The sequel to "Dangerous Illusions"

Two Weeks Later

Amanda was restless. The thunderstorm had been raging outside for what seemed like hours to her. She hated storms. She jumped as a bolt of lightning illuminated their bedroom. She sat up and looked at Cameron with disdain. How could he sleep through this? He was sleeping heavily. The doctor still had him on medication which affected his sleep. Amanda jumped as she heard something banging against the house. She wondered if something had broken one of the windows downstairs. She decided that going to see about it would take her mind off her fear of the storm.

Amanda walked slowly across the bedroom and quietly opened the door to the hall. She leaned against the door as she stepped out into the dimly lit hall. She walked quickly toward the stairs. She was half way down the stairs when another clap of thunder and bolt of lightning shook the house. She screamed as she lost her footing on the stairs and tumbled downward. The house was bathed in darkness.

Cameron sat straight up in bed. He had slept through the storm, but he knew he had heard Amanda scream. He reached for her and felt nothing. He ran across the room and out into the hall. The house was totally dark.

"Amanda!" he called.

"Cameron, I'm here."

He sighed in relief. Alli appeared beside him with a flashlight in her hand. He took the flashlight and saw Amanda lying in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. He ran down the stairs with Alli close at his heels.

"Amanda, Amanda. . ." he cried out as he got to the bottom of the stairs and dropped on his knees beside her.

"I'm all right," she told him. "I only fell down the last three or four steps."

"What were you doing?" he asked as he frowned at her.

"It's kind of. . .oh. . ." she cried out.

"What is it?" Cameron asked as concerned filled his voice. He reached for her.

"Cameron, I don't want to alarm you. . ."

"Alarm me? You scream out in the middle of the night and I find you laying at the bottom of the stairs. . ."

"Shhhh!" Amanda demanded in irritation. "Alli, would you see if you can find some candles?"

Alli nodded then left the two of them alone.

"I didn't want to scare her. Cameron, my water has broken."

Cameron stared at her for a moment letting her words sink in. He moved the flashlight slowly and saw her dampened nightgown and the dark circle on the carpet.

"I'll call an ambulance."

Amanda nodded. Cameron rushed to the phone as Alli came back with a candle and matches.

"Go, stay with your Mom, " Cameron told her as he placed the receiver to his ear. He clicked the phone several times. There was no dial tone. The lines must be down. He ran to the kitchen. He found his cellular phone. All he could hear was dead air after he dialed the number.

He ran back to Amanda and Alli. Amanda was doubled over in pain when he got there. He stroked her hair.

"Alli, I want you to gather every candle you can find. Look in all the drawers in this house and see if you can find more flashlights. Bring everything to the downstairs guest room."

He did not wait to see if Alli did as she was told. He leaned over Amanda and stroked her cheek.

"Amanda, I'm going to pick you up and carry you to the guest room. I want you to stay calm. We have no electricity and both the regular and cellular phone lines are down."

Amanda looked at him in disbelief as he swung her up in his arms.

"Cameron, what are we going to do?"

"Deliver a baby."

Amanda's eyes widened and she buried her face in his shoulder as he moved quickly toward the guest room. He faltered only once as he opened the door and rushed to the bed. His strength was not completely restored from the accident. He slowly lowered Amanda's feet to the floor. Amanda stood beside him clinging to his waist. Cameron threw back the covers on the bed then helped Amanda get comfortable. Alli came back with her arms laden with candles and hurricane lamps.

"Alli, get everything as close to the bed as possible and light them. I've got to get some things. Stay close to your mother."

Alli nodded in response and began setting up the candles. Cameron left and was back within a few minutes with towels, water, and a small bag.

He looked at Amanda. They spoke to each other with their eyes. He could see the fear in her eyes. He mentally shook himself willing his strength to be there for Amanda. She reached out for him as he neared the bed. Cameron took her hand. He did not wince as she squeezed his hand even though it hurt. The contractions were closer together already. It was not supposed to happen this way. They had said labor could take hours. What was happening?

He placed a cool washcloth against her forehead. Amanda sighed in response. Her hazel eyes stared into his.

"Cameron," she breathed. "The contractions. . . ."

"They're coming closer together?"

She nodded as she bent double in pain. Cameron wrapped his arms around her. He did not know anything about this. He looked at Alli standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. She was frightened. He could see it in her face even though she was trying to put on a brave face.

"I've got an idea."

Cameron walked over to Alli and pulled her into the hall. He placed both of his hands on her shoulders then leaned down to look her in the eye.

"I know we haven't finished those driving lessons yet, but I really need for you to do something."

Alli nodded.

"I want you to take the car to Gram's and bring her back with you."

"Cameron, I. . ."

"Look Alli, your Mom needs Gram right now. I trust you."

Alli nodded again, then turned away and ran to the garage. Cameron knew that she could do it. Another scream from Amanda brought him back to her. Cameron leaned down beside her. She grabbed the top of his head and dug her fingers into his scalp. This time Cameron cried out just as Amanda did.

"Okay Amanda, it looks like it's just the two of us."

"No, Cameron, it looks like it's just the three of us and the third person is about to come at any moment," she said sarcastically.

Cameron leaned back and wondered who was speaking to him. He did not say a word as he reached down to pull her gown up. She slapped his hands and looked at him indignantly.

"Amanda, I've got to see what's going on."

"I think you've done quite enough, buddy!" she spat.

Cameron tried to ignore her sharp barbs and attributed it to the hard labor. He finally succeeded in doing what he had set out to do.

"Amanda, I can see the head," he told her and smiled in awe. "Push, Amanda."

"What do you think I'm trying to do?"

Cameron laughed at her this time. Amanda narrowed her eyes and screamed in pain and outrage.

"Here's the shoulders. . . one big push, Amanda."

Amanda panted, then pushed with all her strength. Cameron lifted the newborn up. He smiled and when he looked up at Amanda, tears streamed down his face. The baby opened its eyes and looked at him, then screamed. Cameron laughed.

"It's a boy."

Amanda lay back against the pillows exhausted. A small smile curved her lips as she closed her eyes.

"A boy. . ." she sighed.

Cameron took the string and scissors from the bag he had brought to the room and cut the umbilical cord. He wrapped the baby in a soft towel and gently laid him in Amanda's waiting arms.

"He's beautiful," Amanda said with a smile, then looked at Cameron.

"Yes, he is," he agreed as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Amanda touched his fingers and looked at his perfect little toes. Cameron gently stroked his cheek and the baby let out another cry.

"What are we going to name him? We never settled on a name, Cameron."

Amanda glanced at Cameron with a stricken look. Cameron smiled at her.

"You know I've had a lot of time on my hands the last few weeks. I've thought about this a lot. I read in that baby name book that the name 'Jonathan' means 'gift of God'. I can't help but feel someone up there is watching over us. I've never been very religious, but I feel very blessed and very thankful. It's like no matter what has happened that was bad, something wonderful and good has come out of it. That's how I feel about you, our marriage, our family, and our son."

Amanda looked at Cameron with intensity through a mist of tears. He would never cease to surprise her and touch her heart in ways no one else could. With a mixture of love and pride, she studied the baby for a moment and smiled, "You amaze me, Cameron. Always. 'Jonathan'. I like it. He is a very precious gift. What about the rest of his name?" She looked at Cameron expectantly, knowing that there was more.

"I want him to have a sense of family, Amanda. That's something that I never had, until now. I know how much you love your father, and I want our son to have his name. So, if you approve, I think his name should be 'Jonathan Mackenzie Cory Sinclair'."

Amanda bit her lip and in a voice filled with emotion she said, "Cameron Sinclair, have I told you how much I love you?"

Cameron wiped the tears from her cheeks, "You don't have to say a thing, Amanda."

"Jonathan Mackenzie Cory Sinclair, welcome to the world."

Cameron and Amanda leaned over the baby, drinking in the sight of their newborn son. He looked very much like he would like to take a nap, if these two people would quit talking and blubbering over him. They both jumped as they heard the front door open and close. Rachel, Alli, and Paulina appeared in the doorway. All three were soaked. Rachel smiled when she saw her newest grandchild wrapped tightly and snuggled between Amanda and Cameron.

"It looks like I'm too late," Rachel said and walked toward them.

"Rachel, you're right on time," Cameron told her. "We need to get both of them to the hospital."

"I'm afraid that is not going to be possible for a while. There's a tree across the road. We had to walk here. Luckily, Joe has his police radio. He's going to get that tree moved, and an ambulance here as soon as possible."

"Everyone, come see the newest member of the family," Amanda told them.

Alli sat on the bed beside her mother as Rachel and Paulina stood next to them.

"Jonathan Mackenzie Cory Sinclair, meet your big sister, Alexandra."

Alli smiled down at him and tentatively reached out for his tiny fist. He looked at her and appeared to smile. Everyone laughed, making the baby jump, and he leveled the other new arrivals with his scrutiny.

"I think he has your scowl, Cameron," Amanda teased. Cameron rolled his eyes at her and smiled. "This is your Grandma Rachel and Aunt Paulina."

"I like his name," Rachel told them. "Your father would have been very pleased."

Amanda smiled, "The name was all Cameron's idea. I'd like to think that Daddy is smiling down on us right now."

Rachel smiled and nodded in agreement. She looked at Cameron standing apart from the group and held out her hand to him. He did not hesitate and allowed her to wrap her arms around him. Cameron hugged her back and tried to blink away the tears in his eyes. Rachel leaned back and looked at him. She missed nothing. She reached up and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"It's all right, you know," she whispered. He nodded. He and Rachel understood each other very well. She knew how thankful he was to be a part of this family, and that it was difficult for him to say the words. She always understood.

Cameron and Alli stepped out into the hall as Paulina tended to the baby and Rachel to Amanda before the ambulance arrived. He could hear the siren in the distance and knew the paramedics would be there soon. He folded his arms and smiled.

"He's so little," Alli said.

"Yes, he is but he'll be big before you know it. I hope you'll stick around here so he can grow up with his big sister."

"I'm not going anywhere," she told him.

Cameron tugged at her hand and wrapped her in a bear hug. She hugged him back tightly.

"I'm glad to hear that. I don't know what we'd do without you."

Alli smiled up at him, "I don't know what we'd do without you, Cameron."

"Come on. Let's go see your Mom."

Rachel was just handing the baby back to Amanda as Cameron and Alli walked back into the room hand-in-hand. Amanda looked up and smiled. She had everything she'd ever wanted.

Amanda sat on the bed and watched Cameron place their sleeping son in the bassinet beside the bed. She would never tire of watching the two of them together. Cameron glowed. She had never seen him glow before. It was like there was an inner light shining for the world to see. Even Gary had commented on the transformation. There was seldom a frown or even a worried crease on his face. He had a quick smile and sparkling eyes.

"You're staring at me again," Cameron said as he walked over to the bed and crawled under the covers.

"I can't take my eyes off you," she told him as he leaned closer. Cameron gently kissed her lips, then pulled her closer to him, deepening the kiss. Amanda clung to him and pressed her body tightly against his as she tenderly stroked his chest. When they parted, they were both smiling. "You take my breath away, Cameron Sinclair."

Cameron looked at her with hooded eyes filled with longing, "You're beautiful. I love you, Amanda. Forever."

Amanda leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She hummed softly as she got ready to go to sleep.

"What's that you're humming?" Cameron asked as he laid back on his pillow.

"It's a song I played over and over again when you were in the hospital. It soothed me for some reason."

"I guess that's why it sounds familiar. What are the words?"

Amanda laughed not wanting to sing to him so she recited the words like a poem, "'Love is the road to our destiny. Nothing can change what is meant to be. Forever Love, I promise you someday we'll be together, forever love. I won't give up no matter what. I'll be waiting for you forever love. . .'"

With one last peek at Jonathan, Amanda settled into bed. Cameron flicked the light off. Amanda snuggled close to him. Cameron wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. He gently stroked her cheek and closed his eyes.

"Cameron, you've never once said 'I told you so'."

Cameron looked at her, puzzled, "About what?"

"You said all along that the baby was a boy."

Cameron smiled, "So much for women's intuition. I've been too happy to remind you of that. Plus you were pretty scary during labor."

"Are you saying that you are afraid of me, Sinclair?"

Cameron closed his eyes and continued to smile, "You bet I am."

Amanda smiled, "I love the feel of your arms around me." She rolled over facing him. She whispered in his ear, then leaned back to see his reaction, "Are you shocked?"

Cameron opened his eyes and gently stroked her cheek, "Yeah, I'm really shocked. You have to be patient."

Amanda pouted, "I'm not a patient woman."

Cameron laughed, "Yeah, I remember. You have done everything you could to push my buttons since the day we met."

"Me? What about you? You were impossible on purpose then you would pull me close and make me want you all the more."

Cameron looked at her with sparkling eyes, "I had to do something. You were driving me crazy. Did you ever think we'd be here? Me, you, us in love, married, parents. . ."

"To quote someone else, 'I always knew'. Even during the times when it seemed like fate was pulling us apart, I knew I could never let you go. I could never remove you from my heart.I will never let you go, Cameron. This love is forever."

"Forever. . " he whispered.