Keeper Of The Stars Pt 06

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and it was created solely by me as the author. Any similarities to characters, businesses, places, or things are all happenstance, though my appreciation to those who have

inspired

my works is immense.

Author's Note:

This is the sixth part of many to come in a series I believe many of you have come to love. Please keep in mind that my stories are STORIES, so many details make for fun, exciting, and interesting plot lines. Please remain calm in awaiting the next installment, but I assure you, it'll be worth it. Questions and comments are welcome. I hope everyone will be kind. Please take the time to rate this story, and don't forget to follow me if you haven't!

Keeper of the Stars - part 6

One Day in April

Luke walked into the kitchen and found Savannah crying at the kitchen table. "You heard, huh?" Luke asked her and stood with his back against the counter. Savannah nodded.

"Dang it, Van. I really wanted to be the one to tell you. You know, it didn't mean anything, obviously." Savannah was very confused. He was clearly not talking about the reason she was crying.

"Why don't you tell me, then," she requested of him quietly.

"Last week, I had a flashback from Halloween. I had just come out of the store with the flowers and was reaching into my truck to get a pen to fill out the card. I did that while standing next to my door so I could write with the truck underneath it rather than on the leather of the middle section, you know?" Savannah nodded as she watched Luke. "I smiled as I wrote the last part and turned to get into my truck when I realized Tracy Jones was standing in my way."

"Rick's Tracy?"

"That's the one," Luke answered with a nod. "I jumped because I was thinking about getting home to you. I said 'hello, Tracy. Um, excuse me,' but she wouldn't move. She acted like it was a real honor for me to be standing so close to her. It made me kinda nauseous, to tell you the truth. She had on a lot of perfume stuff. Anyway, she didn't want to move, so I asked her what she wanted.

"'Oh, come on, Luke,' she told me. 'You act like we're not old friends. Give me a hug at least!' I shook my head and patted her arm as she tried to wrap her arms around me. I told her that I had to get going, and when I leaned in to step around her, she grabbed me and tried kissing me. It all happened really quickly, and I was so thrown off. I used my arm to slide her to the side so I could get away from her and into my truck."

"OK, that sounds awful, but does Rick know?"

"Hold on, there's more," Luke advised. "I managed to drive away, and then I was in the accident. Well, I called my lawyer immediately after I remembered that. Turns out, it was important. You know how they've managed to keep the name of the drunk driver out of the case? You can do a whole lot with a lot of money. Anyway, the driver was Tracy's uncle, and he had just gotten a call from his niece telling him that Luke Heartland had just hit her."

"What?" Savannah asked and shook her head. "Wait, the accident..."

"...was intentional," Luke answered before Savannah could continue piecing it all together. "So, all this came out in court today. The money he paid to keep his name off documents won't work anymore because, when my lawyer asked about Tracy, he ended up coming clean about all of it. Tracy will be tried for being an accessory because she told him to do it, and he did. Otherwise, he never would have been there."

"Oh, poor Rick," Savannah responded softly. He wasn't her favorite person, but he was a cousin, and she had learned to warm up to him. She had bad feelings about Tracy, but she and Rick seemed happy. She just wanted to be happy for them.

"So, Savannah, you didn't seem to know what I was talking about that whole time," Luke noted and sat down next to her. "That was all news to you, wasn't it? And if it was news, then the tears weren't about that." He reached over and took her hand. "What's wrong?"

Savannah took a deep breath and let it out. She'd just been given a whole lot of information at one time. He must have thought that she was upset because a girl hugged him or tried to kiss him? Or maybe there was actually a kiss, and he pushed her off him? Either way, it wasn't his fault and not something to be upset with him about. Well, the time was now to give her own news. "My mom died this morning," she finally shared and reached for another tissue. "Dad called me around 11am and told me."

"Oh, Savannah, I'm so sorry," Luke replied and moved closer to hold her. She cried silently into his arms and shook her head.

"He's not doing anything for a memorial or even a funeral. She didn't want that. She'll be cremated, and Dad will keep her ashes, and that's that."

"Are you alright?" Luke asked her. "Do you need something? Do you want to do something in her honor?"

"No," she answered thoughtfully. "I think we need to just go on living, I guess. And this is too new for me to process entirely. I would like to do what we usually do when you get home, if that's alright."

Luke nodded and offered his hand for her to take so he could bring her up to their room. He got undressed as she sat in the chair on her side of the bed. He got into the shower while she rubbed her belly. She loved that they had gotten into this routine. What had happened once on a whim back in January had turned into a nearly daily event. They'd always have these memories for their first child.

When Luke came out of the bathroom wearing a towel, Savannah smiled at him as he took his place on the floor in front of her. She laid her head back and closed her eyes.

"Hey there, Baby H," he greeted their child warmly as he held Savannah's belly and moved her shirt out of the way. As if the baby knew he was talking to it, Savannah's belly moved. "There you are," he whispered and touched the places where Baby H was kicking and moving. "So, I had a day

today

," he shared as he usually did and began telling his story.

"And I'm really sorry to share this other news," Luke continued. "Your grandma Angela passed away this morning. You would have liked her. She was super sweet, very excited about you, and loved your mommy something fierce." As Luke continued to tell the baby about Savannah's mom, Savannah silently cried and smiled as he shared a few stories of his impressions about Angela.

Luke kissed Savannah's belly and then stood up. "I'm gonna get dressed and then take you down to have dinner and spend the evening holding you. Sound OK?" Savannah nodded and watched him take off the towel and walk over to his dresser.

"I love you, you know," Savannah told him from across the room. Luke turned to face her after he'd pulled on his shorts and smiled at his wife.

"I love

you

, you know." He threw on a shirt and walked over to stand in front of her. She took his hand and managed to get up, belly first, of course, and hugged him back when he took her into his arms. "Does this mean we have to not have sex for some amount of time as a way of mourning?"

"Are you kidding?" Savannah asked him and scoffed. "I'm already ready to pounce on you tonight at bedtime. Unless..." And that was how they ended up having sex before dinner that day.

***

In the morning of June 10, Luke went to do chores and then took the rest of the day off to spend with Savannah since it was the two-year anniversary of the day they met. He had gone back to bed to sleep with her until she woke up. He made her breakfast and took her for a walk around the farm. She was a week past her due date, incredibly uncomfortable, and a little irritable. She knew Luke didn't care. She was having his baby, and she could be any way she wanted to be as long as she was healthy and safe. He always made sure to tell her that.

"You look stunning today, my love," Luke complimented her as they passed Andy and Ana's house. He'd told her this every day since she'd reached eight and a half months pregnant, which happened to be on his 24th birthday.

Savannah sighed as she often did. She was debating about whether to point out the multiple ways she was not stunning, or to simply thank him. "Thank you, Luke," she answered and smiled at him. As they walked a little further, they passed Max's house. "I appreciate that you took today off to spend with me. Can you believe it's been two years? Part of me feels like we've been together forever. Part of me feels like we practically met only yesterday."

"I hear you," Luke agreed. She knew he was debating about whether to make a joke about the fact that they definitely didn't only meet yesterday due to the baby in her belly. She was like a ticking time bomb at times. Sometimes, she found things hilarious, and other times, she felt attacked and very annoyed. She felt bad that he had to watch what he said around her.

They got to the pond and began walking around it. They obviously had no plans to utilize that clipboard to sign up to skinny dip in the pond anytime soon. The summer before had been amusing though. Skinny dipping when you're married and can do it regularly isn't as fun as it would have been for those who were sneaking around. She heard from Ana, though, that after having a baby, the excitement would come back. Any date away from baby was practically sneaking around anyway. She guessed they would see.

"Can I ask you something?" Luke asked her. This was his way of asking that she not bite his head off. They'd done a lot of learning over the past month.

"Sure, honey." She was getting tired already.

"Are you nervous? I mean, are you concerned at all about any of the birth?"

"Yes, a little," Savannah admitted and held his arm tighter. "I'm not really worried about the pain. I'm more concerned with complications during the birth."

"Anything else?"

"Just, you know, a woman has natural instincts to some degree, but I don't know. I just worry about things you can't know will be an issue until it happens. I guess I don't really know. I won't know until it's time."

"Soon, sweetheart," Luke assured her and brought her closer to himself so he could kiss her cheek. "Soon we will be a family of three."

"Luke, what if I don't know how to do the mom thing? My mom wasn't affectionate. She was always at arms-length. What if I find myself being like that?"

"Have you ever seen yourself with Kolbe or Erika?" Luke asked her with a knowing smile. She knew he was probably right, but she was having doubts now and then. Stupid hormones.

"Luke?"

"Getting tired?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "I know the walks are good for me to get out and about and keep the circulation flowing, but it's very draining."

"And Savannah, you're allowed to take naps. You're allowed to rest all day if you want or need to."

"But you took the day off," Savannah argued. "You did that so we could spend time together."

"And here we are," he responded and squeezed her hand. "We'll be spending lots of time together soon too. Sweetheart," Luke said to her as he stopped in front of their house, "let's get you upstairs to bed. I'll tuck you in and be here when you get up, alright?"

Savannah laid down and smiled as Luke laid down behind her to hold her belly with her. Sometimes he'd do that until she fell asleep. She loved this part.

Savannah woke up feeling groggy and tired. She moved to lie on her back so she could roll over the other way to get up. Suddenly, she heard a pop and became soaked as if she'd just lost bladder control.

"Oh, no," she whispered and looked down. She could barely see that her water broke. "Luke!" she yelled. No answer. "Luke?" she yelled again.

"Vanna?" Tabi called up from the bottom of the stairs.

"Tabi? Where's Luke, honey?"

"He went to the store and asked me to stay here for you," she explained. "What's up?"

"Honey, can you go and get ME? Tell her my water broke."

"Your water

broke

?" Tabi asked with concern.

"Yes, sweetie," Savannah answered and shook her head. She was concerned that Tabi would think something was literally broken. "Just tell her my water broke, and I'm up in my bed."

"OK," she yelled and ran out the door.

Savannah wasn't sure if she should go to the bathroom, stay where she was, or change the bedding. She had clean sheets in the hall closet. And then a contraction hit.

"Oh!" she moaned and held her belly. "Alright, Baby H," she grunted. "I'll just stay put. You do the same until Aunt ME gets here, alright?"

She reached for her phone to look at the time. She knew she should probably time the contractions so that when ME came, she could tell her that much. She didn't know much else. What did Luke need at the store?

After about five minutes, another contraction hit her. "Oh," she moaned and held her belly. It got tight as the contraction found its way around her belly, and then gradually, the pressure lifted. "Baby H? You doing OK? I have no idea how many more of those we'll be sharing, but I'm game for this trip if you are. I think we're gonna meet today."

Just as her next five-minute contraction hit, Savannah heard the front door open and the screen door slam. She hated it when people let it slam like that. She assumed it was ME and also assumed that ME didn't want to hear about her distaste for the noise of the door. "Oh!" Savannah yelled this time, and the contraction spread around her belly hard and fast this time.

"Savannah, honey, I'm here," ME told her and knelt next to her as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Contractions?"

"Five," she gasped and then took in a deep breath before continuing, "minutes," she answered and exhaled. "Whew!" she told Baby H and rubbed her belly. "That was an intense one, huh?"

"Alright, so we have two options," ME told her. "We can take this over to your favorite medical room, or you can have the baby here in your house. Either way, this bed? You may want to tell Luke to order another mattress."

"It's in the guest room," Savannah answered. "He was so sure my water would break here in bed that he wanted to get it so that we had it. I asked him what we needed a new mattress for since this one is only four years old, but he insisted. Score one for my husband."

"He's scored at least twice," ME mumbled and smiled at her joke.

"Oh, you're funny, MEeeeeee!" Savannah accused and then grunted through another contraction. "Oh, gosh, that's tight!" Savannah groaned as she held her belly.

"You know, since the bed is already getting replaced, let's just do this here," ME decided and set her bag on the table next to the bed. She carefully brought over the things that had bene sitting on the table to Luke's dresser. "I need to check you. Contraction done?" Savannah nodded and worked on catching her breath. "Good. Let's get you into a gown. I have a pad that can go under you so you won't have to lie in all that fluid, but we'll set you up on the other side of the bed."

Savannah did as she was told and managed to make it over to the other side of the bed without contracting. ME checked her and found that she was already five centimeters. Another contraction came at only three and a half minutes causing Savannah to bellow as it felt even more intense.

"Whoa!" she moaned and held her belly as ME propped pillows behind her. "Oh, man, Baby H, are these as intense for you? Oh," she groaned and shook her head.

"I'm going to check your heart rate and blood pressure, Savannah, and then check on the baby too, alright? Hang in there, sweetie," ME encouraged her.

"Where's Luke?" Savannah asked as she worked on catching her breath. "I need him here! He is going to want to be here, ME! What the hell did he need at the store?!"

"I don't know, honey, but screaming while I'm taking your blood pressure isn't helpful, OK? I know you're kinda freaking out, but he'll be here." Savannah moaned but sat still enough for ME to get good readings for her and the baby. "OK, everything looks really good. I can get you some ice to suck on if you want, or I can play some music, or I can shut up and let you do this the way you want."

"I'm OK for now," Savannah told her and nodded.

"OK, I'll set up everything for after," ME responded and walked out of the room. When she came back, she was holding a large bag out of which she took a scale. "I had a feeling you'd be doing this here, so I got things ready and stored in the room just in case."

"Another one," Savannah informed her and yelled through the contraction. "Wow, these hurt," Savannah reacted as she rubbed her belly. "It's like my body is trying to get rid of the baby as quickly as possible."

"Uh, yeah, something like that," ME agreed and smiled.

"I feel like I need to push," Savannah shared and winced.

"Well, its best that you don't until you're fully dilated. I just checked you a little bit ago, but if you feel that way after the next contraction, I'll check again. You do seem to be moving along quickly."

When the next contraction came, Savannah moaned until she couldn't handle it and then chose to scream through the pain. She heard the front door slam, a pause, and then pounding of steps. "Van?"

"Her water broke, and her contractions are moving her along quickly," ME answered as she checked Savannah's cervix again. When she took off her gloves, she watched as Luke knelt on the floor next to where Savannah was lying. "I'm glad you got back here," ME told him and laughed, "because we're about to have this baby. Savannah, you're already at ten. It's time to push. When the next contraction comes, I'm going to need you, Luke, to grab her leg and push it up while I hold the other one."

"Oh, it's gonna be soon," Savannah advised and moaned as she felt it coming.

"Good, Savannah, as soon as it hits, you push," ME instructed. "Bear down and push!"

Savannah felt it hit, and she pushed. The pressure she felt was unlike any other. She groaned as she attempted to expel the tiny human from within her.

"Good! You're doing so good, Savannah," ME coached and motioned for Luke to go do something. Savannah didn't know what.

"Here, Van," Luke offered and placed a cool washcloth on her forehead. "You're amazing, sweetheart. You're doing this. I knew you could, and I knew you'd be amazing at it."

Savannah could only moan her response to him. She didn't say anything and nearly whined that she could feel another one coming already. She sat up, and Luke took his position again. Savannah pushed and pushed through her contraction, and then she felt it. The ring of fire. The way it felt was exactly like Ana and Miša had explained it to her. They'd chosen to sit her down and tell her what to expect so she wasn't blindsided. Both had had someone let them know about it. They wanted Savannah to have the same support.

As Savannah felt the contraction recede, she moaned and turned toward Luke who wiped her face again. ME looked at her and smiled. "You're crowning, so we're looking at just a few more pushes, alright, Savannah?" Savannah nodded and put her head back on the pillow.

Before she could get comfortable, another contraction roared to life in her belly. She sat up and got positioned as she pushed. "Good, Savannah! Good!" ME yelled at her, and as the contraction died down, ME reached forward and did something between her legs. "The head is out. On this next one, you're gonna have a baby in your arms! Breathe, honey. This is it!"

It didn't take long for the next contraction to hit her, and she pushed like her life depended on it. ME looked like she was helping with something, and then Savannah felt the sudden emptiness of her nether region.

"It's a girl!" ME yelled as she placed a blanket quickly around the baby and laid her on Savannah's chest. "Congratulations, Mommy! And Daddy! Luke! You're a father! It's a girl!"

Savannah looked down at the little life that lay on her chest. She didn't think about the fact that she was wide open and exposed or that she'd just pushed a living being out of her body. She was mesmerized by the beautiful little girl who was staring up at her.