by Bec Botefuhr
“It’s….a boy.”
“Put your finger in his mouth,” Nate croaks, tears thunder down his cheeks also, “And make sure nothing is blocking the throat. Wipe his eyes, nose and mouth and just wrap him. They are two minutes away.”
He hangs up the phone and we watch as Ryder wraps the tiny dark haired bundle and hands him to me. He is so small and his little fingers clasp mine. Ryder slides beside me and his eyes are red and puffy. Nate strokes my hair, and we all reach out to touch the little boy’s hair.
“Oh, he’s beautiful.” Ryder croaks.
“Well done bud, you delivered your own baby.” Nate whispers.
“We all did it, together,” I whisper, pressing the little baby to my chest, “He’s perfect.”
“He is beyond perfect, he is us,” Ryder whispers and we all nestle together and peer down at the beautiful creation we made.
~*~*~*~
“Give me that beautiful baby,” Nate smiles, pulling little Josh out of my arms.
We came home two days ago, and we decided to name the baby Josh in memory of Ryder’s Grandfather and NOT his Father, or so he says. Our little boy is truly gorgeous, with dark locks of hair and creamy skin. Ryder dotes over him, helping me get out of bed at night to feed. We are happy. Everything is as it should be.
“I love him!” Sandy coos, leaning over Nate’s shoulder.
“He’s mine!” My Mother cries, knitting a pair of booties.
Mark hugs me close, “Well, I will claim you considering they are all in love with my stunning little nephew.”
“Thanks, you are loyal big brother.”
He laughs. I call him big brother because he was born two minutes before me. He doesn’t let me forget it either.
“Well done beautiful, he is gorgeous,” my Father smiles.
“Thanks dad, let’s hope he’s a good boy.”
“He will be, he is like Uncle Nate.” Nate grins, bouncing Josh in his arms.
“Oh, Lord help us,” I laugh.
“You have to come and visit every day, promise me,” My Mother smiles, taking the baby from Nate’s hands.
“Aw, Grandma is a hog!” he groans.
I laugh and shake my head, curling myself into Ryder’s side. He hugs me close and we smile at our family. Old and new, they are all here just as they should be and for the first time in a long time, everything is truly perfect.
EPILOGUE
MAYA
“She loves him,” I smile to Nate, as we watch Jazzy rock Josh on the couch.
“She is a natural, unlike her Mother.”
“Well, how can she not be when she has you as a Father?”
He grins and hugs me close; we turn and walk outside to find Ryder sitting on the patio. We both sit beside him, with me squished in the middle, just as it should be.
“Who knew we would be here?” Ryder asks, taking my hand.
“Yeah, who knew?” Nate responds, taking the other.
“I never thought I would end up so happy with you two, but who knew you would change that?”
They both laugh, “We go alright.”
“We have been through a lot you know, and here we are.”
Nate smiles down at me, “Bubba, you keep us strong.”
“Don’t start your soppy shit Nate,” Ryder snorts.
“Aw come on, say something nice, you know you want to.”
Ryder laughs and wraps an arm around me. “She knows how much I fucking love her.”
“Oh yeah?” I smile, “Maybe you need to tell me again.”
“I fucking love you, my little sandwich.”
I shove him hard and laugh, “You haven’t called me that for a long time.”
“You are too good to be a sandwich now; you’re more like a gourmet roll.”
Nate roars with laughter and also wraps an arm around me. “He’s a charmer.”
I smile and snuggle into them. These two men are my glue, though they will swear that I am theirs. We all stare out at the sunset, and I know we are all happy. How can we not be? Everything is perfect. We have the kind of friendship that goes beyond normal expectations, we complete each other. Each and every one of us has a place in each other’s lives and that’s just how it will stay, forever.
“I love you guys,” I whisper.
They both respond at the same time, “Yeah, well, right back at ya.”
THE END!