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Margo burst into tears and Simon wasn’t entirely sure he wouldn’t be right behind her.
“Lila, can you grab me some towels? I put a few on the warming rack near the shower. Can you grab those too?” Nora spoke to Lila but didn’t look away from the baby as she cleaned her up and did some other things Simon didn’t want to think about.
Lila darted into the bathroom and came back. She faltered a little, but seemed to steady herself and moved forward with an armful of towels.
“There’s a perfect girl. Such a good girl. That’s right, you cry it all out.” Nora tucked Raine into the warm towel and she pinked up. “Just keep your legs like that and here we go…” She set the baby on Margo’s chest. “Skin to skin is best.”
“God, she’s so tiny.” Simon’s eyes filled. She had a full head of dark hair and she looked like she was mad at the world until she settled on Margo’s chest. Her little bow of a mouth didn’t seem to know what to do as she burrowed closer to Margo’s heart.
“She’s perfect.” Margo’s whisper was as awestruck as he felt. She pressed a kiss against their daughter’s downy head.
“Look what you did.” He kissed Margo’s forehead and curled his arms around her and the baby. “We made this little human. I don’t even have words.”
Margo smiled up at him, but her gaze went right back to the baby. “Hello, Raine Lila Kagan. It’s very nice to finally meet you.”
Lila let out a little sob next to them.
Margo cuddled the baby closer, angling her toward her best friend. “Want to meet your Aunt Li? She’s going to be in your life almost every day like your mom and dad.”
Lila leaned over to them, one long finger brushing over Raine’s fist. Their little girl opened and closed her perfect tiny fingers around Lila’s. “Hi there, Raine.”
Raine suddenly squawked and her little face scrunched up.
Lila dashed away tears. “She’s so beautiful, Margo.”
Margo carefully turned the baby back toward her and murmured soft, nonsensical words. She winced lightly. “Whoa.”
Simon froze. “Whoa, what? Everything okay?”
“Should I still be having contractions?”
“What?” Simon scooted up against the headboard. “You’re joking.”
“Relax, everyone. It’s just the not-so-sweet part about having a baby.” Nora’s voice was no-nonsense.
Simon sagged back against the headboard. “Jesus.”
Nora laughed. “Did you think another baby was magically in there?”
“No.” He huffed out a breath. “Maybe.”
“God, no.” Margo laid her hand over the baby’s head. “I’m good.”
“No, just don’t mind me down here, just buttoning things up and taking care of the placenta.”
Simon grimaced. “Oh, umm, carry on.”
“Lila, why don’t you and Simon take the baby in to get cleaned up while I do the same for Mom?”
Lila nodded and put on her manager hat. She had a plan to enact. And just like that, the soft lines became stern and her tears dried up and she bustled Simon and his precious cargo into the bathroom. “We have a nice big sink to do this in.”
“We didn’t really prepare for the baby here yet.”
His Raine had sure been in a hurry, but she was definitely the best early surprise.
“Good thing I had a little gift in my bag.” Lila pulled out her phone and texted something, then someone came stomping up the stairs.
“I got it. Holy fuck—warn a guy.”
