Page 93 of SnowBound

The wildest and most amazing night of my life resulted in him.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

My heart swelled in my chest.

I wasn’t tired anymore. I was in awe.

“Hi, baby. I’m your mama,” I said, my voice quivering with an emotional overload. Mama. I was a mother. No matter how many times I repeated it in my head, my brain still couldn’t compute it. I would need to get used to this term while referring to myself.

With a finger, I caressed his cheek, his skin warm and soft. His eyelids fluttered, and I got entranced by the sight. His heart-shaped lips pursed, and he nestled himself against my bare chest. How could he look so perfect? He was my early birthday gift.

“Abby?” Ellie’s voice brought me out of my admiration.

I blinked before bringing my attention to her and shifted the phone until she could get a better view of my son. My son. It sounded almost surreal. “Gurrrl. You did amazing.” Her own eyes brimmed with tears. Her palms connected together under her chin. “Wow, he’s absolute perfection. I’m so proud of you. Do you have a name? You never told me.”

“Alexi.” Abby. Andy. Alexi. Yes, it felt right. And it gave the three of us a sense of unity. Of family.

She clasped her hands. “I love it. Andy would be so proud. I know he has no idea, but from what you’ve told me, he would be here if he could. And would agree.”

I nodded. “One day, I’ll find him, Elles. I have no idea how or when, and I’ll hire a P.I. if I need to. But one day, he’ll meet his son, no matter what it takes.”