Page 87 of The Blessings of Christmas
The nurse gave them a mysterious smile. “Want to take them to the consult room, McKenna?”
“Sure thing.” McKenna led them down the hall. Amanda collapsed into one of the chairs and Connor sat across from her. McKenna stayed in the doorway staring down the hall.
Amanda froze when Maria entered the room with a very tiny bundle. “Oh, Connor.”
“Do you want to see your son?” Maria asked quietly.
Connor was on his feet in a second. “Sean. His name’s Sean.”
“Would you like to hold him?” Maria asked.
Amanda looked to Connor.
“You do it. I’d probably drop him.” His eyes never left the swaddled infant.
“He’s so tiny.” Heart beating wildly, Amanda held out her arms. Maria settled the baby in them. With his scrunched up red face, he was the size of a loaf of bread. A tiny blue cap covered his head.
He was the most beautiful baby she’d ever seen.
“Pretty big, isn’t he?” Connor could not take his eyes off their new son.
“Oh, Connor. He’s just a tiny thing,” Amanda murmured softly.
“Eight pounds, four ounces. Healthy little boy.” McKenna beamed.
Amanda smiled as the baby fanned one hand into the air. “Hey, little guy.” When she nudged one forefinger in his direction, the baby’s fingers closed around it. He opened his eyes and frowned up at her. “Hi, beautiful boy.”
The frown dissolved. She could swear those shell-like lips tilted. “Oh, Connor. Would you just look at him?”
Blinking furiously, Connor crouched next to her. “He’s really something, isn’t he?”
Even McKenna looked mesmerized and she saw a lot of babies. “Lucky little guy to have you two for parents.”
“Sean Connor Kirkpatrick,” Amanda whispered. “We waited for you so long.”
CHAPTER 7
The Kirkpatrick house was filled with Christmas music and conversation when Connor and Amanda arrived Christmas Day. As usual, they were late but this time they had a reason. Bundling Sean into his pumpkin seat had not been easy. This was all so new.
“Are you sure you should be taking that new baby out?” her mother fretted.
“Connor is warming up the car. Sean should be fine.” Amanda tried to feel as confident as she sounded. After all, she’d checked with Janie, her sister-in-law.
“Babies are resilient,” Jane had told Amanda. “We took James out when he was two days old to buy a swing. He slept all the way to the store and back.”
So off they went on Christmas Day. The snow had stopped, and sunlight glistened on heaps of snow as they drove toward Connor’s parents’ house, Donna and Bill following close behind.
Maureen met them at the door. “Merry Christmas! Donna and Bill, so good to see you. Connor, after I get a close look at my new grandson, you just take him right into the living room where it’s warm.”
Amanda’s mom handed Maureen a fruitcake she’d made the day before. The two women bustled off toward the kitchen once Maureen had given her new grandson close scrutiny and a smile of approval.
Connor hung up his jacket and her coat. Then they edged into the group, Connor holding the pumpkin seat. “Make way! Baby’s coming.”
Amanda followed close on his heels. Sure, she was fussing but she couldn’t help it. Once Connor had Sean secure on the sofa, pumpkin seat under the crook of his arm, she removed the baby’s soft blue traveling suit, a gift from Harper. Everyone took turns getting acquainted with the new member of the family. Connor supervised and Amanda smiled at his rules. No touching the baby and no breathing too close.
The children gave Sean a quick look and disappeared downstairs. Babies were nothing new in this family. Their parents, however, took their time admiring the new addition. The only thing Sean seemed interested in was the bright tree lights. Before long his delicate eyelids flagged. He gave in to sleep, tiny lips moving in a sucking motion.
“You look exhausted,” McKenna told Amanda, getting her in a corner for a tight hug.
