The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

the room with light and heat. Outside, the storm was screaming in a kind of wild triumph, but there, in that room, voices were raised in song.
    In bed, Jude leaned back against Aidan, trying to catch the breath the contractions robbed her of. Every ounce of will was focused on the child who was determined to be born. Such focus and purpose left no room for modesty. She could only be grateful that Trevor knelt at her feet, between her updrawn knees.
    “I have to push. I have to.”
    “Hold on a minute.” That was for himself, bracing room. “You have to stop when I tell you, so I can turn the baby, the head and shoulders.” He’d watched it, he reminded himself, fascinated by the process. He could do it.
    “Okay, on the next contraction, push, and when I say stop, pant and blow.” He wiped the sweat off his forehead with his forearm. He took a breath, let it out.
    “It’s starting. I have to—”
    “Push!” he told her, just as lightning flashed, a million wild jewels of light. And to Trevor’s shock, the baby shot out, a slick bullet, into his hands, and already wailing.
    “Wow.” He stared foolishly at the wriggling, furious life that he held. “She was in a hurry. It’s a girl,” he managed, and looked up. But his eyes met Darcy’s and watched, for the third time, as she wept.
    “Jude.” Rocking, Aidan pressed his face against his wife’s hair. “Look at her. Just look. She’s beautiful.”
    “I want—” Words strangling in her throat, Jude held out her arms. When Trevor laid the baby over her belly, and her hands touched her for the first time, she laughed. “She’s perfect. Isn’t she perfect? She already has hair. Look at her. Such lovely, dark hair.”
    “And a voice to match.” Shawn came around the bed, bent to brush a kiss over Jude’s cheek. “She’s your nose, Jude Frances.”
    “Does she? I think you’re right.” Turning her head, she met Aidan’s mouth with hers. “Thank you.”
    He managed no more than her name before he laid his head on her shoulder.
    “What do we call her?” Darcy turned the cloth she’d dampened again, dabbed at Jude’s face. She wanted to collapse beside the bed, lay her head on it and weep and laugh. Not yet, she ordered herself. Not yet. “What name did you finally choose for her?”
    “She’s Ailish.” Jude stopped counting her daughter’s fingers—look how tiny! how perfect!—to look down at Trevor. “What’s your mother’s name, Trevor?”
    “What?” He hadn’t moved, and now shook his head as if to clear it. “My mother? She’s Carolyn.”
    “Her name is Ailish Carolyn Gallagher. And you’ll all be her godparents.”
    For a little while no one noticed the storm had gone silent.
It was the oddest sensation to find his legs weak when he went downstairs. He felt full of energy, of light, so much so that he thought he could run ten miles without being winded. But his legs were weak as water.
    Brenna and Shawn were already back in the kitchen and had a glass of whiskey poured for him. Without a word, he took it, knocked it back.
    “That’s fine, but now you’ll have to have another.” Brenna did the honors and poured with a generous hand. “For a toast. To Ailish Carolyn Gallagher.”
    They clinked glasses, and he drank again, forgetting his usual caution in the spirit of the event. “Some night.”
    “That it is.” Shawn slapped his back. “God bless you, Trevor, you were a champion.”
    “No offense to Trev, but I’ll give Jude the prize tonight. I hope I’m half as sturdy when my time comes.”
    Trevor raised his glass, then caught the sparkling look that ran between them. “Are you pregnant?”
    “We just announced it tonight at the pub, which is why I’ve tea in my glass instead of whiskey. But you needn’t worry, as I’m not due till February, and we’ll be done with all but the fancy work on the theater.”
    “We should have ours at home as well, Brenna. It was lovely this way.”
    “That’s fine, we’ll do just that. As soon as you figure out how to give birth.”
    “Either way,” Trevor said, “congratulations.” He touched his glass to hers again, and Shawn’s. “Just do me a favor and try not to work as fast as your sister-inlaw. Managing the whole business in under two hours is just a little too nerve-wracking.”
    “With the loveliest of endings. You did a fine job.”
    “That you did,” Shawn agreed. “Now we’d best get over to the pub, spread the word. If you’re up for