Page 91 of Omega in Hiding

“I’m glad you were here with me.” I let out a shaky breath. My body is exhausted, but I’m happy. “Having you here helped.”

We watch as Nurse Evelyn carefully places the baby on a scale, noting the weight, and then measures the length. Another nurse checks the baby’s heart rate, breathing, muscle tone,reflex response, and color, assigning an Apgar score to assess the baby’s immediate health.

Nurse Evelyn cleans the baby, removing vernix and amniotic fluid, and then swaddles the baby in a soft, warm blanket. With a smile, she approaches. “You boys ready to meet your son?”

“I think so,” I say quietly. I’m nervous and my hands are shaking. Maybe it’s partly adrenalin and partly fear about being a good dad. I didn’t have a good role model growing up. I hope I know how to be a parent.

Paolo has tears streaming down his cheeks as he watches the nurse put the baby on my chest. The baby is small and slightly wrinkled. “How much does he weigh? He looks so tiny.”

“Eight pounds,” Nurse Evelyn says. “He’s average weight.”

“I’m glad he wasn’t one of those ten-pound babies you hear about.” I smile up at Paolo. “This little guy was hard enough to get out.”

“Ten pounds? No thank you.” Paolo touches the baby’s tiny clenched fists which are tucked close to its body. “His skin is so soft.”

“Yes.” I stroke my finger over the baby’s tiny cheek. The skin is velvety soft with a pink hue. There’s a fine layer of dark hair covering the baby’s head, soft and downy to the touch. The baby’s eyes are light green like mine. “He has both of our coloring, Paolo.”

Paolo smiles. “I’m glad. Although, he could have purple hair and two heads and I’d still love him.”

“Same,” I whisper. It’s true too. I instantly love the baby. It’s a strong, protective, instinctive love. It’s not something I have to work at. I simply love him because he exists.

Paolo laughs. “His ears are so tiny and perfectly shaped.”

“Yes, and his hands and feet are like a doll’s.” I study the baby’s tiny fingers and toes, each adorned with minuscule, translucent nails.

Nurse Evelyn chuckles. “New, first-time parents are the best to watch. I love how amazed and stunned you are at every little detail.”

I grin. “Well, it’s not every day you bring a little baby into the world.”

Dr. Martinez smirks. “It is for us.”

The nurses laugh.

“I guess that’s true.” Paolo smiles.

“Oh, yeah.” I grin. “Well, it’s new for us.”

“We’ll leave you two alone for a bit to enjoy the new baby. When we come back, we’ll see if you want to breast feed the baby. I can help you get the baby to latch on if needed.” Nurse Evelyn leaves the room.

The minute their gone, Paolo gives me a big, warm kiss on the mouth. We grin at each other.

“I’ve never been happier,” Paolo says. “I feel kind of stunned.”

“Me too.” I study our sleeping son. “He looks like an angel.”

Paolo strokes my hair. “I’ve always thought you looked like an angel.”

My cheeks warm. “I’m no angel.”

Paolo leans on the bed rail. “You are to me. You saved me, Connor. You make every day so much better. And now we have this little rascal too.”

“I can’t believe this is real.” My eyes fill with tears and the baby is blurry when I look down at him. “I thought I’d never have this. I thought I wouldn’t have an alpha and I thought I’d never have a baby.” I sniff, wiping roughly at my eyes. “But I have both. I have everything I ever wanted.”

Paolo’s eyes are teary too. “And I have everything I didn’t even know I wanted.”

We both laugh at that.

My mind shift to my family. I haven’t heard a word from them, and I’m glad. I hope I never hear another word from them. “I still remember the day I ran away from my family,” I say quietly. “I was so scared. I didn’t know where to go or what would happen to me. I only knew I couldn’t stay.”

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