Page 130 of Mia

“Whoa! It’s a lot of y'all!” she said, smiling. She clasped her hands together. “So, baby Dillinger-Michaels is a very impatient little guy. He’s ready to make his entrance. Mom is fully dilated and preparing to push. Can I get daddy, grandma, and a Miss Mia to follow me?”

I kissed my husband and stood to my feet. Quaid was still pacing nervously. Even through all the family banter, he’d tuned us out. I walked over and grabbed his hand, causing him to stop. He looked down at me, blinking rapidly.

“Huh?”

“She’s ready.”

“She’s ready? Okay. Okay. Whew! I can do this.”

“You can. I’m gonna be right there with y’all.”

“Okay.”

He pulled me into a strong hug, damn near crushing me.

“I’m scared, Mia,” he whispered. “I’ve never been so scared in my damn life.”

“I got you,” I said, rubbing his back. “Everything is gonna be okay. Come on. Let’s go meet your son.”

INTRODUCING STANLEY QUAID DILLINGER-MICHAELS

“You did a beautiful job, baby,” Mama Tavia said, sniffling as she held on to me while we watched Jaeda and Quaid with Lil’ Stanley.

The cries from my nephew were probably the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard. It was an honor to be in the room with my sister while she brought forth new life. Even though she was scared, she put on a brave face, squeezed our hands and gave three good pushes before Stanley Quaid Dillinger Michaels came into this world. Jaeda and Quaid were both a crying mess, and I was no better as I stood there watching them dote on their baby boy.

“Thank you, Mommy,” Jaeda whispered. “I had a whole baby.”

Mama Tavia and the nurses giggled.

“You did. He’s precious.”

“My baby is a mommy,” I said, swiping at my own tears. “I’m so happy for you two.”

“You wanna hold him?” Quaid asked through his tears.

“I… I um… yes.”

He stood and placed the loosely bound bundle in my arms. When I looked down at him, my eyes misted over with tears again.

“He’s perfect,” I whispered. “Hey, little guy. I’m your Auntie Mia.”

He stared up at me with bright eyes. I could have sworn I saw a little smile on his face, and it made me smile.

“I’m so proud of you, sissy,” I said, rocking him.

She smiled. “I couldn’t have done this without you, godmommy.”

My gaze snapped to hers. “Godmommy?”

Quaid chuckled. “Your husband is his godfather. It’s only right that you’re his godmother.”

“Y’all trust me to raise him if anything ever happened to you?”

Jaeda reached for my free hand. “I trust you with my life. Always. I know you’ll love and protect him like you love and protect me.”

I sniffled. “Always.”

I stared down at baby boy, silently promising to be everything he needed. I loved all of my nieces and nephews equally, but this…this was special. I almost didn’t want to let him go when the nurse said she needed to clean him up. They asked us to leave the room while they got the baby and Jaeda ready to be moved to another room.