Homecoming Day by Holly Jacobs Page A

anything happen to her or this baby.
    And though Laura had given up believing in that kind of surety, for now, it was comforting as she began to push.
    Laura had thought the contractions were bad, but this was a whole new level of pain. And yet, she forgot to be embarrassed that Seth was here. She simply pressed against him during the minuscule breaks and appreciated his strength.
    She didn’t worry about should-have-beens.
    About her future as a single mother.
    All she could do was concentrate on the next pain.
    The next push.
    The brief respite.
    Then the cycle starting again.
    Finally, the doctor said, “Don’t push, just breathe a moment.”
    She fought against her body’s need to push.
    Seth stroked her hair. He murmured things in her ear, telling her she was amazing, that she could do this, that he was here for her.
    His touch and his words helped.
    â€œOkay, Laura,” the doctor said, “we’re almost there. This next contraction—”
    She lost the doctor’s words as the next contraction hit and she pushed.
    And suddenly, the urge evaporated and there was a huge feeling of relief from the pressure.
    â€œIt’s a boy,” the doctor announced.
    â€œA boy?” She was trying to digest the fact that she had a son, when Seth hooted. “You did it, Laura. You were fantastic and you did it. You’ve got a boy. A son!”
    And as the nurse handed her a baby, the reality sank in. She had a son.
    Laura felt a rush of love like nothing she’d ever felt before. Her love for this tiny boy was so immense it overwhelmed her. Every doubt, every insecurity. All the pain. There was just her, leaning against Seth, holding her baby.
    He reached around her and gently touched the baby’s cheek with the back side of his index finger. “He’s beautiful, Laura.”
    For a moment, it was as if the three of them were the only people in the room. The doctor did whatever he was doing and the nurse helped, but it was all lost on Laura as she stared into her son’s eyes. He was awakeand not crying. He stared at her, as if he was as amazed at this turn of events as she was.
    â€œIt’s all right,” she crooned to him. And she knew with a bone-deep sense of surety, that it was. She immediately looked at Seth. He should have been in a room like this with his wife; she should have been here with Jay. And yet, here they were. Together they’d brought her son into the world. What could you say to a man who would do that?
    â€œThank you,” she finally managed, though it seemed inadequate.
    Seth seemed uncomfortable. “I should probably go and let the doctor finish…things.” He hurried out of the room, as if suddenly realizing where he was.
    Laura missed his steady presence and felt guilty that she did. She couldn’t afford to rely on Seth. She couldn’t rely on anyone. It was just her and the baby.
    She stared at her son. Nothing about his birth was the way she’d planned, but he was here now. He was hers. She wouldn’t let him down. He could rely on her, she silently promised the baby, and herself.
    After they’d cleaned her up and the baby, the doctor and nurse left, and Seth came back into the room.
    He walked over to her and she took his hand. “I know I said I could do this on my own, but I don’t think I could have. Thank you.”
    With his free hand, he smoothed a strand of hair from her cheek. “Laura, if I’ve learned nothing else tonight, I’ve learned that you can do anything. That was…” He was silent, as if searching for the right word. “Amazing. No, a miracle. I’ve heard them talk aboutthe miracle of childbirth, but I never understood it until tonight. Thank you for that.”
    She felt suspiciously close to tears.
    â€œWould you like to hold him?”
    Â 
    B EFORE HE COULD SAY NO , Seth held the baby in his arms. He intended to hand him back right away, but the