Page 146 of Fought and Freed

The nurse lifted his baby. “Let’s get you over to Mommy.”

Amber cringed back. “Ew, not when he’s still dirty. Can’t you give him a bath?”

“You can’t bathe him until his umbilical cord stump falls off,” Skylar snapped, remembering that being something he read in one of the books he bought.

The nurse turned to him. “Don’t worry, sometimes new moms disassociate after giving birth. The doctor will monitor her. Would you like to hold your son?”

“Yes.” Skylar reached for him, then hesitated. “But I’ve never done this before.”

The nurse showed him, explaining how the skin-on-skin contact when they’re first born was beneficial. He unbuttoned his shirt and sat in the chair, then took his son and laid him on his chest.

Skylar stared down at him in wonder before looking up at the nurse. “Can you tell my family they can come in?”

“Sure.” Looking relieved, she left the room before Amber could protest.

“Hello E.J.” He smiled down at his son, tears filling his eyes. “I’m your father.”

The door opened, and his family came in.

“That was quick,” Jace said.

Amber pulled her blanket up. “Thank God.”

Cody came over and reached out his hands. “Let me see my nephew.”

Cradling E.J.’s neck and head, Skylar passed him to Cody.

Jace leaned over to look at him. “He’s so cute.”

“He looks like you when you were little.” Cody caressed E.J.’s cheek.

“He also looks like me, his mother,” Amber reminded them.

Jace closed the curtain so they couldn’t see her anymore.

“Where’s Maddy?” Skylar looked around. “I thought she’d be here by now.”

“I thought so, too, but maybe she stayed after to talk to Janet, and she hasn’t checked her phone yet,” Ryder said. “The birth was really fast.”

“Or maybe she’s not coming,” Amber mumbled from out of view.

Skylar looked at the curtain and shook his head. He needed to get full custody as soon as possible.

When Jace took E.J. from Cody, seeing his man holding his child created a warm feeling in Skylar’s stomach.

“He has your curly blond hair and blue eyes,” Jace said, with tears spilling over.

“All babies have blue eyes,” Amber snorted.

“Well, my son will keep them. Can you keep your comments to yourself, Amber?” Skylar scolded. “Let me enjoy this with my family.”

She huffed.

They were enjoying his son, but worry filled him the more time passed and Maddy didn’t arrive.

Skylar nudged Ryder. “Can you call Maddy? I’m getting concerned.”

He took out his phone, dialed, then shook his head. “It went right to voicemail.”

---