Page 132 of Reclaimed

His birth is a blur of activity. A pair of silver scissors is shoved into my hand and the doctor points to the thick, spongy looking cord. “Cut here, daddy.”

Daddy.Emotion punches me in the chest.

I fight against trembling as I slip the blades around the cord and snip the tether from baby to mother. The little guy is wiped and placed on Isla’s chest for a quick meeting before he’s whisked away for a check-up and a weight.

“Seven pounds, two ounces and eighteen-and-a-half inches long.”

Then he’s bundled in a blanket and a hat and placed back into his mother’s arms.

“Look at our boy,” she says happily. “God, he’s so beautiful.”

I find his little fingers in the blanket and wrap them around my thumb. His grip is tight. “He sure is. Beautiful like you.”

We spend an immeasurable amount of time just staring at our son in awe.

“What was your dad’s name?”

Her question takes me by surprise. I work to clear my throat. “His name was John.”

She looks lovingly at the baby and adjusts his little hat. “Then we’ll name him John.” She brings her gaze to mine. “John Myles Powell.”

“Isla, even my last name?” I choke. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” She reaches out to cup my cheek. “You did it, Aiden. You took his advice. You got it right the first time and now you have me for the rest of your life. I think that’s worth naming our son after.”

“Thank you,” I gasp against her lips, not giving the first fuck about the tear dripping from my eye onto her cheek. Easing myself beside her on the bed, I slip the black box from my pocket. “There doesn’t seem to be a better time than now to give you this.” I flip open the lid.

The huge oval-cut diamond gleams beneath the bright overhead lights.

“Oh my god.”

“I don’t want to leave this hospital without all three of us sharing a name. Not after all you did to make sure we could be a family. You’re strong, Isla. A survivor. And I’m lucky as hell you’ve decided to do this life by my side.”

Thick tears course down her flushed cheeks. “When did you get that?”

My grin is lopsided as I pluck the ring from the box. “I’ve been carrying it around for about four months now, give or take a couple weeks, just waiting for the right time.”

Her mouth falls open slightly. “Well are you going to ask me?”

“Isla Fitzgerald, will you do me the absolute honor of becoming my wife?” My body vibrates as I wait for her to utter the word that will make her mine forever.

“Yes. Oh my god, yes.” I slip the silver band gently over her ring finger. “Love you, Aiden Powell.”

“Love you too, Isla. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, but I’m going to prove to you every fucking day that I do.”

Isla

Two MonthsLater

“The wedding is off.”

“What?” I set down the microchip scanner and stare at Cortney.

She throws her black hair into a messy ponytail and rolls up the white sleeves beneath her blue scrubs. “You heard me.”

Juniper and I exchange a concerned glance.

“What happened?” Juniper summons the courage to ask the question first.

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