BerniceThe hospital room was a flurry of activity as nurses and doctors moved around me, preparing for the imminent arrival of our little girl. I tried to focus on my breathing, just like we’d practiced in the prenatal classes, but it was hard to concentrate with the excitement and anticipation buzzing through me.Christian was by my side, his hand gripping mine tightly. He looked as nervous as I felt, but his eyes were full of love and determination. "You’re doing amazing, Bernie," he murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from my forehead.I managed a smile, squeezing his hand in return. The contractions were coming closer together now, each one more intense than the last. The pain was overwhelming at times, but I reminded myself of the incredible reward that awaited us. I am so going to meet my baby.Dr. Morgan, our obstetrician, appeared at the foot of the bed, her expression calm and reassuring. "Alright, Bernice, it’s time to start pushing. Are you ready?"I nodded, though I
BerniceBringing Hope home from the hospital felt surreal, as if I was stepping into a new world. For me, my second life seemed like really began to start. We opened the door, the house was the same, yet everything felt different now. The living room was now strewn with baby gear, and the nursery was waiting to be filled with my little baby girl's laughter and tears.Christian carried Hope in her car seat, setting her gently on the floor as we both stood there, marveling at the tiny life we’d created. "Welcome home, little one," he said softly. I can see Christian got tried. He didn't sleep the whole night. I sank onto the couch, watching as Hope stretched and yawned, her little fists waving in the air. "I can't believe she's finally here," I murmured, my heart swelling with love and fear.Christian joined me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Neither can I. She's perfect, Bernie. Just like you."I smiled, leaning into his embrace. "I hope she takes after you. I don't want her to
BerniceThe first few weeks with Hope were a whirlwind of sleepless nights and endless feedings. I quickly learned that time had a strange way of blurring when you were a new parent. Days and nights blended into one.But nothing can compare the soft cooing of Hope filled our bedroom as I gently rocked her in my arms. Christian stood by the window, his silhouette framed by the early morning light, phone pressed to his ear.I could tell from the tension in his shoulders that something was up. His voice, usually so calm and controlled, held an edge of excitement and... was that nervousness?"Yes, Grandfather," he said, his free hand running through his hair in a gesture I'd come to recognize as a sign of stress. "We understand. We'll make the arrangements right away."As he ended the call, Christian turned to face me, his expression a mix of emotions I couldn't quite decipher."What is it?" I asked, shifting Hope to my shoulder as I stood. "Is everything okay?"Christian nodded, a small
BerniceAs our car pulled up to Château de la Roseraie, I couldn't help but gasp. The massive limestone building loomed before us, its pale facade gleaming in the afternoon sun like something out of a fairy tale."It's breathtaking," I whispered, my eyes tracing the ornate details of the roof and windows.Christian smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. "Wait until you see inside. Grandfather has a flair for the dramatic."Edward didn't hear this. He was busy with Hope. Edward said," You know, I've been practicing my baby talk all week!""Oh, would you look at that," he cooed, gently tickling Hope's chin. "She's got the Hamilton eyes, that's for certain. Hello there, little one. I'm your Great-Grandpa Eddie. Yes, I am!"Hope, usually shy with strangers, let out a delighted giggle, her tiny hands reaching for Edward's beard."Careful there, sweetheart," I laughed. "I think Great-Grandpa Eddie's beard is not a toy."Edward waved off my concern. "Nonsense! This beard has survived board me
BerniceThe morning sun streamed through the ornate windows of Château de la Roseraie, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table. I cradled Hope in my arms, marveling at how my daughter seemed to grow more alert with each passing day. Her big blue eyes, so like her father's, darted around the room, taking in every detail of our opulent surroundings.Christian sat beside us, alternating between sipping his coffee and making silly faces at Hope. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of my usually composed husband crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue, all in an effort to make our daughter giggle."You know," I teased, "if your board members could see you now, I think they'd have some serious doubts about your leadership skills."Christian grinned, not taking his eyes off Hope. "They'd just be jealous that I have the most beautiful audience in the world."Just then, Edward bustled into the room, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Ah, there's my favorite great-granddaughter!"
BerniceI stood in the arrival hall of Charles de Gaulle Airport, nervously checking my watch for the umpteenth time. Christian squeezed my hand reassuringly."Relax, Bernie. Their flight just landed. They'll be here soon."I nodded, trying to calm my nerves. It had been weeks since I'd seen Cathy, and I couldn't wait to reunite with my best friend. Plus, I was dying to see how she was handling her pregnancy.Suddenly, a commotion near the gates caught my attention. A voice, unmistakably Cathy's, rang out above the airport din."Taylor! Taylor, darling! You simply must keep up. We're in Paris, for crying out loud! No time for dilly-dallying!"I turned to see Cathy waddling towards us, her five-month baby bump proudly on display in a glittery "Bun in the Oven" t-shirt. Behind her, poor Taylor staggered under the weight of what looked like a small mountain of designer luggage."Cathy!" I called out, waving frantically.Her face lit up. "Bernie! Oh my god, look at you! You're glowing, gi
BerniceAs we drove through the streets of Paris, Cathy's excitement only grew. She pressed her face against the window, oohing and aahing at every landmark we passed."Oh. Em. Gee. Is that the Eiffel Tower? It's so... pointy! Taylor, we simply must go to the top. I want to recreate that scene from 'Emily in Paris'!"Taylor, who had finally caught his breath, looked alarmed. "Ms. Cathy, I'm not sure that's advisable in your condition..."But Cathy was already planning our itinerary. "First, we'll do the Tower. Then shopping on the Champs-Élysées. Ooh, and we simply must have croissants at that cute little café I saw on Instagram. You know, the one with the striped awnings and the snooty waiters?"I tried to interject. "Cathy, honey, remember what the doctor said about taking it easy?"She waved off my concern. "Psh, doctors. What do they know? I'm pregnant, not invalid. This baby is half me and half Taylor - it can handle a little adventure!"Poor Taylor looked like he was seriously r
BerniceI woke up to the sound of enthusiastic singing echoing through the château. For a moment, I was disoriented, wondering if I'd somehow been transported to a karaoke bar in my sleep. Then I remembered: Cathy was here.Christian groaned beside me, pulling a pillow over his head. "Is that... is she singing 'La Marseillaise'?"I listened for a moment, then chuckled. "I think it's her own special remix. Something about croissants and berets."As if on cue, Cathy's voice crescendoed: "Allons enfants de la pâtisserie! Le jour de gloire est arrivé!"Christian sat up, his hair adorably mussed. "It's 6 AM. How is she so... awake?"I shrugged, climbing out of bed. "It's Cathy. I'm pretty sure she runs on pure enthusiasm and glitter."We made our way downstairs, following the sound of Cathy's improvised French anthem. We found her in the kitchen, surrounded by what looked like every baking utensil the château possessed. She was wearing a chef's hat that was slightly too big for her, causin
BerniceThe gentle sea breeze ruffled my hair as I stood on the balcony of our Hamptons beach house, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Ten years had passed since that first charity gala, a decade filled with more love, laughter, and fulfillment than I could have ever imagined."Penny for your thoughts?" Christian's voice came from behind me, as familiar and comforting as ever.I turned, smiling as he handed me a glass of wine. "Just reflecting. It's hard to believe it's been ten years."Christian nodded, leaning against the railing beside me. "Ten amazing years. And you know what? I have a feeling the best is still to come."As if on cue, the sound of children's laughter floated up from the beach below. I looked down to see Hope, now fourteen, chasing her younger siblings, seven-year-old Ethan and five-year-old Olivia, through the surf. Melissa and Alex's twins, eight-year-old Sophie and Lucas, were building an elaborate sandcastle nearby."Should we call them in for dinner?" I
BerniceThe grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel buzzed with excitement as New York's elite mingled, their designer gowns and tuxedos glittering under the chandeliers. I smoothed down the front of my own gown - a midnight blue creation that Cathy had insisted I wear - and scanned the room, making sure everything was in place for our charity gala."Relax, Bernie," Christian murmured in my ear, his hand warm on the small of my back. "Everything looks perfect."I turned to him, drinking in the sight of him in his tuxedo. Even after all these years, he still took my breath away. "I know, I know. I just want tonight to be perfect. We've worked so hard on this."Christian smiled, pressing a quick kiss to my temple. "It will be perfect. The Edward Hamilton Foundation's first major fundraiser - how could it be anything but?"I nodded, taking a deep breath to calm my nerves. We had spent months planning this gala, bringing together all our friends and family to support the foundation's mission of
BerniceThe soft spring breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers through Central Park as I watched Melissa and Alex stroll hand in hand ahead of me. Christian walked beside me, pushing Hope's stroller as our daughter babbled happily, pointing at the colorful tulips lining the path."They look happy," I murmured to Christian, nodding towards Melissa and Alex.Christian smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "They do. It's nice to see Melissa like this, isn't it? So carefree and content."I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. After everything Melissa had been through, seeing her find happiness with Alex felt like a small miracle.As we approached the Bethesda Fountain, I noticed Alex becoming increasingly fidgety. He kept reaching into his pocket, his face a mix of nervousness and excitement. I nudged Christian, raising an eyebrow in silent question. He nodded, a knowing smile playing on his lips."You knew, didn't you?" I whispered accusingly.Christian shrugged,
BerniceThe shrill ring of my phone pierced through the peaceful silence of our bedroom at an ungodly hour. I fumbled for it, nearly knocking over the lamp in my sleep-addled state."Hello?" I mumbled, squinting at the too-bright screen."BERNICE!" Cathy's voice exploded through the speaker, causing me to jerk the phone away from my ear. "I need you! It's an emergency! "I sat up, instantly alert. "Cathy? What's wrong? Is Lily okay?""Lily? Oh, she's fine. Sleeping like an angel, the little traitor," Cathy huffed. "No, it's much worse. I'm filing for divorce!"I blinked, trying to process this information. "Divorce?! Cathy, what are you talking about?""I'm leaving Taylor!" she wailed dramatically. "I can't take it anymore, Bernie. He's driving me insane! Do you know what he did?""What did he do?" I asked cautiously, already suspecting this was going to be something ridiculous."He left his socks on the floor. AGAIN!" Cathy's voice rose to a pitch that I'm sure only dogs could hear.
BerniceThe familiar New York skyline greeted us as our car wound its way through the city streets. After the rugged beauty of Scotland, the urban landscape felt both jarring and comforting. Hope was fast asleep in her car seat, her new stuffed highland cow clutched tightly to her chest."Home sweet home," Christian murmured, his hand finding mine in the space between us.As we pulled up to our building, I saw the doorman, George, step forward to help with our luggage. His familiar face broke into a warm smile as he saw us."Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Miller," he said, opening the car door. "How was your trip?""Wonderful, George, thank you," Christian replied, carefully lifting the still-sleeping Hope from her car seat. "But it's good to be home."I followed them into the building, my mind already racing with all the things we needed to do. Unpack, sort through mail, check in with work... The list seemed endless.As we entered our apartment, the silence enveloped us. After the bustle
BerniceThe early morning sun streamed through the windows of our Paris apartment, casting a golden glow over the scattered suitcases and travel documents strewn across the bed. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my blouse and taking a deep breath. Today was the day we'd been planning for weeks - our family trip to Scotland, to Christian's ancestral home."Mama! Mama!" Hope's excited voice preceded her as she toddled into the room, her little arms outstretched. I scooped her up, pressing a kiss to her chubby cheek."Are you ready for our big adventure, sweetheart?" I asked, smoothing down her unruly curls.Hope nodded enthusiastically. "See sheep!" she declared, her face lighting up with joy.I laughed, remembering the picture books of Scotland we'd been reading to her. "That's right, we're going to see lots of sheep. And castles, and lochs, and maybe even a highland cow or two."Christian appeared in the doorway, looking handsome in a casual sweater and jeans. The pendant I'd
BerniceThe soft glow of my desk lamp cast shadows across the scattered sketches and gemstones before me. It was well past midnight, but sleep eluded me. I was searching for a way to help Christian through his mourning.I picked up a rough sapphire, turning it over in my palm. Its deep blue reminded me of Edward's eyes, always twinkling with mischief and kindness. An idea began to form in my mind, a way to capture a piece of Edward's spirit in something tangible that Christian could carry with him.With renewed energy, I began to sketch. The design took shape under my pencil - a simple yet elegant pendant. A teardrop-shaped sapphire, surrounded by a delicate filigree of white gold, designed to look like the intertwining branches of a family tree. At the base of the pendant, almost hidden within the metalwork, I planned to engrave Edward's initials and the coordinates of his favorite spot in Paris - a bench in the Jardin des Tuileries where he used to take Christian as a boy.As the fi
BerniceIt was a moment of pure magic, tinged with the bittersweet knowledge that it might be one of Edward's last.The night stretched on, marked by Edward's labored breathing and occasional coughs. His skin had taken on a grayish pallor, and his cheeks seemed more sunken than ever. Every so often, his eyes would flutter open, unfocused and glassy, before closing again.Dr. Fournier entered the room for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He checked Edward's vitals with practiced efficiency, his brow furrowing as he noted the dropping blood pressure and weakening pulse. "We've increased his morphine dosage," he murmured to Christian. "He shouldn't be in any pain now."Edward's fingers twitched sporadically against the bedsheet, and his breathing became more irregular - sometimes rapid and shallow, then pausing for long, terrifying moments before resuming. The oxygen mask fogged rhythmically with each exhale, a visual reminder of his continuing fight.As dawn approached, Edw
BerniceChristian rushed in, followed closely by Dr. Fournier. For the next few minutes, the room was a flurry of activity as the doctor checked Edward's vitals and responses.Slowly, miraculously, Edward's eyes fluttered open. They were unfocused at first, but then they found Christian's face."Chris... Christian," he rasped, his voice barely audible around the breathing tube.Christian's face broke into a smile, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm here, Grandfather. I'm right here."Dr. Fournier quickly removed the breathing tube, replacing it with an oxygen mask. "Mr. Hamilton," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Try not to speak too much. You've been through quite an ordeal."Edward nodded weakly, his eyes never leaving Christian's face. He lifted a shaky hand, which Christian immediately grasped."I'm sorry," Edward whispered. "I'm so sorry."Christian frowned, confused. "Sorry? Grandfather, you have nothing to be sorry for. You're going to be okay. You're going to get better