Cora

“You’ve got this, Cora!” Ella cheers at my side while I squeeze Roger’s hand, panting and shouting as I give what the nurse has told me is one last, final push.

I put everything I have into this final moment, squeezing my eyes shut and pushing as hard as I can, wanting this done – wanting to feel my little baby in my arms

And suddenly the pressure lessens, and my eyes fly open as I gasp And there’s a little baby’s cry ringing out through the room.

“Here!” I gasp, leaning forward fervently, some motherly demand in me needing my little baby now even as I see him in the nurse’s hands. “Give him to me!”

The nurse hesitates, looking towards her colleagues. I moan a little, still reaching, wanting him now

“Do it,” Ella snaps suddenly up from my side. She stands and moves towards the nurse, putting a hang on her shoulder and gesturing towards me. ” He needs his mother – ”

Roger is completely still at my side, his eyes focused totally on the baby, who starts to cry his little heart out.

“Please,” I beg, reaching for him.

“All right,” the nurse says, nodding and bringing him forward. “We’ll clean him up in a minute – ”

And she takes two steps forward, and leans down, and places my little baby in my arms

And I burst immediately into tears.

against my elbow-my heart just breaks to feel him close to me,

every ounce of him, every tiny finger and toe, his

pressed tight to my side, his arms wrapped around me, staring down at

can’t believe he’s here,” I

mad,” Roger

my head at him, sniffing back my tears, grateful that his strange sense of humor has at least stopped my crying. “You know, Roger,” I say quietly, “most new parents say something nice about their kid when they meet him for the first time, like how beautiful he is,

staring at the baby with an expression somewhere between shock and awe. “I doubt he’d

the baby, cuddling him close and pressing a kiss to

have come up with something that good.

sigh. “My whole heart, forever, little

is aching, I just feel such rich, complete happiness

and I are the only three people in

quietly. “Will you let the nurses clean him up and wrap in him in a blanket?

comes close, reaching for him. “I’m sorry,”

at me as she takes the baby from my arms. “You’re just an excited new mom and the

out by the doctor. But the nurse is right – everything went well, and the baby looked fine to me. I don’t

me and holding her hands out, palm up. “I basically bled out after my traumatic pregnancy,

jealous, Ells,” I sigh, placing my hands on top of hers

the side, not understanding her reaction. But then she just grins and shakes her head, dismissing it. “I’m sure it will,” she says with

asks that?” I murmur in reply, leaning my head on Roger’s shoulder, starting to

me, of course, but this is the most conscious I’ve been for it and I can really feel

I

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