CHAPTER 36:  SONG OF THE HEART

EMMETT

At five after four in the afternoon they came to get me. I can’t deny that my heart beat out of my chest at all it could mean. “Is she born?”

“Yes, Mr. Honeycutt.”

“Please call me Emmett. Every time you say Mr. Honeycutt, I feel like my father is about to come through the door. And that is not a good feeling, especially right now."

She grinned at me, as if she knew exactly why that was. “No problem, Emmett. And my name is Judy. But to answer your question again, yes, she’s here but there’s also been a new development.” 

“What are you talking about? Heather is okay, isn’t she?” 

My nerves, already on edge, set to jumping even harder at the thought something may have happened to my friend. And yes, Heather is my friend. She just gave me a gift I never even thought to want or need in my life, before she disappeared from it. Part of me is so sad about that, but knowing she won’t be entirely gone, in the form of my newest little angel, is comforting in a small way. If I had to relive my See the Light days for any reason, I would still have taken the journey, just to meet one of the most caring, honest women I have ever known. If something were to happen to her because of this…

The small smile on her lips stopped me in my tracks to look at her. The little red wisps of hair peeking out from underneath her cap seemed to do the same as they curled lovingly around its rim. “Heather is doing wonderful, Emmett. She was so strong and brave. You’re going to be so proud of her.”

“I already am,” I said. And it was true. Knowing that I was going to be a father, I took it upon myself to do a little research of what to expect during the childbirth process. No, I didn't have any intention of being in the delivery room with Heather, but I still wanted to know what was going to happen. “So you mentioned a new development?”

“Yes. I know you wanted your family with you when you saw your child for the first time, but we all thought it would be best if you… well, come on and you’ll see for yourself.”

We continued down to what I assumed was the post-op section. I really wanted to see Heather first to make sure she was really doing okay, but… well, my innate curiosity was getting the better of me just then. Instead of heading down to the maternity ward, we made a sharp left at the corner heading towards the nursery. 

“Wait.” I took a deep breath. 

“Something wrong?”

“No. Yes. I’m kinda nervous. I mean, what if she cries when I hold her? What if all she wants is her mother, and I… Well, I’m me!”

“Oh, Emmett. Don’t worry. From my experience, all first time fathers go through this very thing. They’re going to love you."

“They? Who are they?”

We stopped in front of the big picture window, where she tapped lightly while pointing. As soon as whomever she addressed brought one of the glass bassinets to the front, I looked down with tears in my eyes. My little honey laid there swaddled in pink, with the pink flush of life staining her little cheeks. “Oh my. I’m really a dad,” I whispered, so afraid that even though a glass was separating us, I would wake the sleeping bundle. 

“Of two,” Judy said, just as softly.

“Huh?” I looked at her, not entirely sure if she’d spoken or not. 

Admittedly, I was too wrapped up in that this was my new reality. I had so much to do. I had to ask Jenn if the Bears were able to get all my belongings over to the new house. I knew she wouldn’t be coming home until tomorrow, but I wanted to make sure everything was moving at the rate it should be, so if anything else needed to be done right then, I could write the check to make sure it would all go smoothly. There were just too many variables I didn’t want to deal with, mainly the Novotny faction. 

Just thinking about Michael invading my life and finding out about my little honey made me want to find him and beat him into amnesia ahead of time.

“Whoa, what’s that look about, Emmett? You don’t want to scare your daughters do you?” Judy asked me, laughing when my eyes grew wide. “You can’t be thinking about having to fight off boys already.”

“Wait. Did you say daughters- with an 's'?”

She gently turned me back to the window, adjusting my head downward just slightly, where two placards read my last name. “Congratulations, Mr. Emmett Honeycutt. You are now the father of identical twin girls.”

The next thing I remember is waking up in a hospital recliner next to my friend, with the family looking over me.