I kissed him and reminded him how much I loved him.
Ian kept his eyes on the monitor.
“Is he okay?” Kian’s eyes went to it too, even though, like me, he probably didn’t know what it meant.
“Everything is good,” Ian replied. And even I found myself breathing out. “He’ll let us know when he’s ready to join his brother.”
Patrick returned with our little guy bundled up. “I’ve got a little boy ready to meet his daddy.” He came over to my side. “Here you go, Daddy,” he said before handing a bundle wrapped tight in a blanket with race cars and a white hat peeking out the top to me.
My body locked up tight for a moment until I remembered I knew what to do.
I cradled my son in the crook of my arm, and tears welled in my eyes. “Hello, son,” I whispered, rocking back and forth and speaking softly to our son.
I placed a gentle kiss on the top of our baby’s head and didn’t even try to wipe away a tear that trickled down my cheeks.
“He’s so beautiful, perfect,” I sighed. I never wanted to let him go.
When I looked over at my mate, I saw tears streaming down his cheeks.
“Beau,” Kian whispered. It was one of the names we’d picked.
“Are you Beau?” I cooed at my son. He sucked his lips, and I sighed. “I think that’s a yes.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and propped our son up so Kian could get a good look at him.
“Say ‘hi’ to your papa, son,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“He’s the most amazing person in the whole world.” Leaning over, I placed a sweet kiss on his lips.
Kian brushed the back of his finger along our son’s cheek.
“Looks like your brother is taking his sweet time,” I said to our little one.
Ian laughed. “He’ll come when he’s ready, but I bet it’ll be any time now.”
Less than twenty minutes later, the contractions came back strong. Our other son came quicker and smoother than his older brother.
Rhett and Beau. Our babies were here, and they were perfect, and I would protect them and Kian with my last breath.
23
Kian
I fastenedBeau into his car seat while Gabe got Rhett ready. I smiled as my mate tucked the blanket around him. I would never get tired of the look of awe he had when he held our babies. Like he couldn’t believe they were real. Then he would get this fierce look on his face, and I knew our boys would always be safe.
The love in Gabe’s face was so palpable that it made me fall for him all over again.
This family I had was everything and more than I’d dreamed of when I’d packed my bags and left Philadelphia.
Gabe and now our babies and the whole Hallbjorn clan. I liked to think Papa and Daddy had been looking out for me. They’d sent me to the family I needed since they couldn’t be here. Without Papa’s words telling me never to settle, I might have never found him. Never had our little ones. Which, even after five or so hours of labor, I’d never trade for the world.
Although next time I would definitely be taking the drugs.
My heart was full and overflowing as I counted my blessings all through the ride home.
It was the little things, too, like my mate glancing in the mirror, checking we were okay as he drove.
“We’re good, babe,” I reassured him from my position in the backseat between the two car seats.
