English Legacy: The Lifting (Chapter 31)

once settled into sleep,
you have watched, on repeat,
the story of your life
across the ceiling;
and in review.

"I cannot believe my husband sometimes," Elizabeth muttered to herself as she let out the clutch of her Fandango, and left a slight chirp of rubber as she headed towards the hospital; her contractions only seven minutes apart. Brendan hadn't even woken up when she had gone into labor, so she'd left without him.

After shifting into third, she touched the steering wheel buttons for the hands-free phone and called Brendan's cell phone. To her slight surprise, he picked up immediately.

"Liz? Where are you? Everyone is screaming how you just went into labor!"

"That's because I did, my lovable but frustrating-at-times husband," Elizabeth replied, gritting her teeth as another contraction washed over her. "I didn't want to interrupt your beauty sleep, but I suggest that you GET YOUR TANNED *bleep* to the hospital before I reevaluate the sleeping arrangements!"

"Don't worry, Liz!" Brendan chirped. "I bet I make it to the hospital before you do!"
Which, surprisingly, he did. As fast as Elizabeth's red sports car was, it couldn't compare to Grandpa English's teleporter, even with the large head start she had had. He was waiting on the steps of the hospital as Elizabeth drove up, and promptly freaked out like he should have done.

Hey! You didn't mention that it was a brilliant idea for me to take the teleporter! The readers are going to think I'm some sort of moron!

That's because it was *My* brilliant idea, Brendan. And trust Me, I think the readers already think you're glitched. I know I do sometimes. Now hush.
Domestic tranquility restored, it was a few hours later, when Brendan and Elizabeth got into the cab home with their new daughter, Cassandra Laurel English.
Cassandra was another in a series of healthy English babies, and as Elizabeth put her new daughter in her crib for the first time, she could have sworn Cassandra was humming to herself, unlikely as it was.
Brendan was thrilled to be a dad, and turned out to be a surprisingly alert father, even stopping his daily romp in the lawn sprinkler when he sensed that his daughter needed a snuggle, to avoid feeling Lonely. He was sure when she smelled the Outdoors on him, she perked up a little.
Even with the demands of parenting, Elizabeth and Brendan still found the occasion to spend time together. Brendan was a true Lover of the Outdoors, and seemed be playing with the sprinkler every chance he got. He for one, was sure his daughter would Love the Outdoors as well.
With the help of her parents, her grandparents, Aunt Dee and Uncle Zeb, it wasn't long before Cassandra became a toddler. (Creator's Note: Looks like Shante and Elizabeth's jaw is going to carry on to a third generation.)
Everyone in the family was quite convinced Cassandra was going to be a Virtuoso when she grew up, for she made a beeline for the toy xylophone as soon as she could crawl.

Of course, Cassandra wasn't the only one in the English household who was growing up.
It seemed like Kevin had aged up to childhood without anyone noticing, but his birthday turned out to be the same as Cassandra's, so it wasn't long after her party, that he stepped up to a cake of his own.
Needless to say, he's going to be heading to the mirror and the dresser Real Soon Now. along with the three adults who also shared that day as their birthday. But, those are pictures for another day.