Page 113 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Then her face grew worried, “There is so much pressure. Oh, Lydia. I do not know what to do.”
Lydia smiled, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and a bowl of water at her side and clean linens as well ready for anything.
“You need to start pushing. You are about to become a mother. Are you ready?”
Rhia shook her head and Aidan whispered in her ear and she gave a slight smile and then nodded.
Rhia grasped Aidan’s hand tightly and then pushed down with her might.
It took a few pushes, but Lydia let out a cry that she could see the head and that Rhia needed just a few more big pushes.
Which she gave, and the next thing they knew Lydia caught a small body and the tiny baby let out a cry.
Lydia gave a laugh, “It’s a boy!”
Then she put the small baby on Rhia’s chest wrapped in a blanket and Rhia was sobbing.
As was Aidan. The small boy had a head full of dark hair just like his father and he had a strong set of lungs.
Rhia held the baby close and rocked him softly and cooed to him and he settled right down.
Rhia looked up at her husband and he smiled at her and then kissed her lips and then kissed the baby’s head.
He cupped the tiny head and his entire hand engulfed the small head and Aidan just held his wife and his child.
Persephone wiped the tears from her eyes and knew that someday she would have this.
Lydia finished up the birth with Rhia and then everyone left the room and the small family alone for a little while.
And when they got out of the happy room, everyone else was there. Waiting.
Their family. Everyone who loved them.
They were all there. And when Aidan walked from the room, he announced the birth of his son, and a cheer went up.
Aidan was grinning like a loon and when everyone clapped him on the shoulder or gave him hugs, he looked as if he wanted to fly.
Persephone knew their story. Knew how hard life had been even last year at this time.
How lonely Aidan was. She understood better than everyone.
As had the people that stood in the hallway.
And yet here they were. A new family.
One they had chosen. Each one meaning something to the other.
And she was grateful to be part of it.
Brooks took her in his arms and kissed her.
Then he whispered in her ear that this would be them. Sooner than they think.
And she felt the tears of happiness slide down her cheeks.
Once again grateful to have finally found what she had wanted to for her entire life.
Her mother, someone to love her and a family that was full of love and laughter.
