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“Deal,” she agreed. “But for now, help me get this thing out of me.”

The doctor chimed in, “The paramedics are fifteen minutes away.”

“Hey, they might get here before I have to …”

“No such luck,” Blyss cried out as her face went red again.

The doctor was quick to say, “Be ready. When he gets his head out, hold it for him. He can’t, you know.”

“He’s slimy!” I saw the goo all over him as he moved out in tiny increments from a place I used to know and love.

“Use the sheet,” the doc directed.

I grabbed the sheet so he wouldn’t slip around in my bare hands. “This is so unsanitary. His face is out. Should I wipe it off? He can’t even open his eyes.”

“He’s okay. Don’t mess with him too much yet,” the doc said. “Just keep a hold on him until he’s out. The ambulance should be there soon, and they have things to cut the cord and suction out the mouth and nostrils.”

Something came over me as I looked at his little red face. He wasn’t breathing, but I knew he shouldn’t be yet. “He’s adorable, Blyss.” I looked at her as she took a little break from pushing.

“Is he really?”

I nodded. “I can’t wait to see all of him. You’re doing so good, baby. You really are. I’m so proud of you. What a trooper.”

“Here we go, Troy,” she said as she began to bear down.

“Once his shoulders are out, the rest of him will follow fast,” the doctor added.

One shoulder came out, and I held him as the other popped out, then he oozed on out. “Oh, God! He’s here! He’s here! Braxton, Daddy’s got you!”

The door opened and the paramedics came in, followed by my mother. Dad was lingering in the hallway. “Is that the baby you’re holding, son?”

“Yeah, Dad. I did it. I delivered him. All by myself.” I held him while the men did things to him, then his eyes opened with a jerk and he cried, making a tiny sound. “Hey there, big boy, welcome to the Masterson family.”

And that was that. Blyss and I had done it. We made it all work, somehow. We found out we could get through anything, as long as we were in it together.

Our happy ending had been found, even though the path to it was kind of treacherous …

The End