The Untouchables(109)

Fuck.

“How are her vital signs?” she asked, turning to the male nurse next me.

“Her blood pressure is elevating with each contraction, but not going down.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Liam snapped, pulling away from me for the first time since we had come into the suite.

She looked at the number on the monitor as she listened to my stomach for a moment, then the doctor shook her head. “We’re going to have to do a cesarean, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan.”

“You want to cut her open.” Liam shook his head, as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He glanced at me helplessly, and I could see the worry in his eyes.

“Your baby isn’t positioning himself right, and your blood pressure is rising. This is the safest way for you and your child—”

“Then do it,” I demanded, taking Liam’s hand. “If it’s the safest way.”

Nodding at her, Liam kissed the back of my hand as he sat beside me. “You’re going to be fine.”

“Okay, we’re going to prep you…”

I just tuned her out, and focused on the lights above me. I relaxed slightly at the feeling of the cold towel Liam was using to blot my skin. Everything just had to be so fucking complicated, damn it.

“Mrs. Callahan, I’m the anesthesiologist, Dr. Meroe. I’m going to give you something to make sure you feel nothing, but you’ll still be aware enough to greet your bundle.”

I wanted to speak but I couldn’t. I was too tried, and all I could do was nod and fight back the nervousness building at the base of my throat.

“Can you feel that?” Liam whispered, staring down at my stomach, his eyes glistening with…something…as he watched me.

“Believe me, if I felt it, you would know,” I said, trying to readjust myself.

“Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Callahan. Your son is going to be here in a few seconds…”

“Seconds!” My head snapped to the side, but I couldn’t see anything. Hands gripped me and loosened just slightly. There was a tug, and a lot of pressure, then nothing.

“Here we are,” the doctor cooed from behind her mask as a soft cry—my son’s cry—rang throughout the room.

I felt myself take in a deep breath just as Liam did, biting his lips and trying his best not to let the water building under his eyes to fall. There he was, a bundle of blood and fluid, wailing.

“Would you like to…”

“Yes,” Liam answered, cutting her off and taking the pair of scissors. I didn’t realize I was crying until I had to wipe my face, as I watched Liam cut the cord.

Our son’s little hands were waving everywhere.

I held my arms out for him, and the moment he was in them, I knew I never wanted to let him go.

“Hello…” I cried, kissing his head, “I’m your m…mo…”

“She’s your mommy.” Liam finished for me as he kissed my shoulder. He stood beside me before brushing our son’s little red checks.

Nodding, I cooed to him softly. “I’m your mommy, Ethan.”

“Thank you,” Liam whispered before kissing me once again. “Thank you so much for this…for him.”





THIRTY-TWO

“The value of marriage is not that adults produce children, but that children produce adults.”

—Peter De Vries





LIAM

I watched him. I couldn’t help it. He was just so tiny. I could hold him with just one hand. I hadn’t slept in hours…days? Who gave a shit, I had a son. He was here in my arms, drooling. He’d been in the world for only six hours, yet still I couldn’t imagine a moment without him.

“Liam, please, stop hogging him,” My father huffed, moving to stand behind me. “The old folks would like to hold him before we die.”

“Be careful,” I hissed, slowly transferring him into Sedric’s arms.

“Hello, little one,” he said to him, and once again, my son just waved his arms around in his sleep, as if he wasn’t used to all the space around him. “Your father says I have to be careful, but forgets that I once held him and his brothers like this. Thankfully you got your looks, and hopefully your smarts from your mother.”

“I’m right here.” I rolled my eyes at him as he walked over to the couch next to Mel’s bed. She was only partially asleep, watching my father and me through barely opened eyes. She had only taken short naps; surely she needed more sleep.

“Love,” I murmured, brushing her hair back before kissing her head. “Sleep. You not only need it, but deserve it.”

She smiled, her eyes closing as she reached for my hands, which rested on the side of her face. “I know, and I want to, but I’m afraid. What if I miss something or he needs something? He’ll be hungry again soon. It’s been a few hours since I fed him.”