I thought of the crib George had now, something I had always said was temporary while I searched for the perfect one. And now here was Devan, presenting me with a crib he’d made all by himself.
“Dev, it’s beautiful,” I said softly. “I can’t believe you made that. Of course, I’d love to use it… George will love it.”
A smile lit up his face. “George,” he whispered. “Do you mind…” He hesitated and I encouraged him to go on.
“Do you mind if I see him?” he finally asked and I blushed lightly at the thought.
Father and son, finally in the same room together. Was I ready for this?
I would find out, I thought and bit my lip trying to find the courage to say the words. “Of course.”
We walked upstairs together, and Devan’s hand lightly brushed mine as we went. Electricity coursed through my body and it felt so good that I almost wanted to take him and drag him into my own bedroom instead, wanting him to wrap me up in his arms for the rest of time.
But soon, we reached the nursery and stepped inside quietly.
“Here he is. This is George,” I whispered as we leaned over the crib, looking at our peaceful son’s face. He was sleeping safe and sound, not a worry on his mind.
I watched Devan carefully for his reaction, biting my lower lip nervously. I had no idea how he would react, but as I saw a gentle smile on his face and the look of love in his eyes, I knew it would be good.
George had instantly transformed this man into a dad, even though he had no idea he was his child.
I needed to tell him.
“Mila,” Dev said all of a sudden, looking up at me with fierce determination in his eyes. “I know this might sound stupid, but I… I want to take care of you both. I don’t care if he’s not my son. You two are everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I love you and only you.”
“I… But how can I trust you?” I asked softly and he looked heartbroken for a moment. But then a smile lit up his face once again.
“Because you’re the only one I ever wanted, if I’m honest with myself,” he admitted in a quiet voice, and my heart swelled with love for the amazing man in front of me. “I know I’ve made mistakes in the past, and I have paid for them. But that man is not the man that stands before you today. I will never ever hurt you.”
I knew I had to tell him right there and then. I opened my lips and the words just spilled out. “He’s yours…”
Devan looked confused, his eyes widening as I admitted it out loud. I swallowed, needing to make it all even clearer.
“George is your son,” I finally told him.
30
Devan
“What did you say?” My voice was shaking, my hands gripping the crib frame as I looked at Mila then at the quiet baby.
“He’s yours,” she repeated, and my world imploded.
This beautiful boy, a baby… all mine. After years of trying with Monique, Mila and I had conceived a child in one night of lovemaking.
Overwhelming feelings swam through my body as I came to terms with the fact that I had a son. How could I not have known sooner? The baby was about three months old, so she must have had him nine months after our night together. The maths was undeniable.
The maths… I thought as the word reminded me of the conversation with my mom. She knew.
My eyes filled with tears. I had never been a crier, but the new knowledge was too overwhelming.
“Thank you,” I managed to say softly, stepping away from the crib where George was sleeping safe and sound. Hesitantly, I walked over to Mila, unsure whether she would step away from me.
But she didn’t move an inch and stared at me expectantly. I knew we had both been waiting for this moment for a long, long time.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Are you okay?” she asked me, and I could see how unsure she was. She’d had no idea how I would react, how I’d accept the fact that I had a son.
“I’m more than okay,” I clarified for her. “I’m ecstatic, Mila. You just made me the happiest man on earth.”
Her face split into a smile and so did mine as I finally reached for her. I took her hand in mine, brought it up to my lips and left a fleeting kiss on her goose-pimpled skin.
“Come on, let’s have a cup of coffee,” she offered quietly, so as not to disturb the baby. I nodded, even though I had very different things on my mind than just a cuppa.
We headed downstairs and Mila told me about George as she prepared the hot beverage. He was doing well for his age; he was healthy in all aspects and a happy baby, too.
She told me about the long nights she’d had and how Suzanne had helped her for a while. Her cousin had left a few weeks ago, and now it was just Mila and George.