Page 52 of A Swan’s Love Song

Erik’s lusty cries could be heard in the background. “Hold on, Sean.”

Hold on? Is he kidding?

Kellan returned to the phone. “Sorry. He’s starting to teethe.”

A pang of guilt struck Sean. “Oh no. Is he okay?”

“He’s sucking on a frozen teething ring, so he’ll be all right for a minute—poor baby.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt you…” Sean chewed on his thumbnail. He couldn’t take it any

longer. “But the egg has a crack!”

Kellan chuckled. “Yeah, so I heard.”

Sean gasped. “Who told you?”

More laughter came through the line. “You did, Sean. Just now. This is so exciting.”

“I know! I might pee myself.”

Kellan snorted. “Try not to. Is Avi there?”

“No, but he’s on his way. I don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to do anything? I’m still

keeping it warm, but…”

He remembered how worried he was about Kellan the night Erik hatched, but everything had

turned out just fine. And that was even a half-mammal, half-avian hatchling. Why wouldn’t everything

be fine with his and Avi’s child?

“You’re doing the right thing. It’s the baby’s turn now to do the rest of the work.”

“Yeah?”

Sean felt as if his brain were going to explode. He had so many questions that they kept getting

tangled up in each other to the point where he couldn’t pull a single one out of the jumble in his head.

“Yes.” Kellan sighed. “I understand how you feel, I do. I’d be there with you if I could, but

Erik…”

“Of course you have to stay with him, poor little guy. I guess I need to hear from someone just

one more time that it’s all going to be okay. Avi’s uncle has checked the egg at every stage of growth,

has explained the hatching process to me and Avi numerous times, but it’s like he never said a word. I

can’t remember a darn thing.”

“Sean, take a deep breath and try to calm down. Stay by your egg, and when Avi gets there, he

can call his uncle if you’re still concerned about anything. But all that’s really left to do now is wait.”

Kellan snorted again. “Not fun, I assure you. Yet, that’s the way it goes. At least you get to do it at