Page 77 of Vows Of Sin

“She’s here!” I look between my daughter and Madalina in both excitement and shock.

“Is she okay?” Madalina laughs and cries at the same time.

“She’s fucking perfect.” I almost choke on the lump that's formed in my throat.

“Who’s holding her first?” The nurse wraps her up in a towel and passes her up between Madalina’s legs and I watch on as my wife takes our little girl in her arms and sees her for the first time. Her eyes are wide and full of love and I swear there's never been a time when she’s looked more beautiful.

“She is perfect.” Madalina looks back up at me with eyes full of happy tears.

But her expression quickly screws back up again when she feels another contraction.

“I forgot there's another one.” She grits through her teeth as I take the baby out of her arms and hold her close to me.

“Baby number two isn’t going to be far behind,” Dr. Walsh announces.

“Would you like me to take her while your wife delivers the next one?” the nurse offers. But I shake my head. I don’t want anyone taking my little girl from me.

“I don’t think I can do it again, I need to rest.” Madalina shakes her head looking defeated.

“I don’t think you get to choose.” I smile at her. “But look at what you already did.” I look down at the precious, little thing in my arms, “You know it’s going to be worth it. Our little girl’s in there all alone, and she wants out.” I wrap the fingers of my free hand around hers.

“Push,” I tell her when she gets that panicked look on her face again. “Push real hard, pretty girl, you’ve got this.”

“We’ve already got the head out,” the nurse calls out over the deep moans Madalina makes.

“You hear that? You're doing so well. It’s nearly over.”

“Ithurrrrrrrtttttsss.”

“Keep pushing, she’s nearly here,” I encourage her, quickly handing our little girl over to the other nurse when I can see that Madalina needs all my attention,

“I can’t.” She flops her head back exhausted. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m too tired.”

“You can, you’ve been so perfect at this, you’ve taken such good care of them and grown them so strong. This is the last thing I’ll ever ask of you, I swear.” I make her a promise. I don’t care if I never get a son. This woman’s already given me the fucking world, and I would never willfully put her through this again.

She nods her head and draws in a breath before pushing with all her strength and wailing so loud it makes my heart stop.

“She’s here!” Dr. Walsh delivers our little girl straight onto Madalina’s chest taking her by surprise and making her burst out in tears.

“Hello.” She looks down at our daughter, who’s still got her eyes squinted tightly. “She’s not crying, why isn’t she crying?” Madalina looks at the nurse in panic.

“Not all babies cry when they’re born. You’ve got yourself a chilled one, there.” The nurse covers her with a blanket.” She’s breathing just fine, can you feel?”

She places Madalina’s hand against our little girl’s back and Madalina sighs when she feels it rising and falling.

“Would you like to have skin-to-skin with them both?”

The other nurse brings our eldest girl over and when Madalina nods she tucks both our babies against her chest and covers them all up.

“Are you planning to breastfeed?” she asks.

“I’d like to.” Madalina is far too busy staring at our babies to pay much attention.

“Okay, while you're bonding you might find that they just latch themselves on, or sometimes babies need some help. It’s what we’re here for.” She smiles. “Just ignore us poking around down here and enjoy your babies.” She moves on to assist the doctor and when I look down at him, the nod he gives me assures me that everything is okay.

“I can’t believe they’re here.” Madalina looks up at me with tears streaming from her eyes.

“They’re here and they’re beautiful.” I rest on the bed beside them all, and carefully place my arm over their tiny, little backs.

“Thank you.” She looks up at me.

“What are you thanking me for? You did all the hard work.” I laugh, this woman has just given me the whole world and yetshe’sthankingme.

“For being a selfish, deceitful asshole. Look at what we’ve got.” She smiles, and I feel the same prickle in my chest that I felt the first time I saw her. The one that told me life would never be the same again.

“You’re welcome.” I kiss the tops of our babies' heads, and then my wife, knowing that not a single moment in time will ever trump this one, right here.

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