The Proposal(90)

Emma shook her head. “You’ll be changing your tune about that defiant spirit when he gets to be a teenager.”

“Nah, I like him tough and feisty.” Noah’s response was to stick his tongue out, which made Aidan chuckle. “Yep, see, already a cocky little thing like his Old Man.”

Casey took a hesitant step towards Aidan. “So we know he’s got his daddy’s douchenozzle personality—”

Aidan arched his brows. “Hey now.”

Casey grinned and patted his back. “Just teasing you, Big Papa. My question is who does he look like?”

“He looks just like you, Em,” Aidan noted as he took in Noah’s tiny features.

“Hmm, let me see,” Casey said, peering over Aidan’s shoulder. She squealed and clapped her hand to her chest. “Oh my God, that face! He’s so handsome and adorable!”

Emma beamed from ear to ear at Casey’s compliment. Connor walked over to them. “Between Aidan and Emma it was a given he’d be good-looking. But is he really Emma’s mini-me?” Connor questioned.

Casey cocked her head. “No, he’s got a lot of Big Papa in him, too.”

Aidan threw a glance over his shoulder at Casey. “Really?”

She nodded. “He’s definitely got Em’s hair and mouth, but he’s got your nose and eyes.

Aidan grinned at Emma. “He got some mighty fine genes that’s for sure.”

She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Uh-oh,” Aidan murmured as Noah’s face clouded over, and he appeared ready to cut loose with a giant scream.

“Looks like right now might be a good time to see if he wants to latch on,” Annie suggested.

“He’s already hungry?” Aidan asked incredulously.

“Some come out of the womb ready to eat, others it takes hours,” Annie replied.

“If he’s hungry, I want to try,” Emma said, holding her arms out for Noah.

“Yeah, um, on that note, I think I’ll head out,” Connor said, starting for the door.

Casey laughed. “Why don’t we go out and tell the rest of the waiting crowd that Noah’s here.”

“There’s a crowd?” Emma asked in surprise.

Casey nodded. “Nate texted me that the waiting room is full with yours and Aidan’s families. Patrick’s out there, and Grammy and Granddaddy just walked in. He said Becky’s boys made her promise to bring them even if it was the middle of the night. “I’m sure they will all want to get a peek at Mr. Handsome.”

Emma felt slightly overwhelmed at the prospect of all the visitors, especially with her post-delivery exhaustion setting in. But a sense of renewal filled her at the thought of all the people waiting to see and love Noah. It made her feel very grateful and very loved. “Okay, that sounds good.”

Once Casey and Connor left, Emma slid her hospital gown down on one side and took Noah from Aidan. As she brought him to her breast, apprehension filled her that she might not be able to do this. What if her milk wasn’t strong enough, or they had to seek out a Lactation Consultant? She had heard from her friends as well as reading in books how breastfeeding was tricky business.

But miraculously after rooting around for a few seconds, Noah latched on to her nipple and began to nurse heartily.

“Oh you’re so very lucky,” Annie noted.

With tears filling her eyes, Emma glanced lovingly from her son back up to Aidan. A smile filled her cheeks. “Oh, you have no idea.”