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“But I can stop by after to check on you two. If you want.”
Her smile returns. “I’d like that a lot.”
It doesn’t take her long to doze off after that. It isn’t until she’s lightly snoring that I realize I’m still holding Isaac. He’s tucked into the crook of my arm, content as can be. I look down at him, getting to my feet so I can rock him from side to side.
Damn, he’s cute.
For a second, I allow myself to wish he was mine.
How it would be if I’m holding my own baby.
Our baby.
“Listen here, kid,” I say in a low voice. “You have no idea how lucky you are to have a mom like Lizzie. I want you to be good for her, okay?”
He yawns. Geez, thanks.
After a few seconds, his eyes slowly slide shut. I smile, oddly attached to him and not wanting to put him down. Of course, as soon as that thought crosses my mind, I make a point to tuck him into his crib. It’s hard enough being attached to Lizzie. If I get attached to her kid, I won’t be able to break away from either of them.
On the way out, I nearly collide with Pippa, prompting a startled gasp from her.
“Sorry, Pippa. Didn’t see you there.”
“No harm done. Wait, Dillan…” she says, stopping me. “Lizzie filled me in on the situation. It’s...yeah, crazy. I just wanted to say I know it’s a tough situation, but you handled it like a pro.”
“Just doing my job, Pippa.” I glance back at Lizzie over my shoulder. “Take care of them, okay?”
She nods slowly, her gaze fixed on me. “I will…”
Again, I feel like there’s something else Pippa wants to say but doesn’t. I’m not sure what it could possibly be, nor do I care. Likely something about that father. The less I hear about the son of a bitch who must have caused her so much pain, the better.
All that matters is Lizzie is safe, and her baby is healthy.
The exhaustion from the day settles in my bones, and I head to the changing room to get out of my scrubs so I can go home and get some sleep.
21
LIZZIE
The next few hours are a haze of sleep, feedings, and diaper changes. At first, I don’t want Isaac to leave my side. But after the third or fourth time of drifting off only for him to cry, Pippa calls the nurse for me. They come to take him to the nursery so I can get a proper rest. When I’d planned my delivery, I’d adamantly told Pippa that under no circumstances did I want them to take Isaac from my room. But after such an intense labor, I’m more than happy to have a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
By the time morning rolls around, I’m more alert, as is Isaac. I hold him close to my chest as he stares up at me with big eyes. They had been black after he was born, but already they seem to have lightened up a bit, turning dark gray. I’ve got a feeling he has inherited his father’s bright-blue eyes.
Only time will tell.
I’m overwhelmed by the love I feel for the little guy.
People throw around the idea that love should be unconditional, a concept I’d doubted my whole life. In my experience, love always came with strings attached. But the moment I’d laid eyes on my newborn baby, something in me had shifted. No conditions, no expectations, no reservations—just a profound love for this tiny being I held in my arms.
It’s a different kind of love.
It’s immersive. It’s pure and simple. It’s abundant.
“You are the most wonderful, and most special, and most handsome little man I’ve ever seen. Aren’t you? Yes, you are. Yes, you are!” I coo, rocking Isaac in my arms.
“Easy now. Too much adoration and he might start demanding a crown.”
I look up, and my heart jumps. I settle against the pillows and smile at Dillan as he stands watching in the doorway, hands in his pockets, an easy smile playing on his lips.
