Free Christmas in Paris (A Master Chefs Series Standalone Novel) by Kailin Gow

you,
keeping you safe so I can someday see your little face, kept me walking. I love
you, my baby.” Suddenly overcome with immense fatigue and feeling weighed down
and heavy, Taryn closed her eyes.
    “Are
you all right?” Errol said.
    Smiling
she nodded.  “I’m exhausted.  Who would have thought having a baby could be
so…”
    The
nurse took Errol by the elbow and led him to the door.  “We’ll bring your wife
to the recovery room.  In the meantime, let’s introduce the new family member
to everyone else.”  As he crossed the threshold to the waiting room, he called
out, “Everyone, meet Liberté!”
     

Epilogue
     
     
    Several Days Later
     
    After
days in the hospital, Taryn was released, and two days after that Liberté was
given a clean bill of health and allowed to go to her new home.  She’d already
gained a few ounces since coming into the world and she had a healthy pink
glow.
    “She’s
positively beautiful,” Sam said as she picked up Liberté and cooed.  “And I
just love the tiny pink onesie I got her.  It fits perfectly.”
    “You’re
spoiling her already, Mom,” Taryn said.  “She has more pajamas than she’ll ever
have the chance to wear.  And look at all these toys.”
    “Please,”
Sam said as she cradled Liberté.  “I’m a first time grandmother.  What do you
expect?  For me to just ignore her?”
    Taryn
chuckled.  “Can you ignore her long enough for me to feed her?”
    Reluctantly,
Sam handed her the tiny gurgling bundle, and Taryn headed to the living room and
the rocking chair Errol had set in front of the grand window that overlooked
Paris and its shimmering lights.  She settled in and gave Liberté a breast.
    Not
wanting to be left out of a single moment of her granddaughter’s day, Sam came
up behind Taryn.  “You’re a natural.  Everything seems to come so easy to you.”
    Taryn
smiled up at her mother.  “I learned from the best.”
    Teary
eyed, Sam put her hand on Taryn’s shoulder.
    “I
managed to find a fifteen-pound turkey,” Bobby said as he burst into the
penthouse carrying two heavy grocery bags.  “I figured, if I can’t be in New
York for Thanksgiving, I’d bring Thanksgiving to Paris.”
    “You’re
going to make Thanksgiving dinner?” Taryn said with a pleased grin.
    “Sure. 
Why not?”  Bobby set the bags down then glanced up at Taryn.  “Oh!” he let out
as he quickly averted his gaze.  “There you go again.”
    “Bobby,”
Taryn said, “This is the most natural and wonderful time between a mother and
her child.”
    “Yeah,
yeah.  I know, but for crying out loud.  You’re my sister and…”  He gestured at
her chest all while keeping his gaze to the floor.  “I can’t be looking at
those and…”
    Sam
laughed.  “You know they’re not just there to amuse you men.”
    “I
know,” Bobby cried out.  “I know, but what can I tell you.  While you see a
container of milk to nourish your baby, all I see is…”  He took a quick glimpse
at his sister.  “Oh, brother.”  He turned to the grocery bags.  “If you guys
don’t mind, I’m going to concentrate on dinner.”
    Taryn
and Sam laughed at his discomfort.
    “I
need to get this bird in the oven if we’re going to eat it tonight,” Bobby went
on.  “And wait until you taste my stuffing.  It’ll be like nothing in this
world.”
    Taryn
looked at her little brother and marveled at how he’d matured in the past year,
despite his inability to understand breastfeeding.
    “I
also bought a few Christmas lights,” he said.  “I thought I’d put them up to
make the place cheery and bright.  The city has been so gloomy lately.”
    “Thanks,
Bobby.  That’s really sweet.”  Taryn looked down at Liberté and stood her up to
put her to her shoulder to burp her.
    “When
is Errol getting back?” Bobby said.
    Taryn
sighed.  Disappointed he’d had to leave so soon after the birth of Liberté,
she’d tried to be as understanding as