Chapter 66 Evan
EVAN
Ithought standing on a stage in front of fifty people confessing my love life was the most terrifying moment of my life.
Turns out I was wrong.
Watching Nora give birth is worse.
Much worse.
I sit on the uncomfortable plastic hospital chair beside the bed, gripping Nora’s hand while she breathes through another contraction and pushes.
Her nails bite into my flesh as if she’s trying to draw blood.
“You’re doing amazing,” Nate says from her other side, his hand stroking her brow.
She glares at him. “You did this to me.”
“Technically…” Nate points immediately at me. “He did it.”
“I did it for you.” I point a finger back. “You’re not throwing me under the bus here.”
The midwives chuckle from the end of the bed like they’ve seen this exact argument a thousand times before. Though probably not with two husbands. Not that we’re married, but it doesn’t stop Nora or Nate calling me their husband. And every time they do, my heart swells.
Nora sucks hard on the gas and air, eyes fluttering closed. “It’s easing now,” she sighs, lowering the mouthpiece. Her eyes narrow. “You’re never touching me again, Evan.”
I nod solemnly. “You said that last contraction.”
“And I mean it more this time.”
Nate rubs her back. “You’re doing great, dimples.”
The midwife checks her progress. “Nearly there now.”
“Nearly there?” Nora pants. “You said that two hours ago.”
“Yes. Labour does that.” The midwife smiles. “A few more good pushes and we’ll see baby’s head.” She places a hand on Nora’s belly. “Relax for a minute while we wait for the next contraction.”
Nora groans again and collapses back into the pillows as the contraction passes.
A phone buzzes in my pocket. I frown and pull it out. The screen lights up with Margaret’s name for the hundredth time today.
Margaret: Is my grandbaby here yet?
Nate looks up. “Who is it?”
“Your mum wants an update.” I tap the screen, texting back.
Evan: Not yet. Midwife said a few more pushes.
Nate squints at the phone. “Why is she texting you and not me?”
I shrug. “Probably because I’m her favourite.”
Nate snorts. “Why are you now the favourite?”
“Because I gave her a granddaughter.”
My phone buzzes again and I read the message out loud. “She says, ‘Tell Nora I’m praying for her and the baby.’”
Another ping. “She also says she’s knitted something pink.”
Nate groans. “Lord help us.”
“Too late,” Nora murmurs with a slight slur to her voice, as if she’s still high on the gas and air. “She’s a grandma now.”
Nate opens the bag we brought and pulls out a plastic tub, holding it over Nora on the bed. “Want a sandwich?”
“Hell yeah, I’m starving.” I reach into the tub and lift out a rectangular ham sandwich.
“You brought food?” Nora says, her jaw lax as she stares at the tub.
“Yeah, want one?” Nate says.
“I’m here with my legs spread open, a gloved hand rearranging my insides every five minutes, and you two are having a bloody picnic?”
Nate freezes mid bite. “We’ve been here six hours.”
I swallow the food rolling around my mouth with a gulp.
“What else did you bring?” she snaps. “Popcorn?” Her voice is gnarly and downright terrifying.
She points a finger at Nate. “If you eat that sandwich while I’m pushing out our baby, I will kill you.”
Nate lowers the sandwich.
I take another bite of mine while she’s not looking. If I don’t get some fuel in me, I may faint.
Nate eyeballs me like I’ve lost my mind.
“What?” I shrug. “She didn’t say I couldn’t.”
The midwife laughs again. “Honestly, you two are the calmest birth partners I’ve seen all week.”
“That’s because she hasn’t attempted murder yet,” Nate says.
Another contraction builds. I know this because she grabs both our hands, squashing what’s left of my sandwich.
“Not again,” she groans.
I squeeze her hand. “You’re doing amazing.”
“Don’t talk to me,” she says with a growl.
The midwife holds her legs. “Nora, another big push.”
Nate tosses the tub of sandwiches on the bedside table and stands, squeezing her hand. “This is it, dimples.”
I rise from the seat and admire this amazing woman, so strong, giving birth to our baby.
Nora inhales on the gas and air as she bears down, gripping the mouthpiece between her teeth, then lets out a yell that probably echoes down the entire maternity ward.
I can’t feel my hand. I’m pretty sure the bones are broken, moshed together with bits of sandwich.
The midwife looks up with a small smile. “I can see the head.”
Nora relaxes, her hand dropping to the bed, the remnants of the squished sandwich falling to the floor. But all I care about is seeing our baby.
I step towards the foot of the bed and my jaw drops as I take in the sight.
Nate’s eyes widen as he stands across from me. “That’s incredible.”
“It burns,” Nora says, inhaling on her mouthpiece.
The other midwife in the room says, “Okay, Nora. When the next contraction comes, I want you to push again.”
Nora nods, her breath catching as she reaches for us.
We resume her death grip, and I kiss her head. “A few more pushes and we’ll have our Pippa.”
“Push now, honey.”
Nate squeezes her hand. “You’ve got this.”
She pushes with everything she has, a gargled scream bursting through her lips like something from a horror movie.
A small cry fills the room.
Everything stops. My heart, my breath, I can’t seem to move or think.
The midwife lifts the tiny, squirming bundle and places it on Nora’s chest, her top unbuttoned to her breasts, settling Pip against her skin. “A beautiful baby girl.”
Nora lets out a sob and collapses against the head of the bed, tears running down her cheeks.
Nate presses a kiss to her forehead. “You did it.”
“We did it.” Her eyes are watery but also serene. A complete contrast to how she was possessed five minutes ago.
The midwife clamps the cord. “Would one of you like to cut it?”
Nate gawks at the ropelike cord binding our baby to Nora. “You do it,” he says.
“Why me?”
“You’re Daddy.”
“That’s not how this works.”
The midwife raises an eyebrow. “Gentlemen…”
Nate sighs and takes the scissors. “Fine. But if I faint, you’re catching me.”
He hacks into the cord. “This is a lot tougher than it looks.”
Nora stares at him. “I just pushed out our daughter and you’re struggling to cut the damn cord?”
He laughs and finally cuts through. “The scissors must need sharpening.”
“Well,” I say, staring at our tiny Pip, now officially separated from Nora. “No putting it back now.”
“Hi, Pippa.” Nora beams down at our daughter and kisses her tiny head, a tear dripping onto a tuft of thick brown hair, just like Nora’s.
“You’re so precious. We’ve waited so long for you.
” Her voice is soft but packed with all the emotions of every failed attempt, every month with empty arms and a hollow chest.
I nestle at their side, admiring our beautiful baby girl. Every open wound and void in our hearts is healed in an instant. “She’s filled us with so much love and she’s only been in this world a few minutes.”
Nora beams up at me, her skin glowing, eyes gleaming. “You want to hold her?”
I nod, tears threatening my eyes as I bundle our daughter in a blanket and gently take her from Nora, my hands trembling slightly.
I peer down at her, completely stunned. Dark hair sticks up in soft little tufts.
The most perfect little face, even if it is a little red and blotchy right now.
I count all her fingers and toes sticking out of the blanket. She’s tiny. Perfect.
I wander around the bed to Nate’s side. “Meet Pippa,” I say. “Our daughter.”
Pippa shifts in my arms, making a tiny squeaking sound before settling again.
“Pippa,” Nate says, gazing down at her. “She even looks like a Pippa.”
“Our Pip.” For months we called her Pip. Every scan, every scare, every moment. “Hi Pip,” I whisper.
She makes a small sound as if she approves.
I let out a quiet laugh. “Guess Pippa was her name all along.”
A tear drips onto Nate’s cheek and he quickly bats it away, but even through my own blurry vision, I saw it. “Hi, beautiful.” He reaches out a finger, and she grabs hold of it.
Warmth spreads through my chest, my heart ready to burst open.
“And what are we calling you two? Daddy and…?” The midwife glances between Nate and me.
I shrug. “Nate’s Papa Bear.”
Nate blinks at me. “Papa Bear?”
“Yeah,” I say. “You’ve got the whole protective dad vibe going.”
“So does that make you the daddy?”
I wink. “You know it.”
The midwife laughs along with Nora, but we both know Nate’s the one who takes care of all of us. He once told me I was the glue that held us all together, but he was wrong. It’s him who brought me and Nora together, but it’s Nora that makes us a family. She’s the glue in all this.
“Works for me.” Nate takes Pippa from my arms. “Come to Papa.” He kisses her forehead, another tear tracking down his cheek, and this time, he doesn’t wipe it away. He sits on the bed next to Nora, both of them awestruck by this precious girl who’s turned two grown men to mush.
“You look terrified,” Nora says, wiping the tear from Nate’s cheek.
“I am. But it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.” He reaches out a hand to mine, tugging me closer to them both.
I slide an arm around Nate, my hand resting on Nora’s shoulder, and gaze down at Pippa again.
She yawns, and my heart does a weird stutter.
Nate kisses Nora.
I lean down and kiss them both, my hand over Nate’s as he holds Pippa.
“Oh, she’s opening her eyes.” Pale blue irises stare back at us, like the clearest crystal blue ocean.
Nate leans closer, brushing a finger over her cheek like she’s made of glass. “She’s got your eyes, Ev.”
I point to the tiny bump on her nose. “She has your nose.” I nudge Nate with a chuckle, and Nora laughs.
“She has Nora’s dimples,” he says, pressing a soft kiss to Pippa’s head. “You have the best mama in the world, Pip,” he murmurs.
“And the best papa,” I say, knowing Nate will take care of our little girl like he takes care of the rest of us.
He lifts his hand to my face. “And the best daddy.” He tilts his head and kisses my lips.
“I once said I don’t care who the dad is, but I do.
I care that it’s you, Ev. Our daughter might not have any real resemblance to me, but she’s a part of you and Nora.
My two favourite people have created something beautiful and I get to be part of that. ”
All I ever wanted was somewhere to belong. To be accepted despite all my quirks. A love like what Nate and Nora have. It’s been right here all along.
I drop my head with fresh tears in my eyes and kiss his lips again, then lean over and kiss Nora. My world. My family.
Nora’s stomach growls loudly. She winces, then gives us a sheepish smile. “You don’t have any sandwiches lying around, do you?”
Nate chuckles. “So now you want one of my sandwiches?”
“If one of you doesn’t feed me in the next five minutes, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Pippa yawns again, utterly oblivious to all the drama she caused in the womb, and completely unaware of how much she is loved, but I’m gonna make sure she knows it every single day of her life.
She grips my finger.
My heart stutters. I never had to earn my place here.
It was already mine years ago.
They’ve always been my home.
And now our family is finally complete.