Chapter 281

A cry breaks from my throat too as my eyes fly open and I see Gio reaching lifting up the little baby, and Gio – he’s smiling – his face rich with joy as he holds the little baby up and turns him a little – all red and mad – so that I can see. “Well done, Fay,” he murmurs as I stumble out a shaky little laugh and lean fully back against Kent, unable to tear my eyes away from the baby. “You did beautifully.”

“Give me my baby -” I say, my voice at once somehow breathy and demanding as I lean forward, reaching for it –

“A moment,” Kent whispers in my ear, wrapping an arm around me and holding me warm against him, “let them check him out for a second -”

“Him?” I gasp, looking up at Kent in sudden shock and surprise. “It’s a -”

“A boy,” Kent says, beaming down at me, and I laugh again. “A little boy, Fay -”

“Oh…” I sigh, completely undone by the knowledge of it – a little boy, I have a little boy now, a son…