Page 25 of The Mountain Man's Valentine Baby

His gruff voice is a quiet rumble in the empty hallway as fluorescent lights flicker and buzz overhead, “She’ll always have a guardian watching over her from the shadows.”

I put my hand on his arm as he turns to go and look at him, really look at him. His deep blue gaze is haunted as if he’s seen every horror this world has to offer, and it has wearied him.

He jerks his head toward the nursery in an approving nod. “You did good.”

Then he’s shrugging away my touch and stomping down the long corridor that smells of antiseptic, cafeteria food, and desperate hope. His heavy boots echo, clanging through my heart. Sometimes, the hardest thing in the world is letting yourself be loved.

I turn back to staring at my girl who is moving her face in her sleep. Is that normal? Is that OK? Should I get a nurse? Does she need medical attention?

Zac joins me but unlike Whiskey, he doesn’t hesitate to make his presence known. He and Dotty stayed throughout the labor and delivery. They have to be exhausted, but they’ve been here every step of the way, cheering us on and celebrating our little miracle with us.

He watches her facial movements and says, “She’s fine. They do that.”

I feel my shoulders relax and realize he must have seen the tension in my body from across the hall.

He chuckles. “Your search history after you have a kid is never the same again. You want to know all sorts of things you never would have thought you’d ask.”

I blow out my breath. “Does it get better?”

“You don’t get less scared. You just get better at believing everything is going to be OK,” he admits. “Nothing develops confidence in your abilities like being terrified and doing it anyway.”

I nod, letting that sink in. I’ve wanted a family for so long, and now I have one. I have a precious, healthy baby girl and a beautiful wife whose body went through hell to give me that baby. I’m the luckiest man in the world. “I can barely look away.”

“It was the same way when Missy was born. It still is. Fuck, I hate those moments when I have to go away for radio interviews. Feels like those are the longest days of my life.”

She’s so tiny. She’s helpless and defenseless. She’s all pink skin and innocent trust, believing that those around her will always protect her. Clearing my throat, I say, “I didn’t know it was possible to carry this much love.”

“Welcome to the parenting club.” He claps me on the back. “You got this, Dad.”

Hours later, I’m in the hospital bed with Thea and our baby. She’s topless, and our daughter is only wearing a diaper. I’m watching my wife nurse, and I’m even more in awe of her body. Not only did she make another human being, but now she’s nourishing that small human.

I rub Emma’s fuzzy head. I still can’t get over how soft and cuddly she is. I’m not sure if all babies are like this or just ours. It’s probably ours. We got the world’s best baby. “I can’t believe you gave her to me.” There’s a hitch in my voice.

She leans back against me, her head brushing my thick beard. Her back is warm against the bare skin of my chest. The hospital said skin-to-skin contact was good for family bonding. She sighs softly, a sound filled with contentment. “She’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “You did this. You brought our baby into the world.”

She went through hell to give me the second sweetest gift of my life. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank her enough for that, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying. I’ll spoil her every day with her favorite foods, endless gifts, and all the orgasms her body wants.

She yawns softly, her eyes drifting closed. “We’re going to do this again, aren’t we?”

“We’ll do anything you want.” I rub her arm. She could ask me for the moon at this moment, and I wouldn’t hesitate to give it to her. She’s my whole world. She and our beautiful daughter.

“Make more little miracles,” she murmurs.

“Yeah, honey, we’re going to make more little miracles,” I promise her as I press a soft kiss to the crown of her head. We’ll spend the rest of our lives together making plenty of little miracles like this one.

Epilogue

Thea

Asoft cooing sound wakes me from a dream where I was running through the forest while Jasper chased me. He’d just thrown me into the soft grass, determined to have my body right there when the sound woke me.

I stumble from bed, still half asleep, to find Emma cooing in her crib. I check her diaper, but it’s already clean and dry. Judging by the formula around her mouth, she’s also been fed.

I’m not surprised to see Jasper has taken care of her. He asked me for an arrangement during my pregnancy. I’d give him as many beautiful babies as he wants, and he’s the parent that’s always on nightshift. I eagerly agreed since we both want a big family. Plus, it’s more sleep for me.

I tug Jasper’s flannel shirt around my body. Even though we’re together, I still spend every night sleeping in his shirts. It drives him wild to see me in his clothes, and they’re comfortable, too.

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