Blue Lines(122)

“You did it,” he whispered before kissing her again. “You did it, baby. God, he is so beautiful.”

And he was. Little but beautiful. He didn’t even need more than the regular prenatal care. He was perfect and she couldn’t believe that she had done this, that they had made such a beautiful, sweet baby. Kissing Dimitri’s head, Piper wiped her tears from her face before looking over at Erik.

“No, we did it.”

He smiled, kissing her lips before looking back down at Dimitri. It was like she was looking at her future and when she looked up into Erik’s eyes, she knew that she needed him to be there, too. She had no doubt that she could raise this baby by herself, but she didn’t want to. She wanted Erik with her; she wanted Dimitri to have his mommy and his daddy.

Suddenly a nurse appeared and said, “We need to check him out.”

Piper nodded as they took him and watched as Erik went with them, standing only inches away. She never thought she could love Erik more, but she did. He had been amazing during the labor and perfect throughout the delivery. He was attentive, sweet, and amazing, everything Piper needed. She couldn’t have done it without him, and she knew that he had to love her. He might not have the words but he had the actions and that was enough.

Closing her eyes, tears leaked out as she listened to her little guy cry. Everything had happened so fast and she couldn’t believe that just a few hours ago she was celebrating her best friend’s union   and now here she was, a mommy. How did this happen and why wasn’t she scared? She had been so worried when they first got to the hospital, feeling like she couldn’t do it, but she did—and a pretty damn good job, if she did say so herself. And she knew it was all because of Erik.

Glancing over at Erik, she watched him watch their son like he was tracking a puck on the ice: sharp and attentive. He was going to be the perfect father, and she had known that since the beginning. The great thing was that he was finally realizing this.

She knew that there was still a lot to figure out between them, but at that moment she was surprised she could even keep her eyes open. Her body was exhausted, and she felt as if just moving her arms would take everything out of her. She felt loopy, like she was flying, as everyone started to move and poke at her. When she glanced down at Dr. Richards, she whispered, “I’m about to pass out.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. They gave you some pain meds, so go to sleep. I’m finishing up some of your sutures,” Dr. Richards said.

Piper opened her eyes to see that Erik was still standing near Dimitri. Looking back at her, he smiled and said, “I won’t leave his side.”

She nodded slowly, and thought she said she loved him, but she wasn’t sure because the next thing she knew, she was out.





Chapter 27



“How do I hold him?”

Piper’s eyes fluttered open to find Erik standing beside a nurse, their backs to her. She sat up, very slowly, since she was still sore everywhere. She felt like she had competed in a Ninja Warrior competition and hadn’t slept in days, but when she glanced up at the clock, she noticed that she had slept through the night. Moving her hands through her hair, she blinked as she took in her surroundings. The table beside her held bouquets of flowers, along with a little stuffed whale. A small smile came across her face as she reached for it and saw that Dimitri’s name was along the tail, along with a tag that said, “From Daddy.”

“I’ll place him in your arms.”

Piper watched as the nurse placed her little man in Erik’s arms. Dimitri was wrapped up in a little white blanket, looking like a little burrito, and when Erik turned there was a grin on his face that only grew when he saw Piper looking up at him.

“Look, bud, Mommy is awake,” he said softly as he came toward her.

“Do y’all need anything else?” the nurse asked.

Erik shook his head. “No, ma’am, I think we are good.” He then asked Piper, “Sweetheart, do you need anything?”

Piper shook her head. “I just want to hold my baby.”

Erik carried the baby over to Piper, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, and leaned against her. Piper rested her head against his shoulder and moved the blanket from Dimitri’s face.

Man, he was beautiful.

Cute little button nose, with sweet little rosy cheeks. Looking at him, she felt this unbelievable jolt of love for her child. She never knew a love like that existed, until that moment. She was overwhelmed with happiness as she moved her finger along his little lips, and when she glanced up at Erik, she felt like her heart was going to burst from her chest.

She loved them both so much.