“Not our business,” my father told her quietly, giving me a wink and a smile, as he led her and about ten of my siblings from the very overcrowded room.
“Well,” Kendrick sighed, “I didn’t earn any points with her today, did I?”
“Who cares?” I put Evan on my shoulder and carefully patted his back to burp him. He was so tiny, I was a little terrified I was going to hurt him. “The only opinion that matters about you, is mine. And I love you. My mom will get over it, or not. She has very strong opinions of what new parents should do, and she is not afraid to voice them. Even when people don’t want to hear them, or she is not even asked.”
Honestly, I had never realized there were so many things that we had to decide before Evan was born. Like chest feeding or formula? Disposable diapers or cloth? Even the type of bottle and nipple had been a two-day discussion, before Kendrick had finally picked the one he wanted to use.
None of it made a bit of difference to me. I was happy doing whatever Kendrick wanted to do. If he wanted to chest feed, fine.If he wanted to bottle feed, fine. I was happy to be able to help out with feedings, though, and I had told him as much.
But I wouldn’t stand for anyone, including my own mother, trying to shame him for our decisions, or make him feel bad about them.
Hazel announced visiting hours would be over in ten minutes, and the remaining family members started giving out hugs and promising to stop by tomorrow.
“They’ll be heading home tomorrow,” Hazel informed everyone, “so best just visit at home. Once they’ve gotten settled, after a day or two.” She gave me a quick wink and a sly smile as she left the room.
I was pretty sure the clinic didn’t have any actual set visiting times, but bless the woman for seeing Kendrick was tired, and I was done with people for the day.
Scooping Evan up, I carefully settled on the bed next to Kendrick. He fussed with Evan’s blanket, before putting his head on my chest, his jaw cracking with a yawn.
“How’s your pain?” I questioned him, happy with one arm around my omega, and the other holding our son.
“I’m good,” he whispered, his eyes closing. “I’m sore, but whatever Hazel gave me was nice.”
“Sleep then.” I kissed the top of his messy red hair.
“’kay,” Kendrick mumbled.
“Love you,” I whispered, seeing his lips curve up into a smile. “Thank you for our son.”
Balfour
Past…
Nemesis:My brother reads porn.
Me:Excuse me?
Nemesis:He gave me these two books of his. Said I had to read them, because they were sooo good. And he wanted to be able to have someone to talk to about them.
Me:And they were porn?
Nemesis:Straight up porn. The things the alpha did to the omega…I fucking needed a cigarette after I read them and I don’t even smoke. Romance, my ass.
Me:Really? Your brother? The smiley, always happy one?
Nemesis:Well, now we know why the fuck he’s always smiling. I’d be smiling all the damn time if some alpha dicked me up like in those books. Smiling all over the place.
Me:I’m getting uncomfortable with the turn of this conversation. What were the names of those books? Purely to make sure we have the proper age listed on them here.
Nemesis:*laughing emojis* You’re soooo going to read them, aren’t you?
Epilogue
Balfour
Kendrick knocked on the doorframe of my office door, which was open. Smiling, I stood up, rushing around my desk to kiss him, and then kiss the top of Evan’s red hair. Evan, six months old now, reached for me, grinning a toothless grin. I easily took him from Kendrick, who smiled his thanks.
“He’s getting heavy,” he sank down into one of the office chairs, stretching his back.
