Page 21 of The Promises We Broke
I swiped my thumb over his little perfect lips, clearing away the stuff I couldn't bring myself to think about as I pulled him in close to my body. I cradled him gently, careful not to touch the umbilical cord, my eyes wide as I took in the sight of this brand new member of my family.
But he wasn't crying.
"Is he okay?" Delaney asked, her voice sharp with fear. "Why isn't he crying?"
My heart stopped. The baby was still, too still, and I could see the panic building in Delaney's eyes as my gaze flickered to her. This was what I'd been afraid of. This was why I wasn't qualified to be here, to be responsible for something this precious.
But then instinct kicked in, some primal knowledge I didn't even know I possessed. I gently rubbed the baby's back, the way I'd seen people do in movies, talking to him in the softest voice I could manage.
"Come on, baby. Your mama's waiting to meet you."
And then, like a miracle, he took a breath. A tiny, shuddering breath followed by the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard. A cry that was strong and indignant and absolutely perfect.
"He's perfect, Delaney," I said, my voice breaking with emotion I hadn't expected. "He's absolutely perfect."
But then reality hit me like a freight train. I was holding this tiny, perfect human being who had just entered the world, and he was still connected to his mother by an umbilical cord that I had no idea what to do with. My hands were shaking, the baby was slippery, and I was terrified I was going to drop him or pull on something I shouldn't.
"Delaney, what do I do now?" I asked, panic creeping back into my voice. "He's still... there's still..."
"Just hold him," she said, exhausted but smiling. "Don't pull on anything. Just hold him until help gets here."
The front door burst open just as I was trying to figure out how to support a baby while not moving the cord, and suddenly the house was full of panicked voices and rushing footsteps.
"What happened? Is everyone okay?" Trace's voice, sharp with fear as he took in the scene.
"Trace!" Xander's voice right behind him, already moving into medical mode. "I've got my bag."
Trace stopped dead when he saw me holding the baby, his face cycling through confusion, shock, and pure wonder.
"Meet your son," I said, my voice shaky. "He was in a hurry."
Trace moved to Delaney first, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair. "You're amazing," he whispered against her skin. "Absolutely amazing. Are you okay?"
"I'm perfect," she said, tears streaming down her face. "We're both perfect."
Xander was already kneeling beside me, pulling supplies from his medical bag with practiced efficiency. "You did great, Gage. Everything looks good." He looked up at Trace. "You want to cut the cord?"
Trace glanced between me and the baby, then shook his head. "Gage should do it. He delivered him."
"I don't know how..." I started.
"I'll guide you through it," Xander said, already preparing the clamps. "It's simple."
Booker appeared in the doorway with what looked like every clean towel in the house, his eyes determinedly focused on the ceiling. "Thought you might need these," he said, holding them out blindly. "Not looking at anything. Just bringing towels."
Despite everything, I almost laughed. "Thanks, Booker."
With Xander's steady guidance, I managed to clamp and cut the cord without dropping the baby or passing out. My hands were still shaking, but there was something profound about that moment. Like I was officially welcoming Barrett into the world, cutting his tie to one life and helping him start another.
"Now we can get him cleaned up and to his mama," Xander said, taking one of Booker's towels and helping me wrap the baby properly.
The moment I placed the baby in Delaney's arms, something in the room shifted. The panic faded, replaced by something warm and overwhelming and perfect. Trace sat on the edge ofthe couch, his arm around Delaney, both of them staring at their son like he was the most miraculous thing they'd ever seen.
"Barrett James Farrington," Delaney announced, her voice soft with wonder. "Welcome to the world, baby boy."
Barrett. Named for her father, the man who'd loved and protected her, who'd sacrificed so much for his family. The weight of that choice, the honor of it, hit me harder than I'd expected. Because he'd made mistakes too. He'd gotten caught up in the same mess that I had and yet Delaney had been able to forgive him. And even knowing what had happened, what we'd all been a part of, I still saw him as a man who'd done whatever he could to look after his daughter.
The paramedics arrived minutes later, confirming that both mother and baby were healthy, that everything had been done correctly. They praised my quick thinking, my calm under pressure, like I was some kind of hero instead of a guy who'd been terrified out of his mind for the entire experience.
