Page 41 of The Best of Madeline Grant

Finlay and Jamie both ran over to hang onto the railing as Jake carried his wife up the stairs.

“You hid it?”

“You were so afraid of us that you could not tell anyone?”

Jake slowed a bit to reply. “Aye, Aline didn’t want you arguing with us about whether we’ll have a lad or lassie. We do not care what we have.”

A loud boom caught all their attentions. “Lads!” Alex shouted, having just stomped his foot on the floor. “Give the mothers-to-be some peace, please.”

Finlay and Jamie both shrunk back from the stair railing. Jamie blushed a bit and whispered, “My apologies, Aline.”

Aline replied with a long moan, her hands clenched in fists across her belly. “Hurry, Jake. I know Aunt Jennie wanted us all upstairs together since it seems we’re going to have our bairns on the same day, but you need to make haste or I’ll have our bairn on the staircase.

Jake traveled the rest of the way up the stairs, taking Aline to a chamber off to the right. Finlay and Kyla were to the far left with Jamie and Gracie’s chamber in the middle.

Jennie checked on Kyla first, then emerged long enough to lean over the railing. “Things are progressing well. Maddie and Caralyn have everything under control.” She moved down to Gracie’s room, then came back out to give them another update. “Gracie is also progressing well. Brenna and Ashlyn have everything under control. I’m going to stay with Aline. Celestina, would you mind assisting me?”

Celestina jumped with delight. “I’d love to.”

Moments later, Jake came flying down the stairs and charged over to Jamie and Finlay, the two of them still arguing. He gave Jamie a shove and said, “And that is why Aline and I kept it a secret. I didn’t wish for my wife to have to listen to you two. Lad or lassie, I’ll love both, though I’m quite sure we’ll have the first laddie.”

“Hellfire, Jake, that was underhanded,” Finlay ran his hand through his dark red hair, sweat dotting his brow. “I didn’t know I had to worry aboutbothof you. One is hard enough.”

Alex sat down in his chair and allowed the banter to continue for a few moments, before he finally ground out, “You’re all fools.”

In unison, the three fathers-to-be repeated, “What?”

“Why?” Jake asked, bewilderment clear on his face.

“Because your wee wives are up there working harder than they ever have, and you three are down here acting like having a bairn is naught. If you truly wished to show your wife respect, you’d be by her side mopping her brow and holding her hand. I never missed one of my children’s births.”

The three young men exchanged glances and then took off toward the staircase at the same exact time, shoving at one another along the way.

Brodie said, “They’ll never survive this, Alex.”

It was the longest night Alex had ever been through, though the joyous laughter abounded in the great hall and there was much ale consumed. He was nearly as nervous as his wee wife, though he’d never admit it to anyone. Six. He had six clan members to worry about. Three new ones and three lassies giving birth.

At one point, Rose sighed and said, “I just love Clan Grant, husband. They all love each other so much, though they show it in different ways.”

Finally, about three hours later, Celestina came out of Jake and Aline’s chamber and announced, “It’s a wee laddie!”

The door at the opposite end opened and Maddie came out, leaned over the railing and said, “’Tis a laddie!”

Amid the applause and celebration, the third door opened and Ashlyn came out of the chamber, her face tear-stained. “’Tis a wee laddie.”

Alex’s voice came out as a shout above the others. “Brenna, Caralyn, Jennie!”

All three healers stepped out and Brenna, in the middle of the other two, asked, “What is it, Alex?”

“Which one was first?”

The entire hall turned silent in an instant, awaiting her answer.

Brenna looked at Jennie, who said, “I’d say five minutes ago.”

Caralyn shrugged her shoulders. “I’d say the same.”

Brenna nodded to the group. “There you have it. All three lads were born at exactly the same time. You’ll have to deal with it, Alex. They’re all your grandsons.” The three healers returned to their chambers to finish their work.