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“Your baby,” Doctor Melinda says again in a faraway voice.
I look at the bottom of the pool.
All my senses return to me at once like I’ve broken the surface of a lake and taken a huge gasp of air.
“Oh my god.”
I scoop the bundle up, lifting it from the water, careful not to catch the cord that’s still connecting us.
Another set of hands appears as Doctor Melinda helps me hold our baby above the surface of the water. The midwife assisting her passes over a towel, and she wraps it over the tiny body in my arms.
The little pink puckered face blinks at me twice. Then they open their mouth and cry.
It’s the strangest sound I’ve ever heard.
Drew’s warm lips graze the top of my shoulder, kissing me as he looks down.
“God.” He chokes back a sob. “I can’t believe it.”
“Your son has a good set of lungs.” Doctor Melinda smiles as she moves the towel enough to place two clamps on the cord. “And his sister isn’t far behind, so we’ll cut this now. Daddy, would you like to?”
I tear my gaze away from the little pink face which has stopped crying and is staring out at the world.
“Yes.” Drew nods, his face paling as his expression grows serious. “I can’t believe…” His eyes meet mine. “Do you trust me to do it?”
My heart could burst at the concern in his eyes as he looks at me.
“I trust you with my life.” I glance inside my arms. “Withourlives.”
He clears his throat and his dark brows pull low in concentration as he listens intently to Doctor Melinda’s instructions and then cuts the cord himself.
He looks at me in awe, but the minute my lips curl into a smile, another surge starts to build inside me.
“I’m about to have another,” I pant.
“Okay. We’re ready.” Doctor Melinda takes the baby from my arms calmly and turns to Drew. “Daddy? Can you hold him?”
He looks at the baby, his eyes softening, but then I grunt as the pressure starts to increase.
“Sophie needs me.” His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat, and he leans closer to me in a flash. “I’m here.” He kisses my forehead.
“Take the baby,” I pant as I try to breathe through the contraction.
The internal struggle is clear on Drew’s face as he looks from me to the towel-wrapped baby. Then he opens his arms and Doctor Melinda places our baby in his arms. He sits back on his heels at the side of the pool, a look of pure love and adoration flowing over his face.
He holds our son in his arms like he was born to do it.
It makes my head light. But at the same time as my contraction peaks and I groan.
Drew’s attention comes back to me, and he adjusts the baby, nestling him in one of his strong arms. The veins protrude underneath his skin as he cradles him protectively, his long, thick fingers wrapped around him to keep him secure. Then his other hand lands on the base of my neck and his blue eyes meet mine as he places his forehead to mine.
“You’ve got this, Mama.”
I open my eyes and look to the side of the hospital bed. Drew’s reclined in the chair next to me, and one baby, wearing just a nappy, is laid out sleeping over his bare chest.
“Is he okay?” I wipe my bleary post-nap eyes and shuffle to an upright position.
Drew places a kiss to the baby’s dark hair-covered head as he strokes their back with one hand.
