Page 146 of The Proposal

“Okay.”

“Here,” Lucia says, placing a pile of neatly folded white, fluffy towels on the bed beside her sister.

“We have the towels,” I say to nobody in particular.

“Do I need to push?” Arabella’s shaky voice asks.

“Not yet,” the dispatcher replies. “Let me know when your next contraction begins.”

“Okay,” she says, her voice cracking.

I reach for her hand, and the way she squeezes it in return tugs at my heart. I lean down and plant a soft kiss on her stomach. “You’re doing great,amore mio.”

“You are, Bell-Bell. You’re doing so good,” Lucia adds asshe climbs onto the bed and kneels beside her sister, sweeping the hair off her forehead.

“When it’s time for your wife to push, get ready to support the baby’s head until the shoulders are free. Once the shoulders are out, you can gently guide the baby the rest of the way, but keep its head lower than its body to help clear the airways.”

“Okay,” I reply, even though her words scramble around in my head. My throat tightens, but I somehow manage to steady my voice. “I’ve got this.”

“Stay calm. The ambulance is en route. You’re doing great.”

Arabella’s body begins to tremble as I release her hand and reach for a towel, shaking it open. “Dante, I’m scared.”

“I’m here,Bellezza,” I say softly as my eyes never leave the crowning head. “You’re doing amazing. Just breathe for me,Tesoro.”

I guide Arabella through each breath, each push, and with a final gasp, the baby’s head slips free.

A knot forms in my throat and tears burn the back of my eyes. I stare down in awe at my child as I cradle its tiny head in my hands.

When it’s time for the final push, the dispatcher reminds me to support the baby’s shoulders. I remain hyperfocused … I’m ready.

Moments later, the room is quiet except for Arabella’s ragged breaths, then the soft cry of our newborn joins in.

Tears well in my eyes as I look down at the tiny, perfect life in my hands before my gaze returns to my wife.I’m so proud of her.“You did it,amore mio.”

“We did it,” she says with a soft smile. The emotions that flood through me in this moment overwhelm me. Words can’t even express how much I love this woman.

“The ambulance is pulling up at the front gate now,” the dispatcher says. “Is the front door unlocked?”

“No.”

“I’ll go unlock it,” Lucia says, clambering off the bed.

“Call the gatehouse and have one of the guys escort the ambulance up to the house.”

“Okay,” she says, dashing out of the room.

I’m mesmerised by the squirming form in my hands, and a rush of emotions floods me all at once. This fragile little being is mine. The protective instinct in me has sharpened already, entirely focused on this small, helpless life that now depends on me.

Arabella pulls herself up onto her elbows. “Can I see?”

The tears are now falling down my face as I lift our little girl up, my heart swelling with a love I can’t even put into words. “Meet your daughter.”

“My daughter?” Her voice wavers, and I watch as all the colour drains from her face. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” I repeat, confusion twisting in my gut.

“I … I wanted so badly to give you your son … your heir.”

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