Page 42 of Clashing Moon

The baby’s shoulders emerged, and I carefully guided and supported the tiny body out and into the world.

“One more, Elliot,” I said, my own voice filled with excitement now. “Nice and easy. Half the effort as before.”

She drew in a final, powerful breath, and with one last push, the baby slipped free. A tiny cry filled the room. I held up the little bundle, grinning. “It’s a girl. You have a girl.” Gently, I placed her on Elliot’s chest, her small body wriggling as she took in the world for the first time.

“Oh my God, she’s perfect,” Caspian said, tears running down his face as he stared at their daughter with an expression of pure awe. He climbed out from behind Elliot, adjusting the pillows behind her.

Elliot only had eyes for her baby girl. She smiled and cooed. “Hello, little one. It’s so good to meet you.”

Mama leaned in, smiling down at the baby and then squeezing Elliot’s shoulder. “A baby girl. I thought for sure it would be a boy. You did good, Mama.”

“How does it feel to be a grandmother for the second time?” I asked.

“Third. Chloe’s ours, too,” Mama said.

“Right. Third then?”

“It feels like winning the lottery,” Mama said. “The most perfect gift.”

“Time to cut the cord,” I said. “You up for it, Dad?”

“I…I guess so. It won’t hurt either of them, will it?”

“I thought you said they went over everything in the birthing class,” I said, teasing.

“Caspian wasn’t the best listener if we’re telling the truth,” Elliot said, with a loving look in her husband’s direction.

Caspian shrugged. “I get distracted easily. And I’ve never been good at school. I’ll know how to do everything next time,” Caspian said.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a next time,” Elliot said. “That was hard.”

“But you were a rock star,” Caspian said.

I offered him the sterile scissors used to cut the cord. His hands trembled slightly as he took the scissors from me, shifting so he could get a clear view of the cord connecting his wife to their child. With a deep breath, Caspian positioned the scissors carefully, jaw clenched as he brought them to the small, pulsing cord. With a gentle snip, the cord was severed, officially bringing their daughter fully into the world. He set the scissors aside, his eyes never leaving his little girl.

“Okay, time to deliver the placenta,” I said. “Caspian, take the baby.”

Caspian nodded, his eyelids reddening. Elliot placed her in his strong arms, and I watched a grown man melt into nothing but a heart. “Hey, sweetheart. This is your dad.” He kissed his daughter’s damp head. “Welcome home, baby girl.”

In no time at all, Elliot had pushed out the placenta. I almost laughed when I saw Caspian’s look of horror at the sight. “People eat that stuff?”

“Not this person,” Elliot said, closing her eyes.

“You’re going to have to give the baby over to me for a few minutes,” I said to my brother. “I’ll get her cleaned up and weighed and make sure all is well.”

“I’ll help to get you all cleaned up and change the bedding, all that,” Mama said to the new mother. “I’m not a nurse, but I had five boys.”

“What do I do?” Caspian asked, his gaze following me as I gathered the infant against my chest. “I should do something.”

Mama chuckled and handed him a damp cloth. “Here, honey. Wipe that sweat off your face. Then call your dad. He’s also a nervous wreck, probably wearing a path through my new carpet, pacing back and forth. After that, get your wife a sandwich and some water. She needs to rebuild her strength.”

“Make a sandwich. Now that’s something I can do.” Caspian leaned over to give his wife a kiss. “I thought I loved you as much as humanly possible yesterday. But I was wrong. You were spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift imaginable.”

“You had a little something to do with it.” Elliot laughed softly, barely audible over the sounds of the baby’s cry. “And I love you too.”

Caspian left, and I bathed the baby with a warm cloth while Mama worked on Elliot. Soon, both baby and mother were ready for the next steps: bonding and nursing.

“Eight pounds, three ounces,” I said, looking at the scale the doula had dropped off last week in preparation. “And twenty-one inches. She’s perfectly healthy.” I chuckled as I put a tiny diaper on my niece, then swaddled her in a soft cotton blanket and brought her back to Elliot. “You ready to try nursing?”

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