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Epilogue
Paul
March 13th, 2024
I had spent a leisurely morning in bed making love to Miri, but I must have fucked something loose, because I had to rush her to the hospital about three hours ago. Five days early. Miri is in active labor and all I can do is hold her hand. She’s doing this without any drugs yet she’s being so calm about this. Surely she’s in pain, but I wouldn’t know it. I expected screaming and cursing me, but she’s a warrior woman.
Doctor Malone is in place at the foot of the bed, telling Miri what to do while Carter is supervising from his place at her head at the opposite of the bed. He has been very careful and respectful of Miri’s wishes that she not be touched by any man but me.
“Alright, Miriam, I can see the head, push for me,” the doctor says. I watch as she bears down, squeezing my hand as she does. “That’s it. Shoulders are free, one more push and your baby will be here.” We decided to wait until the baby was born to know the gender.
“Ahhhh,” Miri screams. Finally. Seconds later, a loud wail fills the room.
“You did it, sweet girl,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy. Your son is here,” Carter says, handing Miri our boy.
“It’s a boy,” she says through her tears. I’m crying myself. I reach out and touch his little cheek with my index finger.
“Welcome to the world, PJ,” I say. Paul Benedict Reynolds, JR is finally here.
“Baby PJ,” she whispers, sobbing now. Her tears pouring down her face. “Here, Daddy take him before I drown him,” she says, and I take him from her arms.
He snuggles into me, and everything is right with the world. I was born to be Miri’s husband and by extension PJ’s father. He huffs out a little baby breath and closes his eyes.
“Are you happy? Miri asks. Our eyes meet and tears fill my eyes.
“Yes, my love. Are you?”
“So much. I hate to think what my life would be like if I stayed in Ohio.”
“But you didn’t. We were meant to meet in Hollow’s Hollow. I could still be a beat cop in Tampa, but something made me apply for sheriff here. I know that something was you. I love you so much,” I reply, leaning down to kiss her. The kiss goes on and on until PJ cries in my arms.
“I think someone might be hungry,” she says.
“Let’s get you cleaned up first, Miriam,” Doctor Malone says. “Everything has passed. You didn’t even need a stitch,” she says.
“Great. Thank you for everything, Doctor.”
“No problem. Doctor Sutton is waiting to check your boy over. Ready to give him up for a few minutes?”
“No,” I say, reluctantly handing him over to Carter.
“Let’s get you up and showered. Paul will help you,”
“You want her standing already?” I ask, concerned that it’s too soon.
“Absolutely. Walking around immediately has been proven to provide excellent benefits including preventing blood clots. She didn’t need surgery so she should be right as rain, if a little tired.”
“A little?” Miri says, laughing.
“Alright, a lot,” Doctor Malone says laughing.
“Okay, let’s get you up,” I tell her, helping her to stand.
After a shower, she’s dressed in a nursing nightgown. It’s open and PJ is resting on her chest. They are getting that all important skin to skin contact. I watch them with so much love in my heart, it’s about to burst.
I’ve never been happier. The moment she came into my life, it changed. I changed. She’s my everything and now this little baby is too. I wouldn’t change a thing.
