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“One more push, Lindsey,” the doctor said. “Make it a big one.”
“Wait,” Owen said to the doctor. “You’re not going to cut her there . . .”
“Don’t look,” their mother advised.
“What’s going on?” Lindsey asked.
“Just a little episiotomy,” Chad said. “You won’t even feel it.”
She cringed, but the next contraction started, and she curled upward to strain with what was hopefully her final push.
“You’re doing great, sweetheart,” Mrs. Parker said.
Adam’s breath caught, and Chad looked back for his first glimpse of Daisy’s face. She didn’t look too happy about being born today. Her tiny face screwed up, and she let out a mighty wail. The doctor shifted her slightly, and her shoulders came free. He lifted her high and then placed her on Lindsey’s stomach. The baby thrashed her arms and legs, crying in ear-piercing shrieks until Chad rested a hand on her head and cooed to her.
Lindsey’s hand covered his, and she said, “Your voice always calms her right down.”
“Oh, look at her,” Mrs. Parker said. “She’s beautiful. Absolutely precious.”
“She looks like her bio-dad,” Owen said, pounding Adam on the back. “Poor kid.”
The doctor held up a pair of surgical scissors. “Is Dad ready to cut the cord?”
Adam’s overwhelmed stare darted to Chad.
“Go ahead,” Chad said, though his heart was aching over missing out on one of Daisy’s important milestones.
“You were there for Lindsey,” Adam said. “You should do the honors.”
“Why don’t you share the duty?” Mom suggested. “You’re going to have to get used to sharing a lot of duties.”
Adam licked his lips and swallowed. Chad half-expected him to flee from the room and never look back, but he reached for the scissors. The guitarist’s hand was shaking so bad, he almost dropped them.
Chad kissed Lindsey’s temple, happy to see her smiling. “Is this okay with you? Sharing?”
“Sharing Daisy, yes. But not me,” she whispered to him. “I’m all yours.”
So, Chad and Adam cut the cord together, and the nurse scooped up the baby to check vitals and force something into her lungs because she was a little early and give her a vitamin K shot and generally make her first half hour on the planet an utterly terrifying experience. But Daisy was soon swaddled and tucked into her mother’s arms. Lindsey examined each of her tiny fingers and then her toes, traced her lips, her nose, her brow.
“She’s perfect,” Lindsey said, looking up at Chad with tears in her eyes.
“Can I hold her?” Chad asked, feeling a tug deep in his chest that already connected him to his daughter.
“Of course,” she said, shifting the baby into Chad’s arms.
“Me next,” Mrs. Parker said.
“No, me,” Mom said.
“Adam should be next,” Owen insisted.
Adam had gone hopelessly mute as he looked on with wide eyes. Chad could see what Lindsey had meant about Adam not having long to prepare for the monumental responsibility of fatherhood. Would Adam want to be a big part in Daisy’s life? Chad couldn’t be sure, but he wouldn’t interfere unless the reckless idiot did something to hurt the innocent bundle in his arms.
As Chad gazed down into Daisy’s dark brown eyes—Adam’s eyes—he knew he’d do anything to protect her, because just like with her mother, it was love at first sight for him. A smile spread across his face when Daisy’s tiny fist squeezed his finger. He felt that surprisingly strong grip around his heart as well. Chad now had two perfect angels to adore.
