," she said. Clayton leaned in. "The crib's not built. Nothing's put away." "I'll do it tonight." "You're staying here with me." He did not argue. Dr. Wishborne checked the monitor and stepped out to speak with a nurse. Maya was still at the door, arms folded. Scarlett turned her head on the pillow. "Maya. Please. Go to the cottage. Get Rose. Finish it before we come home." Maya crossed to the bed. "Tools where they always are?" "Barn shelf. The instructions are in the box under the window." "Consider it done." Maya kissed her forehead and was gone. Rose came back in with her phone in her hand. Scarlett explained fast between pulls. Rose did not ask a single question. She wrote a list on the back of the intake form, then handed Clayton the cedar box and the overnight bag to keep at the bedside. "Maya and I will handle it," Rose said. "You do your job. I'll do mine." "Rose. The sheets are in the hall cupboard. The mobile's still in the sack." "I know where everything is. I helped you buy half of it." Rose squeezed her hand. "I'll send a picture when it's done." She left. Clayton pulled the chair close and put both hands over Scarlett's. Another contraction rolled through. Five minutes now. Hours passed the way labor passes. Scarlett stopped watching the clock. Dr. Wishborne coached her through the last stretch. Skye came first at 6:14, red and loud. Azure came four minutes behind him, quieter, blinking at the light. Clayton cut both cords with his hands shaking. Dr. Wishborne laid them on Scarlett's chest. "Both strong," Dr. Wishborne said. "Both yours." Scarlett was crying and could not stop. Clayton pressed his forehead to hers and stayed there. Her phone buzzed on the tray an hour later. She could not reach it. Clayton held it up for her. The picture was the nursery. Crib built and made up with the white sheets. Dresser against the wall, drawers filled. The blue tape gone from the trim. A bouquet of deep blue and purple flowers sat on top of the dresser in a mason jar. Rose stood in the doorway with her thumb up. Maya was on the floor behind her, screwdriver in her lap, grinning. Below the picture, Rose had written: Ready when you are. Bring them home. Scarlett showed Clayton. He looked at the screen a long time. "Home," he said. She nodded against the twins on her chest. The room at home was waiting. So was the rest.