Finding Her Forever Family

He smiled and leaned against the doorframe.

Aiyana doubled over again, her face turning a deeper shade of purple.

Carmen gave a thumbs-up. “First baby’s head is crowning.”

Ned craned over his wife’s shoulder, unable to see.

Wendy nodded toward a large mirror on a stand in the corner. “Can we use that?”

“Fine with me,” Carmen said. “As long as Mom agrees.”

“Aiyana, do you want Ned to see your babies being born?” Wendy asked.

Her sister-in-law nodded, her dark eyes glassy.

Wendy and Tom positioned the mirror so both soon-to-be parents could watch.

The next twenty minutes went by in a blur. A primal scream from Aiyana, the sound of something popping, then a squelching sound as Carmen held baby number one’s head and a single shoulder. Aiyana pushed again and soon the sounds of relieved laughter and a newborn baby girl’s wail mingled together into a joyful noise. The celebration was short-lived, however, as Aiyana gave a second, determined cry and bore down again. Baby number two entered the world a few minutes later, quivering and covered in muck and crying to his little heart’s content.

Carmen handled the squalling little bodies, with the help of a delivery nurse, then placed the infants one by one directly onto Aiyana’s chest. Wendy glanced over to see Tom wipe the corners of his eyes before stepping silently from the room.

“They’re perfect, uuman.” Ned stroked his daughter’s head. The baby wrapped four little fingers around his index finger.

Aiyana stared at her twins, eyes wide as she kissed their heads. The boy’s mewling cries became a lusty wail as Carmen tucked a warming blanket over each baby.

Wendy couldn’t think of a single thing to say, her heart full to bursting with so many feelings—love, yearning, sadness, relief.

“I did it.” Aiyana stroked her son’s cheek with her finger and the baby looked up, tiny mouth puckered. Her daughter watched her too, face alert, following her mother’s voice.

“You did,” Wendy said, smiling through her tears. She leaned in to whisper near her new niece and nephew, “Welcome to the world.”