Chapter 65
HARRIET
He’s here.
Everything aches, my mind still races at a hundred miles per minute, and the shock from how quickly everything happened lingers.
But he’s here, and Warren and I are parents.
Hearing him cry for the first time is a sound I’ll never forget.
Just yesterday he was inside me, kicking away.
Now he’s here breathing air, making tiny sounds, and existing for everyone to fuss over.
Nothing could’ve prepared me to watch Warren as a father and fall head over heels in love with our baby boy.
With three aunties in Iris Meadows and one in Maine, Button is already the most spoiled little boy.
After a FaceTime with my sister and dad, Warren’s family showed up. We didn’t tell anyone I was in labor, mostly because there wasn’t enough time. I casually dropped a photo of Button mid-yawn in the group chat, and I’m positive their screams were heard all the way to the hospital.
My son doesn’t stir as he’s passed between Talia and Margot. Parker’s had her turn and is bouncing on the edge of her seat, waiting for another cuddle.
“Look at this cute squishy face.” Margot taps his nose lightly. “You guys make seriously beautiful babies.”
Warren is out front, sorting the insurance paperwork. My plan covers part of the stay, and I know for a fact Warren will offer to cover the rest. The meeting at the record label feels like centuries ago, not hours, and I can’t wait to tell him.
Give birth to a baby and settle a copyright suit, all in a day’s work.
Talia pulls me in for a hug before sitting at the bottom of the hospital bed. “Considering you pushed a baby out of your cooch, you look incredible.”
I curl my bottom lip. “That means a lot.”
Her eyes turn to saucers. “You’re a mom, Harry! A frickin’ mom!”
“Responsible for a whole other person.” I blow out a breath, not quite believing it either.
“Tell us again how you got here?” Parker asks.
My face remains passive. I rehearsed my response when Button was being weighed. No one, especially Talia, needed to know Tate personally escorted me to the hospital. It’s a fucking miracle none of the hospital staff recognized him.
“Steven. Great dude.” Dude? I’m a terrible liar, and I feel equally terrible for lying to them.
The shock from my surprise birth announcement paired with the offer we settled for left all three of them stunned silent. It was a world record, lasting all but eleven seconds until the questions rolled in.
They’re sworn to secrecy until I tell Warren.
Talia fiddles with the edge of my blanket. I wish she’d just ask. It’s eating her up inside, wondering if I saw Tate or not. Since I don’t know how she’s going to react, silence seems safer. For now.
Needing to change the subject, I clear my throat and plump the pillows behind me. “I’d like to say something to you all.”
They perk up.
“Very regal.” Parker smirks.
Dang it, am I crying already?
“The last eight-ish months have been a whirlwind. It was a shaky start, and I’m so grateful for the way you’ve accepted Warren into our messy little fold.
” I glance at the ceiling, willing my voice to steady.
“He’s everything and more to me, but you girls, you’re my rocks, and I know our son is the luckiest boy to have three amazing, strong women looking out for him. ”
“Ah, shit. She’s set me off,” Parker grumbles as she pulls me into a hug. Talia quickly joins us, and Margot carefully places the baby in his bassinet before squeezing herself into the huddle.
A girl couldn’t get much luckier.
A soft cry rouses me.
I can’t have slept longer than twenty minutes, but good lord, was it a marvelous nap.
I turn to reach for the baby and find his bassinet empty.
“Over here, sweetheart,” a deep whisper comes from the corner of the room.
I didn’t think it possible, but my heart triples in size when I find Warren sitting in the armchair, shirtless, the baby in only his diaper, curled up on his chest.
“Look at you two.” I’m crying. Again.
The postpartum waterworks haven’t stopped.
The clock tells me sixteen hours have passed since Button entered the world like a tornado.
I’m sore, with an oddly empty belly, and I wouldn’t change it for anything, not when I watch Warren’s strong hands cradle our son’s tiny body.
Witnessing the two of them together is a sight I will never grow tired of.
“The nurse came in while you were resting and suggested some more skin-to-skin.” He smiles so wide, his cheeks must ache as he presses a kiss to the tuft of dark hair. There’s never been a prouder father. “We’re bonding.”
“He loves his daddy.”
“And his daddy loves him.” The baby decides now is the perfect moment to stir on his chest before he releases a hungry squeal. Warren beams. Everything this little boy has done in his short life impresses him. “You want to try feeding again?”
I sit up, wincing a little, and nod.
Warren slowly rises, and I shuffle over to make room for them both.
The baby blindly searches with his mouth before he latches on to my breast and Warren covers him with a blanket.
We watch him, still utterly dumbfounded he’s here.
With his father’s dark hair and what we think will be my blue eyes, he’s perfection.
“I guess we can’t put Button on the birth certificate?”
Warren shakes his head. “I don’t think we’re cool enough for a name like that.”
“Pfft, speak for yourself. I’m still in my twenties. Weren’t you born in a barn?” I tease.
“I’ll let you have that one.” Warren chuckles. “Any ideas? Now that he’s here, I’m stumped.”
I settle against the pillows while sifting through all the names we’ve discussed. Warren perches on the edge of the mattress, an arm behind my head as he kisses my cheek gently. “Liam?”
“No.” I pout. “Isaac?”
Warren shrugs. That’s a no.
“Ethan?”
We both pause and look at the sleeping bundle. “I like it.”
“Ethan. Ethan,” Warren repeats. “Me too.” He leans down and whispers, “Hello, Ethan. It’s Dad.”
My heart expands further in my chest as I watch them. “Ethan Carson O’Connor.”
Warren’s watery gaze dashes up to meet mine. “Harriet…”
“It’s perfect.” I try to keep it together as I brush my nose against Warren’s. “Ethan to mean resilient, like his dad, and Carson so he never forgets his big brother.”
“This… You…” He struggles with his words as tears streak his face.
I know what he’s trying to say.
“Earlier, you thanked us for choosing you, and I want you to know there was no choice. You’ve fought hard to be here, Warren, and we couldn’t be prouder of the man who carried us to bed and kept us full up of cereal. The honor is all ours.” I kiss his stubbled cheek. “We love you. Always.”
“I love you.” He blinks at me, those once somber eyes overflowing with love. He doesn’t wipe away the tears as they disappear into the corners of his smile. “Our team’s growing.”
Ethan squeaks contently, making us laugh.
“It certainly is.”
“Tell me a truth?” I whisper.
His mouth moves instinctively. “Loving you is easier than breathing.”
***
Thank you so much for visiting Iris Meadows!