River is at my side, holding my hand while they prep me for delivery. And everything happens so fast, much faster than it did with Sadie.
River brings my hand to his lips for a kiss. “I’m a nervous wreck.”
“Almost over.”
River leans down and kisses my face. “I love you so much, baby.”
“Love you too.”
The next few moments are an agonizing blur. Until I hear our baby’s first cry. It’s music to my ears.
My doctor turns our baby around, and River and I say it simultaneously. “A boy.”
River leans down and kisses the top of my head. “I can’t believe that our baby is here, Leigh. Thank you so much for giving me a son.”
Cooper Hayes Winfrey is placed on my chest and tucked inside my gown so that we’re skin to skin. His mouth forms an O, and he presses it to the skin on my chest, lightly sucking. I can already tell that he’s going to be a good breast baby.
River lowers his face to our son’s. “Cooper, you and your sister are blessed to have the best mother in the world. You have no idea how loved and adored you will be.”
River, Scarlett, and I were once mistaken for a happy little family. And I liked to pretend that we were. But now there’s no more mistaking it or pretending.
We are a happy little family.