Page 63 of Over and Above

I could only see the back of Maren’s head, along with Diesel’s and Marissa’s profiles, and I was debating moving when several things happened all at once. Maren made her loudest noise yet, water splashing, as Marissa said, “Catch your baby, Maren.”

Another splash and the smallest of cries as Maren sank back against the tub, something in her arms.

Baby.That last sound had been a baby, not Maren. All the air I’d been retaining escaped on a giant whoosh, and I did move, my first view of Maren cradling the baby coming into blurry focus through my tears.

“I did it.” Maren gazed down at the baby in nothing short of wonder. “Oh my God, I really did it.”

“You really did.” My chest was so tight it was a wonder I got any words out at all.

“You did amazing. Both of you.” Diesel kept petting Maren’s head as he looked at the surprisingly chill little being on Maren’s chest.

“It’s a girl.” Smiling, Maren adjusted her bundle to check. The baby made a small squeak but otherwise didn’t protest the position change. I glanced over at Marissa right as she caught my gaze.

“Eric. Can you hand me my bag?” she asked, tone more professional now. “And, Diesel, grab us a couple of the towels we laid out.”

“Is she okay?” Maren asked as I joined Marissa at the side of the tub. Letting someone else run a call never got any easier, but I waited along with Maren as Marissa quickly listened to the baby’s heart and lungs.

“She’s beautiful, Mama,” Marissa soothed. “Sounds great. She’s just a little cold. Let’s get you both in the bed, warm you up.”

Getting Maren and the baby out of the tub and onto the bed was a production, but eventually, both were settled on a mountain of pillows in the center of the bed, baby on Maren’s chest under a towel, her color and vigor much better now. Diesel sat next to the two of them, and after the placenta was delivered and the cord cut, he got a chance to hold the baby after helping Marissa diaper, weigh, and swaddle the newborn.

Wah.The baby gave her first loud squawk of the whole ordeal as her blanket dipped, and Diesel’s face fell. “I think she wants back with Maren.”

“She’s just saying hello.” Marissa was as reassuring as ever. “And probably protesting being cold again.”

“You’re doing great,” I said to Diesel what I probably should have said months earlier. He’d really been remarkable this entire time. Turned out that all my doubts and worries had been for nothing.

Huh. Clarity slammed into me with a force that made me need to steady myself with a hand on the footboard.I need to find Magnus.

“You wanna tell the name?” Diesel asked Maren before I could excuse myself from the room.

“Yeah,” Maren nodded as she dropped a kiss on the baby’s forehead. “Welcome to the family, Destiny Ericka.”

“You…” I wasn’t sure I’d ever gasped louder in my life. “You don’t have to do that.”

“Yeah, I do.” Maren gave me a long, searching look, years rushing between us, first meeting, adoption hearing, high school, graduation, her first day of college. “You’re my dad. And don’t cry.”

“I’m not,” I lied as tears streamed down my cheeks. “We need to tell the rest of the family.”

“They’re all behind you.” Maren laughed, pointing at the cracked door where four human heads and two canine ones all lurked. “Come on in, people. Come meet Destiny Ericka.”

Diesel transferred the baby back to Maren as everyone trooped in. I was far from the only one crying, but Wren looked most perplexed by their own tears.

“My eyes.” Wren waved a hand in front of their face. “I’m happy. Not sad. Why am I crying?”

“I’m crying too.” I gave them a swift hug before they pulled away. “Relief is a powerful thing.”

“I suppose.” Eyes wide, Wren continued to appear dazed as they approached the bundle in Maren’s arms. “Happy birthday, baby. Magnus and John made cupcakes. Rowan made a party.”

“Sit next to me,” Maren urged, waiting until Wren was perched stiffly next to her to place the bundle in Wren’s lap.

Wren inhaled sharply, gazing down at the baby. A little fist escaped the blankets. “You’re here. You’re really here.”

All our doubts. All our collective worries. And the baby was here. The clarity I’d had a few minutes earlier returned in full force as Magnus came up beside me. There was no one, absolutely no one, I’d rather have by my side.

“Hanging in there?” Magnus asked, his own eyes suspiciously shiny.

“Barely,” I admitted. With him, I could be honest in a way I couldn’t with anyone else on earth.

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