It was now only a couple days till Christmas and Julia was two days past her due date and she was starting to get irritable and their baby was being stubborn as can be and not at all impatient.

They were in the middle of a conversation when a knock came to the door as Anthony let what looked to be a new client in as Julia came and stood by him.

"I'm looking for the lady who owns this business."

"That would be me."

"I'm looking for hard-working and tough decorators to decorate two houses I just bought."

"I'm sorry, but did you just say you bought two houses?"

"Yes I did."

"Why?"

"Mary Jo, Charlene?"

"Why on earth would anyone buy two houses? That's the reason why a lot of Americans are filing and going into bankruptcy."

"That's not the only reason Mary Jo. I'm sorry about their callous and demeanor attitudes towards you."

"There's no need to apologize Mrs. Bouvier, I bought two houses because I can either run to one or the other when I'm either lonely or feeling fed up."

"Can't you just go to another room?"

"No, because I bought two houses for a reason."

"Why is that?"

"Charlene, that's none of our business." Julia said.

"Oh, it's alright. My first house is going to be for my wife and she makes me feel lonely and fed up, so as long as she's happy then, I can have my own house where me and my girlfriend will be staying." He said as everyone looked at each other.

...

"How in the world are we supposed to decorate two houses for a man who has a wife and a mistress?" Mary Jo asked.

"Mary Jo, we have no choice but to because we are decorators and I can't risk losing a customer."

"Julia, this is not a good idea and I'm not comfortable with it."

"Ladies, I understand but we don't have any new customers until the beginning of the year starts and that's our best bet right now." Julia said

"Okay, I guess we have no other choice."

"I understand how you feel and I feel the same way, but we get a big payout in the end, so look forward to that."

"Alright, you convinced us." Charlene said as Anthony came in with Bernice.

"Hello Bernice, we weren't expecting you." Julia said as she hugged her.

"Anthony said you were about to have the baby, so I decided to come along so we can go to the hospital."

"Bernice, I said that she was two days past her due date."

"Same thing."

"Julia, I bet we could try something to get her to come out."

"Oh no. I'm fine, she'll come when she's ready."

"It doesn't look like that'll happen any time soon." Charlene said.

"I know y'all are anxious for me to have her, but I had Payne late too."

"Okay, we'll just wait for her to come then."

"She'll be here soon." Julia said.

...

It was late at night and Julia could not get comfortable, somewhere between tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position and her husband's snoring, she was just about to close her eyes when a contraction hit her as she noted it as false labor but they kept on coming after the last one had subsided.

She knew she'd have to wake Anthony up soon and call the ladies, but she wanted to wait until she knew she might need to go to the hospital and then, she looked down at her feet and noticed her water had broke.

"Anthony?" She nudged him as he woke up.

"Hey baby, what's wrong?" Anthony asked as he turned on the bed side lamp.

"Whoo! Remember just a few hours ago when I said that our baby will come when she's ready?" Julia said as Anthony got ready to jump up and get ready.

"Yes I do."

"Well, it's time. My water just broke and my contractions are coming at a fast pace."

"Alright, I'll call Mary Jo and Charlene real quick, grab the suitcases and the baby's bag."

"Make that a quick phone call honey." Julia said as she needed to change so she steadily got off the bed and easily looked for a change of clothes when another contraction hit her.

A few moments later

"Okay baby, Mary Jo and Charlene are gonna meet us at the hospital. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Julia said as Anthony helped her descend down the staircase by walking in front of her.

...

As they made their way to the hospital, Julia's contractions were coming closer and closer together as she held Anthony's hand and the side of her seat.

"Just breathe in and out baby." Anthony said as he reached the hospital, somewhere between scared to death and ready to meet their daughter.

Mary Jo and Charlene helped Anthony grab their things as he focused on Julia's contractions.

"How far apart are her contractions?"

"Her last one lasted a few minutes and a couple of seconds."

"Can we hurry up and get in there before I have our daughter in the parking lot?" Julia demanded as her contractions made her much more feisty than she really was.

"Are y'all ready to have a baby?" Anthony asked them.

"Oh yeah!" They all said as Julia had another contraction.

"Oh, I'm hoping to have that epidural."

"We'll get you one baby." Anthony said as he kissed her.

"Let's go have our daughter."

"Nothin' ever sounded so good." Anthony said as they wheeled Julia up to the from desk.

"Mrs. Bouvier?" Their doctor approached them.

"Yes, we're ready to have a baby."

"Anthony, has her water broke yet?"

"Yes it has."

"Jane, please take Mrs. Bouvier to the room at the end of the hall."

"Yes doctor." The young nurse said as they got her all set up with the IV and blood pressure cuff.

"Just so y'all know, I'm not pleasant through labor."

"Who is? You literally have a child being pushed and forcing her way out of your body." Mary Jo said.

"I just wanted to say thank you for always loving me even though, I can be a pain."

"Speaking of pain, where's Suzanne and Bernice?" Charlene asked.

"I'll go call them." Anthony said.

"We'll take good care of her while your gone Anthony."

"Well, I thank you ladies. I'll go call them now and let 'em know what's going on."

"Great idea."

"Do y'all need anything?"

"Ice chips." Julia said.

"I'll go get them for you." Charlene said as Mary Jo stayed by her side as Anthony and Charlene walked out.

''How are you feeling?"

"Scared."

"There's nothing to be scared of. You'll have us and she'll be here soon."

"I know, but what if something goes wrong?"

"If they have to perform a c-section, then that's what God intended and what'll be best for you and her."

"I know it's crazy to dream of something that I always wanted again, but I wish Hayden was here."

"We all do honey, but I believe he saw you hurting and that's why he sent Anthony."

"Gosh, I still feel like I'm dreaming about this but I know I'm not."

"Even though Hayden is not here physically, he'll always be there in spirit to cheer you on through anything you do." Mary Jo said as her and Julia wiped away tears.

"I know he is, but I can't stop thinking about how it feels to want him near me again. When he was alive, I felt like I was on top of the world. Now, Anthony makes me feel like that and more." Julia said as Anthony and Charlene walked back in.

"Baby, Suzanne and Bernice are on their way here." Anthony said as Julia felt another contraction.

"That's... great honey. Whoo! Hoo hoo." Julia breathed in and out as she had both Anthony and Mary Jo's hands for support.

"Here, let this ice chip melt in your mouth. You need to stay hydrated." Charlene said.

"Labor pains are the worst."

"But the best is yet to come." Julia heard that familiar voice as she seen the angel figure of her beloved Hayden.

"Oh honey." Julia started crying.

"Hey baby, don't cry."

"I can't help it, you're here."

"I couldn't miss one of the most important days in your life."

"Are you mad?"

"No sweetheart, I sent Anthony to you because I knew you grew tired of being alone after I died and I hated how I left you and Payne."

"If I could have one wish and I do mean one, I would wish that you were still here and how we'd make up for lost times and we'd have another baby like we always wanted."

"I know baby, but I sent you someone who would make all those dreams come true, the ones I could not fulfill."

"But you did darlin', we had Payne and that's one of the biggest blessings in my life but I miss you."

"And I miss you too angel, but you're about to have so many blessings in your life, you would not believe it."

"Hayden McIllroy, what do you have up your sleeve?"

"Well God has all the plans, I'm just your guardian angel who was sent to tell you that you have nothing to worry about."

"That's the best news I've heard in a long time."

"I know and now, I have to get going but just know this baby, I'll always love you."

"And I'll always love you too." Julia said as he kissed her cheek and faded away as Julia felt herself jolt out of her sleep.

"What's wrong Julia?" Mary Jo asked as she was scared that Julia might be in pain.

"Nothing, wait why was I asleep?"

"They gave you a shot to relax you during contractions and they gave you your epidural already."

"Hey baby, what's wrong?" Anthony asked as he woke up.

"Nothing darlin', I was just dreaming of something."

"Must've been some dream." Suzanne said.

"Oh it was."

"Does anybody know what she's dilated to yet?" Bernice asked.

"She's only three centimeters dilated."

"Well, that means she'll be here soon." Julia said.

"Well, let's get some more sleep because we're going to need it after Julia's epidural wore off." Mary Jo said.

"Just remember, labor pains are temporary."

"But the best is yet to come." Everyone said.

Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the long wait! Anyway, here's the new chapter and I hope you enjoy! ❤