“Not that this night couldn’t get any more exciting, but...” Jo drew out the suspense, “James and Jane eloped! They’re on a flight to Paris as we speak. Mom was furious that she didn’t get to plan a wedding, but both she and my dad told James not to show his face for at least a month and take his new wife on an extended honeymoon. Mom probably hopes she’ll come back pregnant so she can at least plan the baby shower.”
“Oh, Jo,” River breathed. “I’m so happy for your brother and Jane. They both deserved a happily-ever-after.”
Patrick and Hugh both expressed their happiness for the couple. “Bran will be ecstatic to hear the news,” Patrick assured.
Jo leaned into Rowan and River and whispered for their ears alone, “Sooo... no sex yet, but Thomas had two of his men stay outside our hotel room for an hour. They were off duty and supposed to be getting some sleep, so that’s why it was only for an hour, but I would like to report multiple orgasms were had— on both sides.”
River and Rowan both squealed in ecstasy over the news. “Finally, thank you Little Tiny Baby Jesus,” River half snorted, half laughed.
“You lucky, lucky bitch,” Rowan also laughed and added an ass slap to their friend.
“Josephine,” Macgregor growled. His face sported a hint of blush. Adorable.
Jo pooh-poohed his scowl, “It’s okay, Honey. Just catching my girls up.”
River heard HB mutter,Christ, have mercy.
River turned at the sound of footsteps hurrying their way. Oh God. Bran had tears streaking down his face. “He’s here.”
* * *
They were allowedinto Raven and Bran’s room forty-five minutes later, a few minutes after midnight. Patrick watched in wonder as his older brother presented his son to the family. Patrick realized at that moment why they called babies miracles. And according to what the women said, Raven’s labor had been extremely short.
Bran placed their son carefully back in his mother’s arms. River, Rowan, and Nan pressed close, giving kisses to Raven and the baby. They all agreed he was the most beautiful baby ever born. Jo looked like a photographer on Speed, taking photos from every angle.
“Oh, Raven, you won’t believe this little shop I found on Etsy.”
MacGregor’s rumbling voice cut in, “Why wouldn’t she believe it? You logged more hours this past month flipping through Etsy vendors than their own content editors.”
Jo only rolled her eyes. “Anyway, they will take all Baby O’s first photos with family and friends and create a gorgeous album. They can emboss the leather with names or symbols and in different categories, like ultrasounds, pregnancy photos, baby showers, and the one I asked Hugh to take of you before you left for the hospital. That he better have remembered to take.” She stopped to look at his dad, who, of course, only nodded.
“What picture did you take, Dad?” Bran asked, smiling at their father doing Jo’s bidding.
“One of you marching around in a panic, one of the girls on the couch, and one of Bran and Raven sitting together waiting for the car.” Eyes gleaming, he added, “Oh, I also took one of Patrick looking at Bran like his brother had lost his mind. That one was for you, Bran. Something to compare whenever Pat and River are in your position.”
Patrick only shook his head, knowing he’d deserved it. “I wondered what the hel—heck you were doing looking at your phone so often.”
“So, Raven, in the next few weeks, we’ll gather everyone’s photos, and you can pick the album color and all the other stuff.
“The best part, which I already had them start, is a family tree for you and Bran. They’ll do a coordinating book with all the fancy trees and calligraphy inside. They use more than one genealogy site to gather the most accurate and comprehensive information. Oh, and I told them to make three copies of the Family Tree. One with just your family, Row.”
That last part dropped an uncomfortable dollop of awkward in the room. Raven, as sweet as ever, didn’t miss a beat.
“Oh wow, Jo! Thank you so much. I never thought of our family trees. Maybe next week you can come over, and we can pick everything out.”
Bran finally got his son back and walked over to Nan, who’d gone back to stand next to Devlen. He placed her great-grandson in her arms, making the older woman burst into tears. Gran wasn’t expected to land for another few hours, so she would wait to come to the hospital when visiting hours resumed in the morning, but Patrick imagined her reaction to holding the newest Baby O would be just as emotional.
Finally, it was Pat and Dad’s turn.
The baby was so... small. Like, move a finger wrong and break it small. Bran looked to their father and proudly held his son out. Without hesitation, Dad took his grandson into his arms and cradled the newest O’Faolain to his chest.
He had the barest bit of white hair glinting over a pink scalp that Dad traced with his blunt fingers. It must be amazing to hold a child from his own child. Patrick wondered in awe if this tiny little boy would grow up to look like his father and uncle.
“Christ, Bran, I wish my father were here to see what you’ve done. He’s perfect.”
His dad’s rare show of emotion had every woman in the room sniffling— the men, too, if Patrick were honest.
And then— it was his turn to hold his nephew. River and Rowan came over for moral support. He must have been shakier than he thought. As Bran placed the bundle in his arms, the baby’s tiny head rested in the crook of his elbow. He opened his tiny, toothless mouth and yawned. “Did your mommy wear you out with all that pushing and nonsense?” he whispered, gently touching a finger to his nephew’s cheek.
