Page 68 of Shine: Sins of the Father
It’s so much harder than I expected, but I get through it somehow, and at 10:53pm my son makes his debut, clocking in at 6lbs, 9oz and 19 inches long.
They lay him on my stomach, and I cry with happiness, my mother looking on. He’s so tiny. I stroke his cheek, and his little hand clutches my finger tightly.
“Mama’s here, my angel. Mama’s here.” I press a kiss to his head, and the nurses give us a few minutes, then it’s time to clean him up, and they take him.
I feel an instant tug at my heart when he’s removed and begins crying, his little body trembling. I want him back, but know they have to tend to him.
Once he’s cleaned and swaddled, they bring him back to me. His little cry instantly stops when I cuddle him under my chin, and my determined little man works one hand free to cling to my finger.
I’ve never loved anyone more.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Shine—
My phone goes off, and I pull it out. “Hey, Reckless. How are you?”
“Where are you?” he asks.
“The clubhouse, why?”
“Go out on the front porch and look at the sky.”
I frown at the odd request. “What for?”
“Just do it,” he snaps.
“We havin’ a meteor shower or something?” I step out and look at the sky. A crescent moon hangs over the Spring Mountains, and a million stars fill the sky. “Okay, I’m outside. It’s a pretty night. I don’t see any shooting stars, though.”
“Take a picture of the sky.”
“What?You doin’ drugs?”
“Just do it.”
I roll my eyes and do it. “You want me to send it to you?”
“Nope. I just want you to remember this night. February 20th. Okay?”
“What’s so special about February 20th?” I ask.
“Someday, I’ll tell you. I love you, brother.”
“Love you, too, you weirdo.” I laugh, and he disconnects.
My eyes scan the lot on the way back in.
“What the hell?”
I move toward my bike and kneel. “Fucking shit.” The air whizzes out of my already mostly deflated tire. “When the fuck did I pick up a nail?”
Then, my front tire draws my attention. A nail protrudes from it as well.
I rise slowly and scan my surroundings. The air is still. The only sound is the coyotes in the distance. Still, my hand pulls my piece as I move toward the clubhouse.
“What’s wrong, Shine?” Lobo asks when I walk in holstering my gun.
“I’ve got nails in both my tires.”
