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Was I? The moment that baby came into the world, everything would change.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have much say in the matter.
A contraction wracked my body, but I managed to nod, breathing in and out, pushing…pushing hard.
And then I was spent and had to stop so I could pull in more air.
“That was great,” Dr. Carlisle told me. “Another one, and I think we’ll be there.”
Just another push. I thought I could do that.
Calvin bent down and pressed a kiss against my forehead. “You can do this.”
Yes, I could…and I would.
A groan tore its way out of my throat as I bore down again, and this time, I could feel something give way, could feel the weight that had been pressing against my pelvis for the past six months finally ease.
And then a sharp cry filled the room.
“Wonderful,” Dr. Carlisle said as a nurse rushed over with a towel to pick up the baby and wrap the round little body securely. “Selena, Calvin…I’d like to introduce you to your new daughter.”
Happy tears trailed down my cheeks as the nurse came over with my daughter and laid her in my arms. Calvin bent down, marveling at the tiny, tiny fingers and toes, the lush fringe of black lashes that lay against her red cheeks.
“She’s perfect,” he said, and kissed me again. “Just like her mother.”
What could I do except smile?
“That is probably the prettiest baby I’ve ever seen,” Josie declared as she gazed down into the bassinet. “Just don’t tell Terry and Brett that. I love my niece and nephews, but I have to say they didn’t look this good when they came into the world.”
I allowed myself a grin. “Your secret is safe with me.”
Because the birth had been so uneventful, I was allowed to go home the next day. And while some people might have waited a while to have visitors, two days after that, I felt well enough to have my friends and family over to see baby Celeste.
Possibly I was biased, but I had to admit she was a gorgeous little thing, with those long, long lashes and thick dark hair. Her eyes looked as though they were going to stay blue, which surprised me a little. I would have thought Calvin’s genetic contribution would have made sure she was as dark-eyed as he was.
We’d just have to wait and see on that, though.
“She’s a good baby, too,” I said. “She’s only been waking me up two or three times a night, so I count that as a win.”
“Well, I hope she’s waking up Calvin, too,” Josie said, now looking a little stern.
“Obviously,” I replied. “And he’s a champ at diaper duty. But that’s probably because he’s had so much practice with his nieces and nephews.”
Josie nodded at that comment, then said, “I’m just glad your mother took Chloe in, since this all happened so last minute.”
That was for sure. I’d told my sister that I’d find her another Airbnb to stay in, but obviously, nature had intervened. But my mother stepped up and said they had plenty of room at the old Bigelow mansion, and Chloe had taken her up on the offer.
Maybe some people would have found the setup a little odd. I just looked at the arrangement as my family coming together, the way they were supposed to.
“She and my mom are coming by in a little while,” I said. “Did you want to stay and say hi?”
Josie looked regretful. “I wish I could, but I have a house showing after this. I just wanted to pop in and see the baby…and see how you were doing, of course.”
I was fine. More than fine, really, and I thought everyone could see that.
A few minutes later, Josie left, promising she would stop by again in a few days.
And then my mother and Chloe came over, ostensibly to check in to see whether I was still chugging along, but really so they could spend some time with the baby. I was a little surprised by how well my sister had adapted to being an aunt, and as for my mother, well, she was over the moon to hold her first grandchild and give me some much-needed free time for a hot bath or anything else I might need.
