Page 86 of Breathtaking

“Noooo...” Lennon yells as she bares down and pushes with every last ounce of her soul.

“Keep pushing, Lennon,” Kenzie says. “One more... Harder,” she yells.

And my wife does what she’s told as she holds my hand so tightly, I’m surprised her fingers don’t break. Kinda surprised my fingers don’t break too.

“That’s it,” Kenzie tells her, and I look up and watch the mirror behind my friend just in time to see my son enter the world.

He’s small and red and perfect.

And he’s crying the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

It’s strong and fast and loud.

Our baby.

“It’s a boy,” Kenzie announces, and I take what feels like my first breath since I walked in the room.

“Is he okay?” Lennon asks through uncontrollable tears. She turns to me when no one answers her. “Maddox...”

“He’s beautiful,” I whisper, holding her and in absolute fucking awe of this woman.

Kenzie holds him up, and a nurse offers me scissors. “Do you want to cut the cord, Dad?”

“No. I’ll leave that to the experts,” I murmur, a little overwhelmed as I slide out from behind Lennon and help her lie back.

I push her damp hair away from her beautiful face, and she grabs my arm while I rest my lips against her forehead. “Love you, Maddox,” she whispers.

“Love you,principessa.”

Caitlin backs away as the nurse places the baby on Lennon’s chest.

“Hello, my little prince...” she murmurs, and I wipe a tear from my own eye.

* * *

They called the next hour the golden hour.

We’re left in the room.

Just the three of us.

My entire heart in one bed.

Our little man latched on like a little champ. Apparently, while thirty-six weeks is early, it’s not always too early. His lungs are good, and his color is good. His sugar is fine, and his APGAR scores were great. He’s an overachiever. Not sure where he gets that from.

I lie in bed with Lennon in my arms and our baby on her chest, scared to blink.

Scared if I close my eyes for even a second, this will all be a dream, and I won’t have everything I’ve ever wanted.

“We need to pick a name,” Lennon says softly as she runs her finger over his tiny nose. “He doesn’t look like a Luke.”

“He doesn’t,” I agree. “How about Brock?”

She shakes her head no.

“Come on, Brock Beneventi is a good name.” I run my fingers over her hair. “It’s strong.”

“What about Brennan?” She kisses his head. “Brennan Beneventi sounds like a strong name.”

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