Page 87 of The Decoy

“Hell, yes.” Brody takes a deep breath, wiping his eyes with the back of his forearm. He stands and leans over my body, and with steady hands, he cuts the umbilical cord.

He hands the scissors to the doctor and sits back down next to me.

“Look at him, Ellis,” Brody whispers, his voice thick with awe as he looks down at the tiny face resting on my chest. “He’s perfect. And look at all that hair.”

“He is absolutely perfect,” I choke out a laugh through my tears, looking up at my husband. “What are we going to name him?”

Brody leans down, pressing his lips to my forehead, then to our son’s soft head.

“Well, you keep bringing up the name Luke,” he says, voice proud. “So how about Luke Renwick Vaughn?”

I close my eyes, letting the name settle over my heart. “Luke Renwick Vaughn,” I repeat. “Welcome to the world.”

By five o’clock, the chaos from earlier in the day has transformed into something calm and peaceful. Luke has been measured, weighted, and swaddled tightly in a white blanket, sleeping soundly in Brody’s arms.

The hospital suite has turned into an absolute botanical garden. Massive arrangements of white peonies and pale blue hydrangeas cover every flat surface, courtesy of my mother, who had practically commandeered the wing the moment she arrived.

The door opens, and our family and friends file in, trying and failing to stay quiet.

My parents took care of getting June and Lauren here while I was in labor.

My mother ushers them in, my father coming in behind them.

“Charles, doesn’t she look like a goddess? A slightly exhausted goddess, but absolutely radiant,” my mother says.

“That she is,” my father says, walking over to me and kissing my forehead.

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, smiling as I lean back against the pillows.

June walks over to Brody and places a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you, Brody,” she whispers softly.

After we had Dylan sign and seal all the paperwork, Brody told his mom and sister about the baby’s paternity. And, being the family they are, they acted as if it didn’t matter and have remained as excited about the birth as we have. To them, he’s simply ours.

“Thanks, Mom,” he says, standing.

He shifts Luke in his arms, so he’s facing out a bit more. “Everyone,” Brody grins, looking down at the baby. “Meet Luke.”

A collective awww ripples through the room.

“Look at all that dark hair!” Lauren squeals, leaning over to look at him. “I think he looks like Ellis.”

“I think so too,” he says, looking down at our son with pride.

Liam claps Brody on the shoulder. “Eight pounds of pure trouble right there, Vaughn. Get ready for zero sleep right as training camp is starting.”

“Uh, Liam, you’ll be in the same boat just as the season starts,” Alie says, rubbing her pregnant belly.

“Worth every second,” Brody replies without hesitation.

Saint steps up with Presley next, looking down at the sleeping baby with a smile. “He’s absolutely beautiful, Ellis,” Presley says softly, looking at me with genuine warmth.

My dad, still standing by my side, leans in close to my ear. “You did well, sweetheart,” he says, his voice gravelly. “He is a Renwick through and through.”

“Thanks, Dad. He’s perfect is what he is.”

My dad looks over at Brody, who’s letting my mom take her turn to hold the baby, tears brimming in her eyes. He gives a single nod. “Yes, he certainly is.”

After a while, I start to get tired, and Brody picks up on it without asking me. He just knows.