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He leaned in the final inch to cover her mouth with his—only to freeze when her fingers clenched hard in his hair as the contraction reached its peak.
Chapter 32
“One more push, Mae,” Dr. Steven encouraged. “You’re doing great.”
Merit supported her from behind, bracing her back against his chest as she death-gripped his hands each time the doctor directed her to bear down. He’d thought she was amazing before this, but watching her give birth to their child put her up at goddess level.
My goddess.
She squeezed his hands hard with the final push, and seconds later, a tiny wail split the air. Relief flooded through him at the sound, and Mae sagged against him with a half-sob, half-laugh. The doctor rose up to place the baby on her chest.
Merit stared in amazement at their teeny human, face all red and kinda slimy as it screamed its little lungs out. In the surreal moment, his throat clogged, words deserting him as instant love flooded his chest.
“We’re going to have Dad cut the cord, and then we have to get your little boy here on oxygen in the NICU so we can get him checked out.”
The word boy took a second to register.
“Oh, Merit, look at him,” Mae choked out as she cuddled their son against her bare skin.
He turned his head to press a kiss to her damp cheek without taking his gaze off the baby. “He’s perfect. You did great.”
A hand tugged on his arm. “Sorry to rush you, but we need you over here, Dad.”
Merit followed the nurse’s urging to stand by the bed and took what looked like scissors from her hand. After she clamped near the baby’s belly, he cut as directed, and then stepped back when more people in scrubs crowded him out of the way.
“Do you have a name for this little guy?” The question came from the nurse transferring the baby from Mae’s chest to a rolling crib with clear plastic sides. The crib was immediately surrounded by people.
Unable to keep sight of the baby, he turned his gaze to Mae’s, eyebrows raised.
“Maverick Matthew Diamond,” she stated.
He was surprised by a sting of tears even as he grinned at her. Ian had suggested Maverick a couple of weeks ago because he said it was a cool name like Merit’s. He’d loved it and loved that Mae did, too. His own middle name wasn’t something they’d discussed, but he loved that she wanted to use it.
As Maverick was wheeled from the room, the nurse turned to Merit. “Doctor has to finish up with Mae, but you can come with us if you want?”
He looked askance at Mae. She nodded and waved him to go along. “Yes. Go. Stay with him.”
First, he hurried over to the bed and cupped her face for a kiss. Then he leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you. Thank you. For saying yes, for our little boy, for…everything.”
It was a little after midnight when Merit left Mae’s postpartum room and headed out to the waiting area. Honor was napping on Asher’s shoulder, and he was surprised to see Bryce in the midst of all his family, with Ian asleep in the chair next to him. Apparently, Mae’s brother listened as well as she did.
When he caught his father’s gaze, his dad stiffened and reached out a hand to his mom. They immediately drew the attention of the rest of the family, and Merit couldn’t contain a wide grin as he approached. Asher nudged Honor, and Merit waited for Bryce to shake Ian awake before he announced, “Mae and Maverick Matthew Diamond are both doing well.”
He’d planned to say his fiancé, but with Ian there, he realized they needed to tell him first. Together.
Amidst a mixed chorus of “Oh, it’s a boy!” and, “Congratulations,” Ian jumped up and ran toward him.
“You used my name!”
Merit scooped him up into his arms for a tight hug. “Sure did. It’s a good name.”
“Give us the details,” his mom demanded. “When can we see them?”
“Mae’s sleeping right now, and Maverick will be in the NICU on oxygen for a couple of days until his lungs devel
op more.”
“But he’s okay?” Honor asked with concern, her hand on her own belly. After what he and Mae had just gone through, he understood the anxiety in both her and his brother’s expressions.
