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“I might snort in my sleep.” I whisper drowsily.
“I hope you do sweet pea, sleep well.”
Joe slides his warm palm down over my hip to rest on my belly. It’s a simple sweet gesture that pulls at my heart strings.
And she kicks him.
Joe shifts his hand, and she kicks him again.
Rolling to my back, Joe shifts down the bed and cups my belly, whispering to it, and peppering it with kisses.
“What are you whispering down there?
“Secrets.”
“Secrets!”
Joe kisses my lips and wraps his arm back around me. “Just letting her know that she can trust me to love you both forever.”
EPILOGUE 1
Mady
Four Months Later
“Push when you’re ready.” Liv, my midwife, dabs my forehead with a cold washcloth as I shift my weight in the inflatable swimming pool on our kitchen floor. I insisted on a home birth, and this was the only room big enough.
Joe holds my hand, kneeling on the floor next to me. His eyes bigger than saucers watching me adjust my position, naked from the waist down, in a pool, with women walking around the room as if this is just another day. And to them it is.
Kissing my hand, Joe smiles at me. “I’m so proud of you, my love. So inspired and in awe.”
“I love you so much, Joe. I hope you’ll want to do this again, after you see what happens next.” I start to giggle, but another contraction takes over, “AAAAH”
“Push, my love. You’ve got this.” He squeezes my hand. “I can see her head!”
“Looks good Mady. Take a deep breath, and one more powerful push.” Liv is right there at the ready, alongside Joe, as I take one last breath and push our stubborn daughter into the world.
Born two weeks late, Noelle Josephine refused to share the New Year’s Eve spotlight, and is doing things on her terms. But I love her so damn much, and Joe is heaven sent. Cradling Noelle in his arms as the midwife cleans her off and checks her out. He is the picture-perfect father. He may not be her biological dad, but she’ll always be daddy’s little girl and know the love of a true father.
“Liv,” I’m out of breath and my insides are burning like the seventh ring of hell, but I need to ask her, “Liv, how soon can I do this again?”
“Madelyn!” Joe’s face turns bright red from embarrassment.
“What? Too soon?”
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