Chapter Twenty
Shaw
Shaw paced the bedroom, back and forth, while I held onto his arm, pausing when the contractions came, closer together each time. “I can’t believe you called Mrs. Mona,” I said once when my breathing was even in between. “How did you even know where to find her?”
“Your parents. They told me all about how she helped you with Sebastian when he was little and you had to go back to work. I hope you’re happy about something else I did.”
“What…oh gods!” He doubled over. “This is the worst yet.”
“Time to get into the chair,” the healer said. “You were almost ready to push last time I looked. I can check again if you want?”
“No. I can feel the baby. At least this part of the pregnancy feels the same.” The rest had been so different from my first. Nausea that lasted into the second trimester, exhaustion that made it easy to agree not to look for a job for the time being, and cravings for the oddest combinations.
The healer insisted it was probably in my mind, but as I nibbled cream cheese and onions along with strawberry jelly on a cracker, it seemed real enough to me.
And none of the cravings made me sick, so I called it a win.
I wondered if that meant a daughter this time, but we’d agreed to be surprised.
The topic of the grandmotherly coyote shifter could wait.
I was just thrilled to see her come in and scoop up a delighted Sebastian.
“Ready to go to the park?” she’d asked, just as if not a day had passed since she’d last seen him, and he placed a big smacking kiss on her cheek and went off with her, all smiles and chatter.
The contractions were one on top of the other, painful but productive, and I pushed three times before the baby crowned. And then slipped into my mate’s waiting hands while the healer gave him guidance. He was terrified and excited and considered catching the baby, part of not missing a thing.
“Well hello, little doll.” He held up the little one, her body covered in birthing fluids, lips parted in an ululating cry. “Isn’t she the most beautiful baby in the world?”
“She’s gorgeous, but what’s her name?”
The healer cleaned me up first and helped me into bed while Gatlin cuddled our messy daughter, loosely wrapped in a blanket on his lap. “I’ll take her now, alpha,” she said. “This girlie needs a bath before she gets in bed with her omega daddy and has her first meal.”
Gatlin sat down beside me on the bed, watching our daughter with hungry eyes. “I’ll never forgive myself for missing this with Sebastian. I hope he doesn’t hold it against me.”
“He adores you. And it was a misunderstanding. Now, before my dads come back in—what is her name?” I’d sent them out when it got intense because they were starting to look panicked. Also, like the first delivery, but that time, they’d been all I had and stayed.
“June? When the roses bloom?”
“Because she’s so red?” I teased.
“No, because she’s as beautiful as a rose.”
Sebastian had responded well to loving discipline from our alpha, but this little girl was going to wrap him around her delicate fingers. I was going to have to be the firmer one with her. Seemed fair enough.
“I has a sister.” Sebastian came running in, followed by my dads, just as the healer placed Rose in my arms. “I hold her.”
“Come sit beside Daddy and meet Rose,” I said, “And we’ll hold her together, okay? You’re going to be the best big brother.”
“I am.” He touched her nose with one little finger. “Wuv you, Rosie. We’ll play a lot.” He frowned. “When you’re bigger.”
“You’re exactly right.” Gatlin bestowed a proud smile on him. “How are you so smart?”
“Mrs. Mona says the baby has to grow up enough before she can play like me. I’m big.”
“Yes, you are, Son.” I patted his head. “Where is Mrs. Mona?”
My omega dad pointed to the door. “She said this was a family moment.”
“And what is she but family?” Gatlin jumped up and went out in the hall, bringing her back in. “If you’re going to live here, you’re going to have to accept that you’re part of the family,” he was saying.
“Live here?” I asked. “Mrs. Mona, are you moving to town?”
She glanced at my mate. “Mr. Gatlin says you need a nanny, and he offered to put a tiny house in the backyard. If that’s okay with you? I don’t want to interfere.”
Tears flowed down my cheeks as I took in my family. My dads and alpha, two children, and the lady who had made it possible for me to give Sebastian a good life when he was tiny. “No, that’s perfect. Until then, you can stay in the guest room. Sebastian will be so happy.”
Almost as happy as I was.