Page 132 of Healed
Brandt held Elijah close in one arm as he tugged the comforter up to tuck Tempest in. “I love you so much. You are my world. Thank you for our son,” he whispered.
Tempest smiled, though she didn’t open her eyes.
Brandt gently rubbed the back of his hand against her cheek, then quietly left the room.
He proudly stepped into the living room, holding Elijah in his arms.
“Oh, my gosh!” Janie exclaimed.
“Everybody, meet Elijah Brandt Marchande’.”
They all started moving in for their chance to see the baby.
“You know what?” Avaleigh said, “Why don’t you sit and everyone else can sit beside you or look over your shoulder.”
“That’s a great idea,” Bane said.
Brandt nodded, while smiling down at his son, who’d somehow managed to pull a hand free and start sucking his thumb. Brandt chuckled as he took a seat on the end of the sofa, and adjusted his hold on Elijah so everyone could see him. “He’s already hungry.”
Janie started to sit beside Brandt, then stopped and looked at Lily. “Sit beside Brandt so you can get a good look.”
“You are so nice,” Lily said. “But you sit beside him. I insist.”
Janie started to object, but Lily shook her head. “You forget. I delivered him. I had a few moments to say hello.”
Janie nodded, smiling gratefully. She sat beside Brandt and Bane sat beside her. She oohed and ahhd over Elijah while everyone got their chance to see him and as they all surrounded him to hold his little hand and ask how Tempest was. Once everyone had had a chance, Brandt looked at his mother with a grin.
“What?” she asked.
“Want to hold him?” he asked.
Her eyes flew wide, and she clasped her hands together at her throat. “Really?”
“Of course,” Brandt said. With an exaggeratedly slow motion, Brandt turned his body toward his mother and placed Elijah in her arms.
Janie did her best not to cry, but of course, there were tears. “He’s so beautiful,” she murmured, watching the little boy suck on his thumb.
“Hello, Elijah. I’m…” she looked at Brandt. “Who am I?”
“Nana,” Brandt said.
“I’m your Nana,” Janie said. “I can’t stop crying.”
“Mom?” Lily said.
Carolena, who was crying herself, looked over at Lily. “Would you like to hold him, next?”
“Oh, I don’t have to,” Carolena said.
“Of course, you do!” Janie said. “In fact, come sit right here and you can hold him now.”
“Are you sure?” Carolena asked.
“Very,” Janie said, easily standing with Elijah in her arms.
Janie placed Elijah in Bane’s arms, and while he looked down at the baby, Carolena took Janie’s place.
“I didn’t know it would be like this,” Bane said, his voice scratchy.
