Page 23 of Dancing for His Omega

“It’s so fast,” Micah whispered.

“It’s normal for a baby’s heartbeat. Sounds healthy for sure. Strong little cub you have in there.”

He did some more measuring and jotted some more things into the tablet. “Sometimes it’s tricky when one father is one kind of shifter and the other is something different. With a wolf and a bear, the gestation time is usually about seven to eight months, so I think you have about six months left.”

“What else can we do to ensure the baby and Micah are the healthiest they can be?” I asked. I wasn’t taking any chances with the health of either our baby or my omega.

“Eat well. Whole foods. I’m going to give you some prenatal vitamins as you leave. While those things are important, I personally think that a happy omega is the healthiest omega. This is a time of peace and calm. Micah’s emotional health translates directly to the baby. Routine. Good nutrition. Plenty of rest. Those are the basics. And the most important thing is…if you have a gut feeling that something is amiss or wrong with you or the baby”—he touched Micah’s hand—“you come in and see me. My cell number will be on your packet as you leave. A lot of complications and problems are prevented when the omega listens to his animal and his instincts.”

All good advice.

“Thank you,” I answered. Quinn left and came back with a small bag with vitamins, his card, and several other items for Micah and the new baby. There was even a book on pregnancy included.

Again, the small-town charm was kicking in hard.

“How about some lunch?” I asked as we got into the car.

“That sounds good. The nausea has settled for the day, I think. We should get something healthy, though. I’m taking this growing-a-baby thing seriously.”

I took his hand across the console. “I know you are. How about a smoked chicken plate? Lots of protein and we can get one of their loaded sweet potatoes.”

“Oh my goddess, Edwin. You are in love with the dragon’s food truck. I knew it. I thought it would be a while before you loved another, but a food truck? The betrayal.” He pressed his hand to his chest and laughed. The other hand cradled his belly which had already begun to expand in the most lovely way.

That’s when it really hit me. We were laughing and excited about our baby. We both had goals and dreams and supported each other fully.

We were a family. Everything I’d dreamed of as a boy and a young man was right here in this car.

“What is it?” Micah asked.

“I love you, mate. Not for what you do but for who you are. I love you every day more than the last. I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Oh, Edwin. I love you too.” His laughing had turned to tears welling in his eyes.

“Let’s go get you and our baby fed. I want to get you to bed.”

Micah nodded. “I could use a nap.”

My hand slid to his thigh. “Oh, omega. I didn’t say anything about a nap.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Micah

Months later, our dancing had ended as I approached the end of my pregnancy. My center of gravity was just too off for me to manage it, but we could dance again as soon as our baby was born. For now, I was trying to embrace my hugeness as the blessing it was. Quinn said I had gained just the perfect amount of weight, even though to me it felt like a lot.

I was still working, although I had arranged for a friend from my training years to come in for a few months after the baby was born. Rocco was a good dipper and had learned a bit more, but he wasn’t strong enough as a chocolatier to do the complicated work. In fact, he had signed up for a course that he would begin soon in techniques that would really make him a stronger employee in the shop. We could always get more counter help. In fact, I had a few people lined up to interview for that this afternoon. Between my old classmate and Rocco, they could manage the kitchen on my paternity leave.

“Mate, are you ready to go?” I asked. Edwin was going to drive me to the shop. It was too far for me to waddle, and my bump made driving uncomfortable. All of which made me grumpy. “I need to get there for those interviews.”

“On my way.” He appeared in the kitchen doorway, keys in hand. “Can’t Rocco handle those?”

“No way. He’s not ready for that kind of responsibility yet. But it’s not like it’s strenuous or anything.”

“Whatever you say.” He took my arm, but I shrugged him off and headed for the car on my own.

“I can still walk, more or less.” Sometimes less. And if it got icy, I wasn’t allowed to attempt it. “But thanks for driving me.”

“I need to run by the studio anyway and see if the new barres got installed. But I’m very glad to take you anywhere you need to go. You’re doing all the hard work growing our baby. I wish you’d let me help you more.”

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