16. Eden
EDEN
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
The contractions are one minute apart now, coming on strong and fast. Rosie squeezes my hand while Harley feeds me ice chips.
“It’s early. He’s not going to make it.”
I’m only thirty-eight weeks and five days along, but my water broke in the middle of the night.
Sterling was supposed to be getting on a plane in two days to fly to Texas for the birth.
Now, I’m afraid he won’t make it. My heart is pounding so fast, the beeps from the monitor they hooked me up to showing the numbers.
Tears stream down my face as Monroe—Sterling’s sister-in-law, married to his brother Cash—stuffs another pillow behind my back. She looks a little greener every time a contraction hits. She’s the only one here who hasn’t given birth before.
Rosie drove me to the hospital and called Harley to let her know what was happening. They’re both moms, and I’m so thankful they’re here with me. I can’t imagine going through this right now with only the nurses and a doctor who occasionally pokes his gray head through the door.
We’ve been here for three hours. The nurse checking me is a no-nonsense woman who threw my hospital gown up over my legs and spread them wide without a word.
“You’re at a seven. Not long now, honey. Is Dad going to make it?”
Harley shoots her a look. With her dark hair and tattoo-covered skin, she’s formidable-looking.
The nurse gives me a sympathetic frown. “You’re moving fast. That’s a good thing, typically.”
With the ominous words, she exits the room. Harley feeds me another ice chip while muttering something about the nurse needing a kick in the teeth.
Rosie snickers, and I can tell they like each other.
Since Sterling suggested I move to Redford Ranch when he deployed overseas, I’ve grown increasingly closer to his family. At first, it felt odd, being here without him. Now, it’s starting to feel more like home, especially because my siblings have visited several times with their kids.
I confessed to Harley a month ago that the baby wasn’t biologically Sterling’s.
She listened attentively to the story about Michael before patting my hand and telling me that she didn’t see why the DNA of my sweet little baby should matter to anyone, and since then, a heavy weight of relief lifted from my shoulders.
“Where are the girls?” I ask Rosie.
Another contraction surges through me. I grit my teeth.
“They’re still asleep. Holden had to go out to the fields, so Dolly went over to watch them.”
I nod, exhaling through the pain. It’s so bad already, and I’m only at a seven. I’ve seen my mother give birth many times, so I knew what to expect. Being the one actually going through it is still so much harder.
“Do you have a name?” Harley asks, clearly trying to distract me.
“Wylie Grant.”
“Awe, isn’t that Sterling’s middle name?” Rosie asks.
I nod, finally relaxing back against the bed. “Yes. He doesn’t know it yet though.”
“He’s going to love it. You’re doing so great. You’re a badass.” Harley feeds me another ice chip, smoothing my hair back from my face.
Rosie shakes her head. “You really are, Eden. You’re killing it so far. And you’re so close to the end. He’ll be here before you know it.”
“Push! Eden, push!”
“I don’t want to push! I want to wait for him!” I scream at the nurse, in so much pain that I no longer care about being polite.
Rosie dots my forehead with a damp rag. “Honey, you can’t wait. You have to push now.”
I give it another push, as hard as I can.
“I see a head,” the doctor says. “Push again.”
I lean back, letting out a scream as I push with all my might. I feel a rush of cold air before a warm hand engulfs mine. I lift my eyelids, thinking I must be dreaming when Sterling’s face enters my vision.
Tears stream down my face.
“Hey, Sunshine. You’re killing it.” He blinks back tears, squeezing my hand.
“I need another push!” the nurse yells.
Sterling grips my hand so tight. I’ve never felt such a rush of emotions and hormones all at once. I stare up at his handsome face, gritting my teeth as I let out one final, long push, giving it every last bit of my strength.
“It’s a boy!” the doctor calls.
In the next breath, my life alters forever when I hear the cry of my firstborn baby boy. Tears drench my cheeks as the nurse lays the slippery newborn on my chest.
“Here he is, Mama. He’s perfect.”
Sterling lets go of my hand so I can hold the baby. I rock him against my chest, studying the perfect features of his tiny nose and eyes. His pink lips go from crying loudly to suckling on the side of his hand only moments after he touches my skin.
My heart swells with a new love I never thought possible before now. I release an exhale, feeling the overwhelming sensation that nothing in my life will ever top this moment.
“You did so good. You’re … you’re incredible.” Sterling kisses my forehead, pressing his face to the side of mine. “Do you have a name?”
“I was thinking … Wylie Grant Redford. If you’re okay with that.”
He chokes back a sob, nodding. “I’m more than okay with that, Sunshine. I love you so much. I love him too.”
“I love you.” I can’t believe it’s the first time we’re saying it, but it also couldn’t be more perfect. “How did you even get here? Weren’t you on the other side of the world?”
He nods, reaching out to gently touch Wylie’s head of dark hair. “I had planned to get home two days early to surprise you. Good thing I did, huh? Little man was ready to come out.”
“Do you want to hold him?”
He pauses for a moment, tears welling up in his dark eyes as he slowly nods. “I do.”
He moves over to wash his hands at the sink nearby before coming back and taking the baby from me.
“He’s so tiny. I can’t believe how small he is,” Sterling mumbles, studying Wylie’s fingers.
“He’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful. I love you, Eden Redford. I love you so much.”
“I’m glad you’re home. Please don’t leave again.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I could now.”
Rosie and Harley backed up against the wall when Sterling came in. They both step up now, beaming smiles on their faces.
“That was a movie moment if I’ve ever seen one,” Rosie says.
Harley nods, dabbing unusual tears from the corners of her eyes. “You three make the most beautiful little family.”
Sterling presses a kiss to my forehead as Wylie starts to cry again.
“I hope it’s not too soon to say this, but I want, like, five more of these.” He gently sets Wylie back on my chest.
I laugh, grabbing my breast to help him latch for the first time, which I’ve witnessed countless times from my own mother.
“Might be a little soon. Ask me in a month.”
“Deal.”
THE END