Page 90 of Storm

Kevin’s lips touch my ear, his warm breath brushing my skin while he reassures me. “Listen to me, Miriam. This is going to be fine and you’ll be perfect. You’ve got me the whole time. No matter what happens around us, I’m here foryou. Do you understand?”

Another, much stronger contraction hits, and I nod quickly. “Do you feel my hand, Miriam? I want you to push against my hand.” I squeeze my eyes and do my best to focus on the feeling, a deep pressure moving through my body as my baby demands his entrance into this world.

It feels like it’s forever until my body eases and I lean back against Kevin, breathing hard to catch my breath. His hand runsover my cheek and forehead followed by his lips and praise. “So good, Miriam. So,sogood. Rest now for a moment. I’ve got you.”

Everyone is quiet in between each contraction while I gain my strength, only to have my muscles tighten minutes later as I push again. The blood pressure cuff around my arm keeps tightening around my bicep, alarming every time only for one of the nurses to silence it and click away on the keyboard.

I’m not oblivious to how long I’m pushing and the change in demeanor when the staff starts whispering in my doctor’s ear, but I ignore them.

All I can focus on is the pressure between my legs, the hands rubbing my legs in encouragement, and Kevin’s body behind me lifting up and down, giving me something to breathe along with.

Finally, I hear the words I need to hear.

“He’s right here, Miriam. One more good push and you’ll get to meet your son.”

Crying out, I reach up and wrap my arms around Kevin’s neck, his palms running soothingly over them. “Fuck, girl… I’m so goddamn proud of you.” He kisses my temple just as my exhausted body contracts again.

Kevin sits up with me while both Richard and Tatum tighten their hold on my leg. Ezra cries, “I see him, petal! Oh my God, Gabriel’s hair is so dark!”

Sobbing, I push as hard as I can, screaming into the room as I feel him leave my body. An empty hole fills me almost immediately, but Dr. Belle is handing him to me so quickly, it’s only a moment in time until I feel whole again.

My son…

Mi bebé…

Leaning against Kevin’s chest, I let the doctor and nurses do what they need to do as I lift a shaking hand to soothe my crying baby on my chest. I lift a shaking hand to touch his brow and hold him tight, crying in relief that he’s alright.

His cry is so soft, barely a whisper over my loud sobs and words of praise from the men I’ve fallen deeply in love with over the past few months. Kevin’s cheek is resting against mine, mumbling words of how well I did while Tatum and Ezra are saying how beautiful he is. Richard is silently watching all of us, his eyes watery, overwhelmed with the moment.

“He’s perfect,” I cry, cupping Gabriel’s head as he continues to cry.Gabriel.His name is perfect and I know I chose right as my gaze roams over his face. It’s scrunched, pissed, and beautiful.

One of the nurses pushes her way between Ezra and Tatum with a blanket and starts rubbing at his body, only serving to piss my son off more. She flashes a smile at me, then helps guide him down to my chest.

Kevin shifts, bracing his knees far apart so I can sit up. “Let’s see if he’ll latch right away for you, then we’ll get his measurements and get him cleaned up.”

Nodding, I let her help me open my gown and we work together to bring his mouth to my nipple while everyone watches. Everyone’s breath is held as Gabriel cries, nuzzling hard against my skin until he finds me.

It’s an odd feeling, the moment he latches and sucks hard, but it’s also so natural that I just melt into Kevin’s chest. Laying my head back, I close my eyes as Gabriel feeds from me, instantly quieting down.

“There you go, Miriam. He has a good latch. This isgood!”

Her praise draws more tears, but my throat is so clogged I can’t answer her. I dip my chin again to look at him, my breath shuddering out once again. I can feel all of their eyes on me as we watch our son nurse for the first time.

Kevin’s arm wraps around my body, supporting my arm as I hold him to me, and I finally look up at them. A flurry of emotions has filled me, so I choke out, “He’sbeautiful.”

“He’s the most perfect boy we could have ever had,” Tatum whispers. Leaning over the bed, he kisses me softly. “You both are incredible, Miri. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.”

I nod and suck in a gasp, keeping another sob at bay. Ezra is watching us with so much love and fear I have to cup his cheek and smile to reassure him. His eyes dart to mine, relief written in his gaze, and he melts against my touch.

Kevin is still touching me, comforting me as I turn to Richard whose eyes haven’t left our boy. Gabriel releases his hold on me, mouthing the air for a moment but falling asleep quickly. I gather the blanket the nurse laid over him and wrap him up messily, then lift my baby up and hand him over to Richard.

“Hold him?” I ask, not sure what else to ask, but I just know that I need our baby in Richard’s arms at this moment.

He flicks his eyes to mine for only a moment before they fall back to Gabriel’s face. With so much care, he slides his hands next to mine, gathers the baby into his arm, and holds him to his chest.

Walking away from us, I stop myself from calling out to bring him back, and watch as Richard kisses Gabriel’s head as he walks them to the nurse.

He’s also hesitant to hand our baby over, but he does, and they’re quick to clean Gabriel up. They put drops in his eyes, weigh and measure him, then clean his body so quickly that our baby barely fusses at them.

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