Utahn pulled our son from his chest, and, for the first time, I got to see his tiny face. So little and red, and his wee eyelids kept fluttering closed.
“Do you want to hold him?”
My breath caught in my throat. Being a dad to a being this delicate was one thing, but holding him was another. “I don’t want to break him.”
Utahn giggled. “You won’t. Just be sure to hold him securely and support his head.”
After a little bit of fumbling to find the right position, I pulled my new son up to my chest, cradling him in my arms. An unfamiliar warmth spread through my body as my heart pounded hard against my rib cage. This was my little boy. My son. But, what did I call him? “What’s his name?”
“I haven’t picked one yet.” Utahn rubbed his eyes as his knee rocked back and forth under the bed sheets. He was tired. “I have some ideas, but I wanted to wait for you.”
“You did all the hard work. I think you should name him.” Plus, I had no ideas. I simply knew he and his father were the most precious part of my life.
“I… What do you think of Reeve? Vawn told me it was the name of your great-grandfather. I really like the name, but I didn’t know if you’d be okay with it.”
I glanced down at our sleeping son. “I think it’s a perfect name for him.” I never knew my great-grandfather, but I do remember the stories about him having to leave everything behind on Trid when he moved his family to Orez in order to survive.
Would my son, Reeve, leave his birth planet, too? Not to survive but to be with me? I could only hope his father would one day agree.
Chapter Sixteen
Utahn
“I love you so much. Please come live with me on Eurebly.”
Those were the last words Genj said to me before he returned to the planet and his space racer life. I’d thought about it. Thought long and hard. Yet, as much as I wanted to be with him, there were too many things keeping me on Orez.
“Is it the bakery? Is that what’s keeping you here?” Vawn set a drink in front of me then scooped Reeve into his arms. His younger daughter, Gitta, sat on the chair nearby, cuddling her own baby. A doll Genj had brought for her after she’d insisted she wanted a baby like her uncle’s.
“No.” I shook my head. The bakery had been closed for two weeks now, after sales had completely tanked. I had former customers and other community members bring me gifts and pre-made meals, but no one wanted to buy the sweets my family had made in my place. Besides, every racer I’d ever talked to said I would make a fortune if I opened a bakery on Eurebly.
“Then, what is it?” Vawn swayed back and forth, his natural motion whenever he held a child. One I’d seemed to adopt when I’d become a father.
I shrugged. “You. My parents. Yes, I’ll get to see Genj more, but I’ll have to leave everyone else.” Everyone who’d been there throughout my pregnancy and for every part of my life before then.
Vawn nudged my leg then sat beside me. “You do realize that Ojokun travels to Eurebly quite often when he’s training the racers. I would go with him if you were there. Same with racing weekends. And we can chat on our comm units like you and Genj have been doing.”
I’d thought about all that but still couldn’t get the courage to leave everything I knew behind. “I guess I’m simply scared. What if we don’t work out? What if something happens to him, and I’m there by myself?” These thoughts had been rolling around in my head since Genj left two weeks after Reeve and I were released from the medical center. We hadn’t had enough time together. I still needed him. I was thankful I had lots of help from his family and mine, but I needed my mate.
Stars, maybe I did need to move to Eurebly. I wiped tears from my cheeks. “If I do go, do you promise to visit? And to call?” This was a much bigger move than when Vawn married Ojokun and I moved to the apartment I owned above the bakery. He wouldn’t be simply across town but two planets away.
Vawn patted my shoulder. “Of course.” He glanced down at Reeve. “Plus, I can’t stay away from my adorable nephew for long.”
With a heavy sigh, I set my palms on my lap. “Okay. Reeve and I are going to move to Eurebly to be with Genj.” I had to be brave. I had to do this.
Chapter Seventeen
Genj
“Where do you want these?”
I glanced over at Xac who held up a pair of slippers I’d bought for my son. “On the table, I think.” As soon as Utahn arrived, I was sure he would rearrange everything. But I had to do my best to prepare this home as much as possible.
Two months after our son was born, my mate decided to accept my offer to come and live with me on Eurebly. It took me twice as long to find a place suitable for us to live. The love of my life and the little one we created together would arrive on the planet very soon.
Qé peeked in with a box labeled for the main bedroom. “Did you tell him yet?”
“No, it’s a surprise.” I wasn’t sure if Utahn thought we’d be living in the dorm when he agreed to move here, but I hadn’t told him anything about the house. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
