Page 44 of Nanny's Mate

“Do you want to hold him? You’re part of the family, too, Beatriz,” she said.

Barbara and Tristan stood by as careful and caring watchers. They gave her and Mike an approving nod.

Beatriz gazed around the room. Blue Creek was her new home. It reminded her of her nine siblings back home. It was a glorious feeling.

“Well, you’ve convinced me,” Beatriz said gleefully.

Like holding a small bomb, Ellie guided her newborn son into Beatriz’s arms.

She held him still and close. His eyes were like gems, peeking out from beneath his thin pink lids. He was no longer restless but soon fell asleep. The fresh baby smell wafted up into Beatriz’s nose. It was the most fragrant scent she’d ever absorbed.

Mike came to her side, gazing over her shoulder. He laid one of his big hands on the baby’s small head and stroked him gently.

It gave Beatriz the most wonderful chill.

“Would you like to hold him?” Beatriz asked.

At first, Mike was bewildered. But soon enough, he was eager, taking the little bundle into his massive tree trunk arms. It was the sweetest sight, and it made her ovaries bloom. She could only imagine what it would be like to have a little pup running around.

“He is so little,” Mike whispered. “He looks like the both of you already. Mostly Ellie, thank God.”

Caleb and Ellie laughed, as did Barbara and Tristan. The little one remained undisturbed, dozing in Mike’s arms.

They handed the baby back to his parents and joined the celebration in the hallway. Everyone gave the new parents and little Caleb some space, talking and chatting until the sun began to settle.

Ellie would remain in the hospital with her little boy for another night, with Caleb by her side. Tristan and Barbara invited the entire family back to the estate for a nightcap.

Mike and Beatriz walked out to the car, the sun staining the parking lot a rosy hue. They sauntered, their fingers still intertwined. Beatriz couldn’t get the image of Mike holding little Caleb in his arms out of her mind.

They locked eyes, and Mike must have felt it because he stopped. He pulled Beatriz into his arms, his hands gripping her waist as she began to giggle uncontrollably.

“What’s gotten into you?” he teased, running his hands up her back.

“What do you think?” she said, feeling over the moon. “That really did something to me, you holding him so tenderly.”

Mike’s eyes glowed the most potent shade of green Beatriz had ever seen. He bit his lip and pulled her in even closer.

“Oh, is that so? What did it do?"

She growled at him, desperately trying to pull his mouth down to hers. The two lovers giggled, brushing each other's lips with the delicacy of a butterfly’s wings.

“Tell me,” he hissed at her.

“Take a wild guess,” she said, still giggling. “I want to … I want to have a baby with you.”

Mike's hands were all over her, and hers were all over him. He pressed his forehead against hers and let out a long sigh. There was a pause, and Beatriz waited with bated breath.

He always had a way of taking her breath away.

“Beatriz, I am insanely in love with you. I want to do everything in the world with you. I never want to make a stupid mistake like that again. Never.”

Beatriz felt like she was floating. Words fluttered out of her mouth, the easiest ones she would ever say.

“I am in love with you, too, Mike. You are mine, and I am yours. We are going to take on this world together. And I can’t fucking wait."

They finally crushed one another with their lips, everything in her life leading up to that moment. They held each other close, their entire lives laid out ahead of them along the burning road of twilight.

They arrived late to the celebration, but Beatriz knew that Tristan and Barbara wouldn’t mind. They were having a celebration of their own and would for the rest of their lives.