Page 56 of Love Me Again

“Okay.” Shayla pants and sucks in a deep breath before she pushes hard. “Ahhhhh God, I am never having sex again!” She cries, falling back on the bed, panting. Sara and the midwife both laugh a little while I look at them, horrified.

“If I had a penny for every time I heard that, I’d be on a beach in Bali right now instead of up in your hooch, honey.” Janet jokes, and Shayla cries, shaking her head.

“I can’t do this! I can’t. It hurts so much.” She sobs weakly, and I kiss her sweaty forehead. “Just leave her in there!”

“She can’t stay in there, sweetheart. You can do this. You’re so close baby, it’s almost over, just a little bit longer, and our baby will be here. Our little Alaia Mae will be in your arms. You can do this, baby, come on.” I urge her on, and she nods and pushes again, and again, and again until she lets out a shrill scream when the baby’s head crowns. I watch in horror and astonishment as the baby’s head sticks out of her vagina. My eyes fill with tears, “Oh my God, she’s got so much hair.” I tell Shayla, and she opens her eyes, panting, and looks at me.

“Really?”

I laugh a little, nodding, and move over to her side again. I kiss her forehead. “She’s almost here—our baby is almost here. Come on, baby, one last push, you got this.” I whisper, taking her hand, and she sucks in a deep breath and pushes one last time before she groans and collapses back on the bed, panting.

“Here she is. Oh, hello, princess.” Janet welcomes her with a little laugh. I watch, stunned as she lays the baby on Shay’s stomach, who sobs uncontrollably, looking down at her.

“Oh my God, she’s here,” I whisper, looking down at my baby girl. I’m a father. Alaia starts to cry, and the midwife takes her away to check her over, make sure she was healthy.

“Welcome to the world of motherhood, my sweet girl.” Sara cries, kissing Shayla’s hand, who continues to sob. “You did so well, my darling.”

“Is she okay?” Shayla asks me, and I nod, looking over at her while they clean her up. I smile and kiss her head again and again.

“She’s perfect, Shayla.” I whisper, wiping away her tears while she continues to cry, “She’s absolutely perfect.”

“All right, mama meet your little angel,” Janet announces, handing a now clean and dressed-up Alaia to her mother. I watch Shayla’s face as she looks down at our baby in her arms. I wanted to remember that moment forever. There was such love in her eyes. It absolutely stole the air right out of my lungs.

“I’ll go and tell the rest that she’s here and give you three some time alone. Sara says, kissing Shayla’s head before she leaves the room.

“Hi, Alaia,” Shayla whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Oh, you really are perfect.” She cries, brushing her finger over her head of soft dark hair.

“Just like her mother,” I whisper, lifting my gaze to Shayla, who looks up at me through eyes filled with tears and so much emotion.

“And her father.” She whispers back, and I smile. Leaning in, I press my lips to hers, kissing her softly. We pull back and look down at our baby girl, and suddenly nothing else but this beautiful little human being mattered.

“Welcome to the world, Alaia Mae Hoult,” Shayla whispers as we gaze lovingly down at her.

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