Attainment (The Temptation Series) by K.M. Golland Page B

the
fucking parcel’, I start to get highly irritated, but it’s not until he is
passed to Rick, that I can no longer hold back and bite my tongue.
    Seeing Brayden in that fucker’s arms makes me feel
murderous, bordering on fucking insane, and feeling that at any moment my head
will spin around on my shoulders—exorcist style—I finally put an end to all the
show and tell.
    “Okay,” I voice after a minute or two of Brayden being in
Rick’s arms—a minute or two too fucking long. “I think Mum and baby need a
rest. It’s been a long day. You are all more than welcome to go back to the
hotel and stay. Abigail will make sure you are well looked after.”
     I gently pry Brayden from Rick’s arms and hold him close,
protecting him from any further man-handling. He yawns and starts searching for
his food source.
    “He’s due for a feed anyway,” Alexis announces.
    “And his first bath,” a midwife adds, as she enters the
room. “Visiting hours are about to close.”
    Straightaway, I like this midwife. This midwife deserves a
raise, or a promotion, or an employee of the month award. In fact, I make a
mental note to look into offering a personal recommendation for that particular
reward.
    “You heard her,” I speak up. “Out!”
    “But Mum, I want to stay,” Charlotte whines.
    “I know Charli-bear, but you can’t. Dad will bring you back
tomorrow, won’t you Rick?” Alexis asks with a pleading look on her face.
    “Actually,” the midwife speaks up. “If Dr. Rainer is happy
with your recovery, there’s a good chance you’ll be allowed to go home
tomorrow.”
    “Really, so soon? Oh that would
be wonderful,” Alexis beams, an enormous smile plastering her face.
    Strapping a blood pressure cuff to Alexis’ arm, the midwife
continues. “I’m not sure that applies to Brayden though.”
    What? I decide this midwife needs a new career, fuck
her promotion and award.
    Before I can voice my objection to leaving my one-day-old baby
boy here alone, Alexis does it for me. “What? That is absurd. I am not leaving
my son here alone. That is not even an option. If he stays, I stay. If I go, he
goes. End of fucking story.”
    “Alexis! Language,” Maryann scolds.
    Jen nudges her mother out of the room. “Mum, stay out of
it.”
    “I’ll wait outside,” Rick adds. Good idea, you do that.
    “Ms. Blaxlo, I didn’t mean you would have to leave him. The
hospital has a hotel for mothers who are well enough not to need a hospital
bed. Because your son is four weeks premature, he will more than likely need
monitoring by a nurse. We need to be sure that he is feeding well and putting
on weight before he can go home with you. That being said, Dr. Rainer will have
to assess him again tomorrow before a final decision is made. ”
    “I don’t want to stay in the hospital hotel. I don’t even
want to be in a different room from him.” Alexis looks toward me with an
anxious expression on her face.
    “The hospital hotel is lovely and is only one building awa—“
    “That’s not necessary,” I interrupt.
    Noticing Alexis’ heightened distress, I step in to calm the
situation down. “Hunny, don’t worry. We are not leaving Brayden. I’ll sort
something out, I promise.”
    She nods and glares at the midwife who quickly prepares
Brayden’s bath and then leaves the room.
    ***
    Later that night as I lay propped up on my side, Alexis on
her side and Brayden fast asleep on the bed in between us, I couldn’t possibly
be happier. Well...I could, Alexis is yet to become my wife.
    “Shit! I almost forgot,” I proclaim, rolling off the bed and
reaching for the baby bag.
    Alexis straightens and cranes her neck. “What? What did you
forget?
    “Yours and Brayden’s presents,” I answer, holding the two
gifts behind my back.
    “Presents?”
    “Yes. It is Brayden’s birthday is it not.”
    “It is. So what did you get him?” Alexis asks, trying to
peek around my back.
    I reveal one arm and place the soft knitted