“Do you want to hold your son before I feed him?”
As much as he ached to hold his son in his arms, he declined the offer.
“No, go ahead and feed him first. I’ll hold him later.”
Summer exposed her right breast positioning the baby for feeding. Instinctively the infant opened its mouth, latched on and began nursing. Mother and son affectionately gazed into each other’s eyes, bonding as she gave him life-sustaining nourishment from her body.
Sauntering over to the head of the bed, Nick watched the baby looking into Summer’s face with interest as he suckled her breast. He adores her already. Bending down he feathered a kiss on Summer’s forehead, then leaned in further to kiss the baby’s forehead. Pulling up a chair, he sat as close as possible to them.
“Summer, look at how he’s looking at you. He knows you’re his mother.”
“You think so?”
“Of course he does. He’s so beautiful.”
“Yes, he is. He looks just like you Nick. He has your eyes.”
Peering into the baby’s little face, Nick couldn’t help but to grin.
“Yeah, he does have my eyes.”
“Don’t you think he looks like you?” she quietly asked, praying he would see what she saw. That their son was a complete replica of him.“Most definitely. He does look like his old man.” Nick responded in a quiet thoughtful voice.
Relief washed over Summer. Nick had no doubts that this was his son.
A nurse came barging into the room without a clue she’d interrupted a poignant exchange. “Summer, we’re going to move you upstairs to your room as soon as you finish feeding that handsome little guy.” The nurse’s voice was too animated to be so early in the wee hours of the morning.
“Okay, I think he’s almost done. By the way how much did my baby weigh and how long is he?”
Beaming at Summer, the nurse answered, “Seven pounds nine ounces and he’s twenty-one inches long. He’s a nice size for a first baby.”
“Yes, he is.” Good grief, no wonder I feel like I’ve been dragged behind a herd of elephants.
Removing the baby from her breast, Summer kissed him on the nose before handing him over to the hyperactive nurse. Oh Lord, please don’t let this woman drop my baby.
The nurse secured the baby in her arms as she checked the identification band on Summer’s wrist and then on the baby’s ankle making sure they matched. “I’ll be back to take you up to your room as soon as I take baby boy Jackson to the nursery.”
Nick frowned as the nurse swiftly walked passed him with the infant. Baby boy Jackson?
The instant Summer was settled in her room she requested the baby be brought to her though she was bone tired. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of holding the precious tiny gift. As soon as the nurse placed the baby into her eagerly waiting arms, Summer was filled with an awareness she couldn’t find the words to describe. She found it extremely hard to keep her eyes off the now sleeping newborn. This must be what true love feels like. Though she loved him while he grew day by day in the protectiveness of her womb, seeing him, touching him, nurturing him from her body took on a whole new meaning. It was a love that was pure, unselfish, protective, trusting, giving and never expecting anything in return. It was a mother’s love.
The picture before Nick was breathtaking. Summer and his son was a beautiful pair. Just as she couldn’t keep her eyes off their son, he was having difficulty doing the same. Nick’s heart trembled as Summer looked from the sleeping infant to meet his gaze. She wore the prettiest smile, that of an angel’s.
Summer was aware Nick was staring at her and the baby. His reaction was what she’d hoped and prayed for. Smiling she asked, “Do you want to hold your son now?”
Summer shifted her sore body to make room for Nick to sit. With great ease he sat his large frame down next to her, so close, their bodies touched sending an electrical current surging through his body. Summer’s face blushed with embarrassment. She felt it too. A minute or so passed before either said anything, neither of them wanted to spoil the warmth of the closeness. Summer was the first to speak, breaking the silence.
“Have you ever held a baby before?”
Nick chuckled. “No, never had a reason to before.”
“Well, you better get used to it. I don’t want you to let this little cutie pie slip through your hands.” Summer teased as she instructed Nick on how to support the newborn’s head in the crease of his elbow.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that Miss Summer, I plan on getting plenty of practice.” He countered as he prepared to take the sleeping bundle in his arms.