Page 26 of Claiming His Student

It’s time.

“It’s okay, we’re ready,” Dylan says hurriedly, standing to wrap his arms around me and kiss my cheek. “I love you, baby. I’m here with you every step of the way. I’ve got everything ready for the hospital, let’s go.”

I’m in a daze as Dad helps me to the car and Dylan gets our bag for the hospital trip. My father drives so that Dylan can sit with me and hold me. He helps me breathe through the initial pain and anxiety. I’m so excited about this, but I’m also terrified. Giving birth is a big deal, but with Dylan here, I know everything is going to be just fine.

Dylan calls ahead to the hospital so they’re ready for me when I arrive. They get me settled in a bed and then everything moves so fast. Every second of it feels like a lifetime, but Dylan and my Dad stick close by and help me through it. My mind is a daze, but I’ve never known so clearly that this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

And then, a few hours later I hear my baby cry for the first time. His wails fill the air and bring me back down to Earth. I feel tears of joy fall down my cheeks and a few minutes later, I hold him in my arms for the first time. He feels so tiny in my arms, but he makes me feel so much love. I rock him against me.

“My baby angel,” I whisper. Dylan is right by my side and he kisses our baby boy on the head.

“Maybe we should name him Gabriel,” he says. “It seems fitting.”

“I like that,” I sniff, holding back tears. This moment is so emotional, that I don’t ever want it to end. I’ve never been happier. I thought my life was perfect from the moment Dylan entered it, but now that we have our baby, everything feels even better.

Gabriel shifts in my arms and I hold him close, closing my eyes. This was nine months in the making and it feels like a miracle to be holding him in my arms now. I’ve always wanted children, but I never thought I’d find someone I wanted this with. But as I look at Dylan, I know he walked into my life at exactly the right moment. He was the only man that could make this possible. He was the only man who could make me this happy now. I lean in to kiss him, knowing that this is all possible because of his love and affection.

Now we have the rest of our lives to live out together.Extended EpilogueTen years later...DylanTaking your angelically named children to parents night when they’re more like little devils is an experience, for sure. As Cora and I bundle Gabriel, Celeste, and Ariel into the car, we exchange an amused glance. Who knew that our good parenting would produce such little adorable tyrants.

“Whatever Miss Bush says about me, it’s not true,” Gabriel declares as we get into the car. I glance back at him with a smile.

“Oh yeah? Can you guess what she might say?”

Gabriel chews his lip. “Well...she might mention that I wrote my eight times table on my hand to use in a test, but that’s not true.”

“So that’s not why you came home covered in blue ink the other day?” Cora teases affectionately. Gabriel folds his arms defiantly.

“My pen exploded.”

“Ahh,” Cora and I say in unison. We know by now that Gabriel tends to bend the truth a little. He’s a smart kid, if a little unfocussed, but fortunately for us, we can always tell when he’s telling a white lie. I suspect we’ll hear some interesting things about him tonight at parent’s night.

“Well, Miss Bush likes me,” Celeste brags. “She says that I have a big personality.”

Cora and I try our best not to laugh. Our kids are all big personalities, for sure. We’re not entirely sure where they picked up their divaish personas, but we wouldn’t change them for the world. Even three year old Ariel is starting to prance around the house like she’s the queen of the world, but we love them for it. We like that they’re not just some clones of every other kid in their classes. They do well in school, even if they’re not always focused, and they have friends. The teachers like them, even when they’re slightly disruptive. The way we see it, our kids are one of a kind in the best possible way.

As we get to the school, and Celeste takes my hand. She’s just turned seven and she has already used her charm to get exactly what she wants from life.

“Mr. Rhodes wants me to join the music after school club, he thinks that I’ll be a good singer for the school play, but it’s at the same time as Mom’s book club.”

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