“Morning sickness sucks.” I went to pull my hand away, but Cameron caught it.
“A baby? We’re having... a baby?” He swallowed, an awestruck expression falling over him.
It was too much, and tears sprang from my eyes as I nodded.
“I’m sorry.” He dropped to his knees, moving between my legs. “I’m so fucking sorry. I should have been here. I should have been here with you.”
“No.” I brushed the hair from his eyes. “You needed to be with your family. I understand—”
“You’re my family too, Hailee. I should never have pushed you away. I’m so sorry. She knew, my mom knew... how is that even possible?”
I didn’t know, but I would be forever thankful to her.
“Maybe she just wants to make sure you’re happy before she...”
Sadness washed over us both. “She said the same thing.” Cameron curved his hand around the nape of my neck and touched his head to mine. “Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
“I guess we have a lot to talk about,” he said. “But first, I’d really like to kiss you.”
I stared down at him, fighting a smile as I said, “What are you waiting for?”
Cameron
Six months later...
* * *
“I don’t want to,” Hailee cried, pain filling her voice.
I squeezed her hand. “Just another big push, and he’ll be here.”
My son.
I was having a son.
To say the last six months had been a whirlwind was an understatement. After Mom had sent me to Michigan, Hailee and I started making plans for the future. We got to enjoy one last Christmas with my mom. It had been bittersweet, but we’d filled it with so much love and happiness and gifts, all the gifts, that it was hard to look back and be sad. Mom had gotten her wish. I was happy, Xander was doing better, and my son was about to make his grand entrance into the world.
“Okay, Hailee, he’s almost here. I need you to push again, okay?”
“Cam, I can’t do it.” She turned into me and I kissed her damp forehead.
“You’ve got this, Hailee. One more push.”
Her screams filled the room but then a different sound took over. A baby’s cries.
“He’s here,” I choked out. “He’s finally here.”
It had been hard losing Mom three months ago. We’d all hoped she would make it to see the baby, but in the end it wasn’t meant to be. I’d made a promise to her that he would know his Grandma Karen though. He would know of her love and strength and spirit.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as the nurses handed Hailee the bundle of blankets. “Oh God, Cam,” she croaked. “Look at him.”
I stroked a finger along his little face. “He’s perfect.”
“He really is.”
As I watched Hailee watch our son, I was hit with such a sense of pride and love, I felt sure I would combust.