And Luke was so attentive. He held her hand, rubbed her back and helped her change positions, and smoothed her hair from her forehead. He encouraged her and apologized for leaving her alone. Bella was in too much pain to wonder if any of this meant something, but it was nice to have Luke by her side right now, even if he was here just as a doctor or as the baby’s father, not anything else.
“Okay,” Luke said, checking on the baby’s progress. “When you’re ready, push again.”
Bella looked at him. He was still wearing blue scrubs and the tennis shoes he wore at work. His hair was a little messy, but he looked as calm and confident as he always did. His eyes met hers, and he nodded.
“You can do this.”
Bella pushed. And pushed again. And pushed again. Luke encouraged her and told her she was doing wonderfully. And then…
“I see his head, stop pushing now and take short breaths, blow out through your mouth.” Bella did as instructed, then Luke said, “I can see him!”
Joy filled Bella’s heart. “You… can?”
“He’s beautiful.” Luke laughed softly. “Okay. Just a few more contractions, and I think we’ll meet him.”
Bella labored a little longer. A moment later, the sound of a baby’s plaintive first cry cut the air. It was the most wonderful sound Bella had ever heard, and tears filled her eyes.
“Is he okay?” she asked.
“He’s perfect. Ten fingers and ten toes.” Bella relaxed onto her back, and Luke lifted the baby onto Bella’s chest. He was tiny, somehow smaller than Bella had expected, with the most adorable little squished face she had ever seen. He nuzzled his face into her, and, immediately, tears streamed down Bella’s cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Luke asked. “Are you in pain?”
“No.” Bella shook her head. “I just can’t believe this.” She looked up at him. “We have a son, Luke. We have a son!”
The baby gave out a soft wail, as though he wanted to be part of the conversation, too, and Bella kissed his small head.
“We have a son,” Luke agreed. Bella looked down at their baby, then met Luke’s eyes again. “He still doesn’t have a name.”
“That’s okay.” Luke smiled at her. “We don’t have to decide that right now.”
“James,” Bella said quietly. “His name is James.”
Luke leaned forward to look at the baby’s tiny face and nodded. “You’re right,” he said. “Hi there, James. After all our conversations about names, when it came down to it, it was pretty easy to decide, wasn’t it? Now, rest for a little while, we’re nearly done then we can get you cleaned up and tucked in bed.”
“Do we need to go to the hospital?” Bella asked.
“No, the delivery went perfectly, and you both look great. I’ll monitor you closely over the next few hours, but I think you’ll be fine right here. Unless you want to go to the hospital.”
“No, I’d rather stay here. I think James would, too. Isn’t that right, James?”
James blinked up at her with green eyes that matched her own, and her heart almost overflowed. Their baby was right here, and he was so very perfect.
Luke fetched his emergency medical kit and together they clamped and cut the umbilical cord. After a while, he helped Bella deliver the placenta and checked that all was okay; he was so careful as he made sure that Bella was comfortable and free from any potential issues. Luke recorded all the baby’s measurements, even weighing him on Bella’s digital scales that she used for baking. Once she was ready to move, Bella had a gentle bath, and Luke got them settled in Bella’s bed, propped up on what seemed like a hundred pillows. Then he brought over a tiny diaper and a newborn onesie, as well as a little hat with bear ears on it. For Bella, he brought a glass of her favorite orange juice and a cold compress.
Bella fed James and softly rocked him as Luke sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Both of them were so transfixed by baby James that it was hard to focus on anything else. His tiny hand wrapped around one of Luke’s fingers as his eyelids fluttered with tiredness.
“I think he needs a nap,” Bella said.
“I think so, too.”
Sure enough, after a moment, James’s eyes drifted closed and his tiny chest rose and fell. Bella stared at him for a while longer, hardly able to believe that he was actually here. As James slept, though, she slowly came back to the present. Luke had his arms around her. He’d held her hand during delivery. Had any of it meant anything, or did he still want to be no more than a co-parent?
“Luke?”
“Yes?” He shifted so they could look at each other. “Can I get you something to eat or drink? Or more pillows? Or your phone?”
Bella suddenly realized that she was quite hungry, but she shook her head. “In a minute. I just wanted to say thank you for coming home.”
