Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“No.” She shakes her head. “Keeley is much sweeter than I am. You probably ought to wear protective gear the day I have this big boy. Especially a cup.”
Half the color leaches from his face. “You wouldn’t really kick me in the balls. Right?”
“I can’t guarantee what I’ll do if you get too close. That looks painful.”
“It is,” Britta put in. “My labor with Jamie felt so long I barely knew what day it was by the time I pushed him out.”
“Are you kidding me?” Harlow looks terrified, then turns to her husband. “If that’s the case, that’s a definite yes on the cup.”
He nods adamantly, then no one speaks again because Keeley wails out in a primal howl of pain that makes me wince and feel really damn sorry for her.
“Did anyone give her drugs?” I ask Bethany, who’s beside me, looking wide-eyed and stunned by the birth playing out live and in color in front of us.
“Keeley wants to do this naturally.” She swallows and clutches my arm like she needs help balancing. “I’m thinking she’s crazy.”
“Don’t remind me!” Keeley snaps between contractions. “If there’s a next time, I want all the drugs.”
“You’ll forget about the pain,” the midwife assures.
Maxon scowls. “Of course there will be a next time. Sunshine…”
“Now isn’t the right time to talk about having another baby…” Britta shakes her head at him.
The midwife motions Maxon to get behind Keeley and help her brace.
“Ha! I won’t forget an instant of this,” the redhead hisses out as she grits her teeth and bears down.
“That’s it!” the midwife coaxes. “Just one more push and—”
Keeley keens out an ear-piercing shriek that bounces off the walls and fills the room. It’s low and pained and seems to last for fucking ever. I tense and hold my breath. Bethany eases toward the bed, still gripping my arm. Suddenly, she gasps and squeezes my hand, too.
Personally, I can’t see much of the birth—and I’m happy with that. I get peeks of the midwife’s profile, since the Reed clan has all gathered around Keeley in front of me. I’ve got a glimpse of some sheet, the mom-to-be’s left calf and foot, along with her forearm and damp, flushed face.
Suddenly, the midwife pulls and tugs, then lifts the infant above the sheet, little by little, until her entire body is nestled in the woman’s arms.
“Oh, my god…” Maxon breathes, seemingly fixated on his daughter. “She’s…”
“Beautiful,” Keeley finishes, staring at the infant like she’s a miracle. Then the new mother bursts into tears.
“Amazing.” He bends to his wife as the baby starts to cry in protest. “Thank you. She’s perfect. God, I love you.”
The redhead looks at him with absolute worship in her eyes. “I love you, too. We did it.”
Then she buries her head in her husband’s shoulder. He wraps his arms around her and strokes her damp hair as she sobs. I have absolutely no doubt how strong their marriage is. They’re committed the way my parents were. I feel the love, thick and tangible in the room, which now includes the child they made together.
“Would you like to hold your daughter?” the midwife asks after wiping her down and briefly checking her out.
“Please.” Maxon sounds choked up.
I am, too. I never realized that witnessing a birth and being surrounded by this much joy would impact me.
Suddenly, the overhead song switches and a male vocalist croons, “Welcome to the planet. Welcome to existence…” As Switchfoot fills my ears, the love in the room swells even more, including the baby’s sniffling aunts and proud uncles. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been around a family that functioned like a family. I’m doing all I can to hold my brothers and me together, but I’m not Dad. We all miss him and Mom. But they’re both gone, and this—right in front of me—is the circle of life.
What’s in front of me is something I really want someday—real family.
Bethany turns to me. Tears run down her face. I crowd in to stand beside her and comfort her. She cries harder when Maxon and Keeley invite her closer to see the infant.
“She’s beautiful,” Beth whispers. “Congratulations.”
Then Nia and Evan step in to get an in-depth glance at the newborn, and Bethany approaches me, chin trembling, wonder and envy all over her face. It seems like the most natural thing in the world to open my arms to her. It feels even more natural when she walks in and I enfold her against me.
Without hesitation, she lays her head on my chest. I cradle her neck and press kisses to her crown. We don’t speak words, but I know we’ve both been touched by what we’ve witnessed together this morning. She’s lowered more of her walls and shown me her softer side. I can’t unsee that. It’s impossible to unknow how caring she can be.