Page 72 of First Comes Orc, Second Comes Baby
—this baby out.
As the urge to push seized her, a strange ruthless focus took hold of her senses as well. She abandoned Brahnt's voice, the midwife's instructions, and everything narrowed down to that ring of fire, and her body straining, working, to expel a new life.
“We have the head,” the midwife said, her voice distant.
Charlotte knew not to panic, the baby wouldn't drown.
After the next contraction, “And the shoulders. And baby is here. . .”
She felt a whoosh and a tug, heard a splash of water as a child emerged, clasped by the midwife. Charlotte lifted her head and turned, straightening instinctively to reach for the baby. Brahnt was there, grinning as the midwife put the slippery, now squalling infant against Charlotte's chest.
Oh my god it was big.
Charlotte clasped the baby to her, carefully shifting—and it seemed like the baby bump wasn't going to magically disappear—to lean back against the pool, Brahnt cradling them both from behind. If anyone had asked her to describe her feelings, she wouldn’t have had the words. Tears pricked her eyes.
She felt as if the world had stopped, reset itself, and reemerged on a completely different axis.
She was now a mom.
“Oh shit.” Charlotte stared down at the crying baby. “Maybe we should put it back. I don’t think it likes it here.”
Caro snorted. “Would you put Snowkiss back?”
“No. . .”
The baby with a head of black hair, and minty pale skin. She gently pulled down the bottom lip—
“They don’t have teeth at this age, genius,” Caro said. “I guess I’m going to move in for a few weeks to make sure you get plenty of sleep.”
Everyone was busy doing things, and Charlotte also learned that contractions didn't stop once the baby was out. But Brahnt and Charlotte knelt there holding the new child, not talking because no one had room for words. Except for Caro.
“Boy or girl?” Brahnt finally murmured.
“Oh, I forgot! It's a girl!” the midwife chirped.
Eventually, they urged Charlotte out of the pool. The doula wrapped a postpartum girdle around her middle after she toweled off, then enveloped her in a Snowkiss white robe. Brahnt was cradling the baby while the midwife and doula dealt with Charlotte, and Caro had left the room to announce to the rest of the family that the baby was born.
Charlotte was tucked into bed, the baby curled on her bare skin and Brahnt in the bed at their side, also bare-chested for when it was his turn, when the door opened.
Caro poked her head in, grimaced and made an exaggerated eye roll. Charlotte smiled, beckoning. She was exhausted, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind.
But not food. She was hungry. Famished.
“Aunt Ati,” she began as Brahnt’s aunt ushered into the room right after Regine and Sammie, clucking her tongue.
“You don't even have to say it,” she said. “More birthings than you have fingers and toes. Give me a few minutes, and we'll get everyone fed.”
Regine strode to Charlotte's bedside and stared down at the baby.
“I think it's cute,” Regine said, “but I can't see its face, so I don't know. Do something.” She made a circling gesture with her finger, and Charlotte shifted the baby so she was more face up.
“Mother,” Brahnt said.
“What?” Regine said. Then after a long moment, “I can see the resemblance. I think we're all clear, son.”
Samesh muttered something under his breath. “She's beautiful, children,” he said and bent to place a kiss on Charlotte's forehead. “I want to hold her, but I remember these early hours, and we won't intrude long.” He said this with a warning look at Regine, who sniffed then held out a hand to Charlotte.
Charlotte stared at it, extricated one of her arms and shook Regine's hand.
