Page 124 of Surly Sheriff
The screen cut to the next image. Beau winced, watching his son’s head emerge from Rae’s body. “Just one more push, Momma,” a woman encouraged. He heard a low moan, and then the midwife lifted his son from between Rae’s legs as a second pair of hands clamped the umbilical cord. Jack gave a loud cry, and the midwife placed the squirming baby in Rae’s waiting arms.
Cuddling the newborn baby close, she wept. “You’re perfect,” she murmured over and over.
Tears rolled down his own cheeks.
“Look, honey,” Rae said. “Our son.”
Beau tapped the screen, pausing the video. He wiped his eyes and blinked a few times to clear his eyesight before he stared at the vision of Rae with a huge smile, her face pressed close to Jack’s. But despite her big smile, her eyes were filled with sorrow.
And he spared a thought of the little boy’s life he ended in Africa all those years ago. He’d never know if that woman picked up the weapon to defend her child, or if she was part of the rebel group. All he knew was that he’d forever carry the image of that baby’s mangled body with him. If only that mother had sought safety — like Rae — instead of entering the fight …
Beau shook off the thought.
It was futile, really, the circumstances vastly different.
He was just so grateful he had the opportunity to be Jack’s father.
He restarted the video.
A woman spoke. “Let Marsha quickly take care of your son while we finish, and then you can have him back.” Rae nodded and handed over Jack. Whoever was running the camera went with the baby, and Beau watched the unknown Marsha take his son through the paces. “Seven pounds, eight ounces. Twenty inches exactly. Hands and feet slightly blue, but nothing to be concerned about. Heart rate normal, reflexes excellent, muscle tone good.”
Rae piped up in the background. “It’s all the kicking he did.”
The woman laughed, and continued, “Respiration normal, cried at birth. A solid nine score.” She cleaned the umbilical cord and gave his body a quick wipe. After placing a diaper on, she swaddled Jack in a thin blanket and handed him back to Rae.
The camera stayed on her as she pushed aside her top and placed Jack at her breast. After a couple of false attempts, the little mouth latched on, and the sound of suckling started.
“He’s a natural,” a woman said.
“Yes,” Rae said, tracing Jack’s little features with her finger. She looked up, straight at the camera.
Straight at him.
“Thank you for this wonderful blessing, honey. I will protect our son with my life. And I promise, Iwillfind my way back to you. Whatever it takes. Love you so much, my one and only. Always.”
The video cut out.
Leaving her last words hanging in the air.
Love you so much. One and only. Always.
Beau placed the iPad down and looked at the door leading to the main house.
It was open.
She had left it ajar for Kismet to return to the attic, but it beckoned him to cross the threshold and reclaim what he’d lost.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he slipped from the bed and strode across the floor, through the door, down the hallway to the bedroom they once shared.
*
Rae heard his footsteps down the hallway. She placed the bookmark between the pages she had been trying to read and set the paperback on the nightstand.
He stood in the doorway, silent and scowly.
And exhausted.
“Too tired to be rational tonight, so don’t read anything into this, but right now all I want to do is hold you.” His disgruntled tone matched his demeanor to a T.
