Page 70 of Cold as (N)ice

Irene looked at her son, then at Barrett, and the tears she had been holding back finally slipped down her cheeks. But her smile—mercy, her beautiful smile—was bright and full of something deeper than gratitude, something bigger than words.

She nodded slowly, reaching out to brush a tender hand over Stephen’s hair. I think that is a wonderful thing, she signed, her hands trembling with emotion.And very generous of your dad.

Barrett’s chest tightened as Stephen threw himself into his arms, squeezing him with all the strength his little body could muster. He hugged him back fiercely, pressing a kiss to the boy’s temple, sealing a promise he had made long before this moment. He met Irene’s proud, tender gaze shining with so much love that it was staggering as he nodded, closing his eyes in sheer joy.

He hadalwaysbeen Stephen’s dad since the moment that child walked up to him and said ‘Hello’ so many months ago. That kid had barged into his life, winning him over. Irene took over his world, giving him a future he never imagined… and he was blessed to have a family like this.

But now, the world would know it, too.

EPILOGUE

Several months later…

Irene’s entire body shook with exhaustion, her muscles quivering from the sheer effort of bringing her child into the world. A thin sheen of sweat clung to her skin, and the sterile scent of the hospital room mixed with the comforting warmth of Barrett’s hand wrapped tightly around hers. She felt like she had been pushing for hours, her body wrung dry, her energy nearly spent—but she couldn’t stop now. Not when the finish line was so close.

“Give me one more good push, Irene!”

Dr. Pierce’s voice was firm but encouraging, the same reassurance she had given her through every agonizing contraction.

She clenched her jaw, gripping Barrett’s hand as if it were the only thing tethering her to the earth. Then, with every ounce of strength she had left, she bore down, her body straining against the overwhelming pressure. It was unbearable. It wasconsuming. And yet, through it all, she held onto one thought—this baby, her baby, was almost here.

Beside her, Barrett never let go.

He was her rock, just as he had been through all of this—through the unexpected marriage, through the months of whispered conversations at night, through every moment of doubt and every silent fear. They had agreed long ago that they would do this together, even though the child she carried wasn’t biologically his. From the moment he had placed his hand over her belly and felt the baby move for the first time, he had claimed this child as his own, and she loved him all the more for it.

“We’re almost there,” Dr. Pierce urged, her voice edged with quiet excitement. “One more push.”

Irene’s head fell back against the pillow, her breath ragged, her vision swimming. She wanted to believe the woman. She really did, but she had been hearing that same phrase for what felt like an eternity.

“You said that three pushes ago,” she gritted out, frustration flashing through her exhaustion as she turned her head to Barrett, searching his gaze for strength. His eyes, warm and steady, met hers. There was no fear in them, no hesitation—only love, only unwavering belief.

Her voice was barely a whisper, but he heard her.

“…Tired.”

His grip on her hand tightened, grounding her. “I know, Troll Doll. I know you are,” he murmured, his voice tender yet firm, the way it always was when she needed him to be strong. He leaned in slightly, brushing damp strands of hair from her forehead with his free hand. “But like you tell me sometimes—the buzzer hasn’t signaled yet. Push through it.”

She let out a weak, breathless chuckle. “I’m an idiot.”

Barrett huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You’re the smartest woman I know—and you’ve got this.”

Her heart twisted at his words, but before she could reply, Dr. Pierce spoke again.

“Last push.”

Irene nearly growled. She had heard that lie one too many times. “Can you quit with the ‘last push’—because it’s not!”

The doctor only chuckled. “Every pushcouldbe the last push.”

Gritting her teeth, Irene bore down one final time, her entire body trembling with the force of it. A searing, stretching sensation spread through her, sharp and unrelenting, and then—relief. A sudden shift, a release, as the pressure lifted from her body.

The moment stretched endlessly.

Then, the sound of a baby’s first wail cut through the air, raw and new, filling the room with life.

Barrett’s laughter—deep, joyful, and utterly undone—broke through her haze, and before she could fully process it, he was wrapping his arms around her, pressing his forehead against hers as his body shook with emotion. She had never heard him like this before, never seen him so open, so vulnerable. His joy was a thing of beauty, and it made her heart ache in the best possible way.

Then, a weight was placed against her chest - small, warm, andtheirs.

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