Page 134 of Beloved Beauty

We stay that way for a while—just the three of us. Wrapped in silence, in love, in awe of everything we’ve become. We marvel at every tiny twitch of his nose, every soft sound. Our fingers intertwine over Lex’s tiny body, and I let myself breathe—really breathe—for the first time in hours.

“I saw what you endured when you gave birth. You’re a bloody warrior.” There’s awe in his voice. And love. It wraps around my heart.

“All that pain, and not one part of him looks like me. It’s like my genes didn’t even try.”

“His nose looks like yours.”

I shake my head. “Thanks for trying to make me happy, but no, that’s your nose, too.”

“Sorry, babe. I tried, but he is my little twin.”

A light knock sounds at the door, and Malie peeks in, Alexander behind her.

“I’m sorry. We’re anxious. Is it a good time?” she asks.

Alex glances at me and I nod. “Come in and meet your grandson.”

They step inside, and Malie’s hands fly to her mouth when she sees him, tears spilling over without restraint. “He’s beautiful.”

Alexander approaches with quiet pride on his face. He leans closer and clasps Alex’s shoulder. “You did well. Both of you.”

Malie bends to get a closer look at Lex, her voice cracking. “Alex, he looks just like you did when you were born.”

Alex smiles, wide and shameless. “Then I was a good-looking baby.”

I look up at Malie. “Do you want to hold him?”

“I’m dying to.”

I nod, heart squeezing as I pass my son into the arms of the woman who raised the man I love. She cradles him, rocking in that effortless rhythm only grandmothers seem to know. “Talofa, la’u pele, Tina matua is here.”

Alex’s eyes mist despite his effort to hide it. “She said, ‘Hello, my beloved, your grandmother is here.’”

Alexander leans over Malie’s shoulder, admiring his grandson. “Strong little bloke.”

For a few precious minutes, everything is suspended—pain, press, pressure. There’s just love. And the quiet awe of new beginnings.

When they step out to give us space, Alex climbs onto the bed beside me, and I lay my head on his shoulder.

“What now?” I whisper.

He kisses my forehead, his voice soft but certain. “Now we figure it out together. Day by day. Sleepless night by sleepless night.”

I smile, letting my eyes fall closed. “We’re a family now.”

“We always were,” he says. “but there are more of us now.”

He rests his hand over mine—both of us holding the smallest Sebring between us—and for the first time in my life, I’m certain I’m where I’m meant to be.

Chapter 39

Alex Sebring

The golden morning sunlight filters in, catching the edge of the bedding and spreading warmth across the room. Lex lies between us, cheeks pink from sleep and a full belly, his tiny hands curled up by his face. He smells like milk and baby shampoo and everything I never knew I needed.

Magnolia’s on her side, one hand resting on his belly. Her eyes are closed, lips parted in that peaceful way she gets after Lex settles. The top buttons of her sleep shirt are unfastened from his morning feeding, and her hair’s a mess, but she’s never looked more beautiful.

I lie still, not wanting to wake them. Not wanting to break this moment. My fingers twitch with the instinct to reach for her, but I don’t. Not yet.

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