“I’m doing this.”
I lifted myself with Dale’s support. I let out a huge groan as I pushed with everything I had. Dale was there through the bond, shoving all his support and energy my way.
I strained for many seconds, unable to breathe, unable to think. And suddenly, something popped. Pressure released. My vision returned.
“That’s it. That’s it,” Tavoli called out. “You have a beautiful son.”
I could stop? That was it? I’d done it?
Soon, I heard the baby crying. I wanted him in my arms, but I couldn’t move. Dale held me, whispering into my ear.
“You did so well. I can see him. He’s perfect. They’re bringing him over to us now.”
“He’s a healthy newborn,” Tavoli announced. “Eight pounds, two ounces.”
I opened my eyes and saw Tavoli hand our son, wrapped in a white blanket, to Dale. Dale cuddled him in his arms, making unintelligible noises.
“Let me see.”
Dale tilted our son so I could look at him. He was gorgeous, big blue eyes with dark lashes and a mess of dark hair on his head.
“He’s so beautiful.”
“Want to hold him?” Dale asked.
Of course, I did. I held out my arms. He was a warm little bundle, silent now, eyes fixing on me.
“Hey, there, little one. I’m your daddy. Welcome to the world.”
Dale leaned over us both, planting a kiss on the top of my head.
“Does he have a name?” Tavoli asked.
I looked up at Dale and nodded. We’d been discussing names for quite some time but settled on one we both adored.
“Hollis,” I said.
“Hollis Jack,” Dale said. “It’s a Christmas name. Our anniversary is Christmas Eve, and we wanted Hollis for holly trees and Jack for Jack Frost.”
“And Jack Skellington,” I added. “It’s one of our favorite movies.”
Dale’s warm arms surrounded me as we gazed at our son. In my heart, I promised all my love to him, unconditionally, and through our bond I could sense Dale doing the same, bonding us even tighter.
Our family had just begun.
EPILOGUE
Dale
The huge Winter Wonderland Wilderness lodge, surrounded by snow, with some of the cabins visible through the fir trees, loomed out of the white, frosty landscape as we turned down the road to the big parking lot.
Every year in December, we returned to celebrate our anniversary. The kids loved it. They participated in many activities, including the snowman contest and the little crafts fair that was held in an outbuilding. They learned to ski and to shift with their father who took them to his favorite glade in the woods.
Aspen always brought the snow globe I’d given him all those years ago and set it on the mantle above the hearth in the big cabin we yearly reserved.
All the kids had Christmas-y names. Hollis was six. His sister, Aster, was five now. Her name meant Star. And the baby, Cole, had just turned four. Cole was short for Nicholas.
They were all the perfect age to take with us to the snowy realms of the Wonderland.
