Epilogue
Five months later
“Are you ready for this?” I reached down and grasped Lainey’s hand as her features scrunched together with another contraction.
Her chest heaved as she squeezed my hand nearly hard enough to break my fingers. “I’m ready to get this baby out of me!” she snarled.
I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. “I know you won’t believe me, but I have never seen you look more beautiful than you look right now.”
As her contraction subsided, she wiped a strand of sweaty hair out of her face and blew out a breath. “You have a pretty fucked-up sense of aesthetics then.”
Dvorak’s New World Symphony rose to a crescendo in the background as I bent down to press a kiss to her damp forehead. “Do you regret not finding out…you know? Before now?”
She laughed. “They say there’s no surprise in childbirth anymore, but we don’t know the gender or who the father is.”
I shook my head. “Nope. But do you regret it?”
“We’re gonna find out soon enough.” Her features went taut again as the monitor showed another contraction starting up.
The nurse rushed back into the room with the doctor. “You’re at ten, and Dr. Warren is here. It’s showtime!” She rubbed her hands together with excitement.
“Sounds like someone who doesn’t have to do any of the work,” Lainey noted as she sat up in the bed and gripped the rails.
They explained the pushing and counting procedure and what my role would be. I took a deep breath, knowing there was no turning back now. I hope you’re watching over us, Noah, I silently prayed, my eyes focused on the ceiling.
I leaned down as Lainey prepared for the first push. “No matter what happens now, it’s you and me, baby. Forever.”
“Forever.” Her sigh turned into a grunt as she began to push.
* * *
An hour or so later…
She cradled our precious bundle of joy as I stared down at them both in awe of their strength and resilience. I bent down to press a kiss to sweet, soft skin.
“Welcome to the world, little one.”
Lainey looked up at me with misty eyes. “Who do you think the baby looks like?”
Without hesitation, I answered, “Like the most loved creature in the universe.”
She smiled as she pressed her own kiss to plump, velvety cheeks. “I totally agree.”
THE END