Page 41 of Home for Nathan
Chapter
Fifteen
“Is it always like this?” Zion murmured to his dad, exhaustion and worry making him jitter.
Everyone was taking turns being in there with Nathan, and it was their moms’ turn right now.
He wanted to just scream. He didn’t like this—none of it. Everyone kept telling him to be in the minute, but he just wanted it to be over, for Nathan to feel better and not cry anymore.
“It is perfectly normal. This is just the process.”
“I don’t love the process,” he growled, and his dad shrugged.
“Neither did I. Sometimes you have to… Sometimes things hurt to be amazing. I didn’t make the rules.”
“All right. I’ll trust you.” It was hard, though. The night seemed endless, and when dawn had come with no baby…
“It’s going to be fine. She’s going to have a magical life with you, and once she’s here, this whole thing will seem easier. Your brothers are over the moon, by the way. They can’t wait to meet Rachel. Everyone’s coming at Christmas to see her.”
He nodded, but he would admit it wasn’t really real yet, and Christmas seemed a thousand years away. They said thingsabout meeting Rachel, and she had a name, and he’d felt her move.
But right this second, he didn’t really believe there was going to be a baby.
His mom came hurrying out of the birth room, exhaustion written on her face. “He’s calling for you. It’s getting very close.”
Zion nodded and ran to Nathan’s room, where his lover was leaning over the bed, as pale as the sheet.
He was clinging to his mother’s hand, panting hard. “I think it’s coming. I think it’s happening.”
“All right.” Zion could handle that. He would take Mom’s place.
She stood and nodded. “I’m going to get Devon. It seems like things have really started to advance.” She made a motion with her hand, indicating speed.
“Sounds great, Mom. Thanks.” Advancing sounded like an amazing plan. He grabbed Nathan’s hand and started rubbing the sweet lower back. “How’s it going?”
“I hate this, but I think it’s close. It really hurts. I’m really tired. She feels like I need to push, you know?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do. You should do what you feel, I guess?” He had no idea.
Nathan nodded to him and panted. “I need to push.”
Zion nodded and helped Nathan kneel on the bed, praying hard that someone would come in who knew way more about doing this than he did. He knew about breathing, knew about being supportive, but really?
This was totally out of his league, and he was freaking out.
“Hey. How’s it going, Nathan?” Devon didn’t sound worried when he walked in.
“I need to push!” Nathan cried out, and Devon hurried right up to him.
“All right. Let’s look at all the things.” Devon got Nathan settled on the mattress, and checked the birthline, giving a happy little chuckle. “Yep, I would say that it is absolutely time for you to push. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to have a baby.”
Those are the most amazing words Zion had ever heard.
Nathan nodded and grabbed Zion’s hand, and suddenly they were cooking with gas. It was the wildest ride he’d ever experienced. Zion couldn’t tell whether it took forever or seconds. He wasn’t really sure.
He was certain of the fact that that didn’t matter.
And when Nathan reached for him, and called out his name over and over, he knew exactly what he had been made for.
