Chapter 46 The Heir
The Heir
LANIE
“I’m dying! I am actually dying!”
“You’re not, Lanie,” Baz assured.
“Stop looking! Stop fucking looking!” I screamed.
“Dad, let’s stay up here.” A nurse beckoned.
I knew Baz was squeamish. Ellie said he passed out at the sight of blood regularly.
And, as I labored on all fours, my body felt like it might split, I screamed.
I was sure there was blood and all manner of things happening.
I didn’t need that being the vision he saw of my pussy anytime he thought about me.
“Fuck! Fuck, Baz! It hurts!”
“Deep breaths, darling,” Baz said. “You are doing beautifully.”
He was solid. I never expected this. Who was this man?
“Push, push, push!” The midwife called. “We’re going to catch the baby!”
I pushed with all I had, then felt relief as a body left my body.
A scream erupted. And for the first time in ages, it wasn’t my own.
I looked down to see a baby in the midwife’s hands, screaming angrily.
For a moment, I was transfixed on its little face.
That was my baby. Then, I realized it was a boy, confirming my worst fears.
The nurses helped me onto my back. Baz elected to let the midwife cut the cord, wisely focusing on staying upright.
The nurse put the baby on my belly as I sobbed tears of joy and sadness. The baby’s perfect face turned to me. A beautiful blend of us, I couldn’t imagine a better being. He was beyond my wildest dreams. This was our baby boy, but I couldn’t help but fight my worst fears.
“He’s beautiful,” Baz murmured.
“He is,” the nurse swooped him up. “We’re not taking him far, Mum. We just need to do final checks and he’s all yours.”
Baz kissed my forehead. “Well done, Lanie. That was terrifying.”
“For all of us, I’m sure,” I said. “You have your boy.”
“I do,” Baz said. “And he’s brilliant. You did such a good job.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I am not leaving you for a billion dollars,” Baz cut me off. “No. Not now. Not ever if I get it my way. Lanie, he’s my son. You’re my wife. I’m not leaving you in a million years.”
His words were strong. He meant it.
Tears continued to run as I held the baby close, trusting somehow that Baz wasn’t about to run.
This baby would never leave me, but the feeling that his father was here to stay made everything feel safer.
For the first time, I trusted Baz unequivocally.
It wasn’t just his words, either. The way Baz stroked our baby’s mostly bald head and ate up the feeling of this new life assured me he meant it.
“I’m sorry I lost it on you,” I said, guilt hitting.
“You had your reasons,” Baz kissed my forehead. “And I could have been less stubborn and told you how I felt long before then. I mean it, Lanie. I’m not going anywhere. I love you.”
“I know.” I murmured and took in the sweet scent of a new baby—our baby.
BAZ
Our baby was perfect. His mother had won a battle I couldn’t have imagined in a million years. In awe, I cradled our son against my chest as Lanie looked on lovingly. It couldn’t have been more precious. I was a full-blown sentimental sap, and nothing would change it.
“I love you, Lanie. And him. What shall we call this little soul?”
“Not Basil,” Lanie said.
“Please god no,” I chuckled. “What about George after your grandfather?”
“George, really?”
“George, yes,” I agreed.
“George Ewan,” Lanie said. “I always liked that pairing.”
“George Ewan Carlisle Osgoode,” I murmured.
“Really?”
“Yes, my love.” I kissed the baby’s head, soaking up the sweet new baby smell. “He’s both yours and mine.”
“He’s the best.”
I nodded, feeling firmly that was the case.
“Baz, I love you,” Lanie said. “So much. I’m so scared, but… I love the fuck out of you.”
Startled, I stared at her.
“Don’t rush to say anything, Baz.”
My face broke into a smile, “Lanie, I have waited so long to hear you say that. I get it. I was terrified to tell you I loved you, too. God, I adore you. You’re the best thing that has ever happened—and you gave me the other best thing.”
“You cannot have two best things,” Lanie giggled.
“And you cannot make me choose, Lady Osgoode.”
The baby fussed in my arms.
“He’s hungry,” Lanie said. “I would bet it’s hunger.”
I handed the baby over, giving his hand another kiss.
Lanie cradled George in her arms, lining him up to nurse. Somehow, she knew what she was doing. Despite all my fears, we made it. Against all reason, I’d fallen for this woman and now this baby. I was capable of attachment after all.
Lanie turned her gaze from the baby to me.
“Baz, are you crying?”
“I am,” I admitted. “I’m just so glad to have this little soul in our lives. I’m relieved for so many reasons.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“You don’t understand,” I said. “I feared I’d be a shit Dad like my father—that I’d never be able to love something like this. Now, I cannot imagine loving anything more in my life, Lanie. I’m also livid. Because… he should have loved me like this.”
Lanie smiled. “Channel all that anger into breaking generational trauma, okay? You’re enough. Somehow, we’ll do this. We’ll probably scar him a little, but he’s got two loving parents.”
I leaned to kiss her. For the first time in my life, I felt like doing nothing—nothing but being in the moment right here. I didn’t want more excitement. I didn’t need to chase a deal. I wasn’t keen to move. Everything I loved was here. Everything I needed right now was right here.