“Oh my god,” Nick says, his eyes brimming with tears. “Evi, he’s beautiful.”
I glance down at my baby—our son—and my heart fills with something I’ve never felt before. It’s like my soul was one, and now it’s two. This baby boy is mine, ours, and I’ve never been happier. I instinctively reach my arms out, and the doctor places him on my chest.
Almost immediately, he latches on to my breast, and I’m filled with motherly pride. I am a mother. I had a baby. And now I am feeding my baby.
I look over at Nick, and tears are streaming down his face.
“I don’t think you’ve ever looked more beautiful,” he says. Instead of replying with a sarcastic remark, I just smile and look down at our baby. The tears flow… and flow, and flow. The doctor tells me he is nursing successfully, and I hear something about a lactation consultant. Once he’s finished, they cut the cord and whisk him away to wash him and make sure everything is okay.
I can’t think… I can’t speak… until he’s back. It’s only a matter of minutes, but I experience my first worrying thought as a mother.
I’m sure I’ll experience a million more.
Soon, the doctor is back with our son.
“He’s perfect,” the doctor coos, placing him into Nick’s arms. I see Nick rock him back and forth. “Six pounds, three ounces. Eighteen inches long. He’s a little early, but he’s perfectly healthy.”
I feel relief wash over me.
The doctor leaves, and Nick and I are alone with our new son. I watch Nick, and the adoration is so apparent on his face. I could cry forever out of happiness.
“What should we name him?” Nick asks, and he places him back in my arms. I inhale his scent. I’d heard about the new baby scent, but I never expected it to be so wonderful. They should find a way to bottle this and sell it, because I’m positive it’s the best scent in the world.
“I was thinking… Franklin Elijah Wilder.”
Nicks looks down at me, and his face scrunches up with emotion.
“Franklin?”
“After Frank…”
“I love it.” He bends down and kisses me gently on the lips.
“I love you,” I whisper.
I lean back in my hospital bed, and Nick gently gets in next to me. We watch our son feed, and I can’t help but feel so proud and happy.
I did it.
We did it. All the heartache and all the turmoil led us here, and I wouldn’t change a thing about our past.
Because without our past, we wouldn’t be here.
And here is so good.
THE END
Acknowledgements
Becky, Melissa, and Tali, thank you for being my beta readers and for your excellent feedback. I couldn’t have done this without you all.
Lynn and Susie, thank you for making my sometimes garbled and often repetitive words sound better. Your services are invaluable.
Dad, thank you for the support that made this book happen, and also for being my “number one fan.” Also, since this is my third full-length novel, I guess it might be time to actually call myself a writer, and I have you to thank for that. Remember back in 2012 or 2013 when I was going through the awful “quarter-life crisis?” You asked me what I would do if money were no object. My answer: “I’d be a writer.” And look at me now! Thank you for asking me. I love you!
Peter, thank you for everything… but especially the late nights I spent ignoring you while I wrote this, the dinners that went uncooked, and the laundry that piled up. Thank you for helping me with plot holes, character flaws, and all of your suggestions after you read it when it was still just a shitty first draft. Without you, I wouldn’t be here typing this out. Thank you for inspiring me day in and day out. You are my always.
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