Page 42 of Christmas Games

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Suddenly she had an overwhelming urge to push. ‘It’s coming!’

Rory pulled off her coat. ‘I’ve got you, Zoe. I’m here.’

She was on her knees, facing him. Rory held under her shoulders, kissing the side of her head and reassuring her.

‘I love you. You’ve got this. It’s okay.’

A stinging circle of pain stretched her as another massive contraction bore down. There was no going back. This was happening and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

‘Rory!’ she screamed as she felt her baby’s head pop out. There was a lull, and she caught her breath.

She stared into Rory’s worried eyes. ‘The head’s out,’ she panted. ‘You need to be ready to catch them.’

His face was pale, but he nodded. ‘Just let me know when.’

Another contraction rolled through. ‘Now!’

Zoe held around Rory’s neck as his hands moved between her legs.

The baby slipped out.

‘I’ve got them,’ he said. ‘I’ve got them.’

She fumbled to open her top and Rory lifted the baby to rest on her chest, cradling the two of them in his massive arms. They looked down at their child. It had a shock of ginger hair and deep dark eyes that stared up at them solemnly.

‘Oh my god,’ Zoe gasped, her body filled with a rush of overwhelming love. ‘We did it.’

They held each other, their baby between them, as they cried and laughed.

‘You’re incredible,’ Rory whispered.

‘Me or the baby?’

‘You, hands down. But this little one is pretty incredible too.’

‘What’s going on in there?’ Barbara yelled from the front door. ‘Bandit won’t let anyone in!’

The baby let out a loud cry.

‘It’s a boy!’ screamed Brad.

Rory shook his head as the choir launched into ‘Joy to the World’.

Zoe angled the baby towards her breast and it immediately latched on.

‘Shall we see what we’ve got?’ she asked.

Rory nodded and carefully moved the umbilical cord to one side. ‘I think it’s a girl,’ he said, sounding dazed.

‘Are you sure?’

He lifted one leg up. ‘Yes. I can confirm there is no penis to be found.’

Zoe kissed her daughter’s head. ‘Thank you for proving everyone wrong,’ she whispered.

EPILOGUE

Christmas Day

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