Page 33 of A Kind Wedding: Christian & Charleigh

“I delivered your son, Sebastian. I was down in the ER when Emilia came in.”

“Thank God. Thank you, Christian.” He hooked his arm around me.

The moment we approached Emilia’s room, he ran to her and hugged her tight. Emilia started sobbing, so Charleigh and I stepped out of the room. My phone rang, and when I pulled it from my pocket, I saw Georgia was calling.

“Georgia,” I answered.

“Christian, what is going on? They wouldn’t let me have my pager with me while I was giving a lecture.”

“Emilia went into labor this morning and had the baby.”

“Jesus Christ. Are they okay?”

“They’re fine. The baby is in the NICU.”

“I’m on my way.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

Charleigh and I went to the NICU to check on the baby.

“God, Christian. Emilia is going to lose it when she sees him like this.”

“It’s for his well-being, babe. Emilia knows that. Sebastian, on the other hand.” I sighed.

I heard a tap on the window, and when I turned around, I saw Sebastian standing there. Opening the door, I told him to wash his hands and handed him a gown to put on over his clothes.

“Meet your son, Dad.” I smiled as I led him over to him.

Instantly, Sebastian started crying, and I hooked my arm around him.

“I’ll go stay with Emilia until Georgia gets here,” Charleigh said as she placed her hand on his back.

“It’s okay, cousin.”

“He’s so tiny. How much does he weigh?”

I looked at his son’s chart. “He weighs three pounds twelve ounces.”

“Why is he hooked up to so many things?”

“This is the ventilator that helps him breathe until his lungs are fully mature. This is what’s monitoring his heart rate, body temperature, and breathing rate. And this is a tube that is feeding him.”

“Can I reach in and touch him?” he asked.

“You sure can.” I smiled.

A nurse named Wanda walked over. “Congratulations, Dad. Your son is beautiful.”

“He is, isn’t he?” Sebastian smiled as his hand touched his son’s.

“Have you and Emilia named him yet?” I asked.

“We have. His name is Noah.”

“Welcome to the world, Noah.” I smiled. “It’s a great name.”

“Thanks, cousin.”

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