New Roots (Fate's Intent Book 8) (25 page)

Chapter 51

Zayden

I was anxious and nervous like a child but I wasn’t one; I was about to have one and it made all of the difference.

I went into my room and Adele was set up on the bed, taking heavy breaths. “What are you doing?”

“Sorry. I had to tell them.”

“Can you be excited after he comes out?”

“Okay, a good one on your next contraction and his head will be out.” Julianna said.

Adele nodded and got ready. She pushed with all the strength she could give and she gritted her teeth through the pain until she could finally relax.

“That was perfect.” Julianna said. “One more like that and he’ll be out. Zayden, would you like to catch him?”

My eyes widened just a little to the thought that people actually do that and I looked at Adele next to me with it clearly concerning me if I should.

“You don’t have to.”

“Oh, no. Of course not. It’s up to you. Troy did it but you don’t have to.”

Troy did? Sigh. I got up from where I was sitting and started to move down. “No. It’s okay. I want to. I think.”

“Really, Zayden. If it’s too uncomfortable, you can refuse.”

“No. If Troy could do it, so can I.” I rounded the end of the bed and I was completely unprepared for what I was about to see. “Oh, my—” My knees buckled and I had to lean forward on the bed.

“What?” Adele asked with worry.

“That’s—that’s—disturbing.”

“She said you don’t have to so if you’re not going to, would you get out of the way so I can get this over with. You can’t imagine what this feels like.”

“No I cannot but I can do it. What do I do?”

Julianna moved over a bit and coached me through it. “All right. When she feels it, she’ll give you one big push and all you have to do is catch him when he comes out.”

“Catch him? So, he’s just going to shoot right out of there or something?”

“Or something.”

“Please just get ready.” Adele groaned. “I feel it coming now.”

She pushed harder than she ever has before and I had my hands ready and guided my son right out into them. It was so easy that I was glad I didn’t pass up on this and he let out his first cries. Julianna cut the cord and I took him in a towel, wiping his face gently.

“How is he?” Adele asked in a tired voice.

“He’s perfect. Let me just get him cleaned up.”

I walked back towards the tub of water brought in while Julianna tended to Adele. I cleaned up my son and was just completely marveled to finally see him. He was becoming more relaxed when I wrapped him in a clean warm towel and I took him over to his mother.

She looked over, trying to keep her eyes open and held out her arms. “Let me hold him.” I lowered him down into her arms with a nod and Adele got her first look at him. “Oh, Zayden, look.”

“I know.” I smiled, kissing her head. “Isn’t he just how you imagined?”

Adele looked up at me with a quick smile. “Just like you. I’m falling in love all over again.”

“Me too, Love. Me too.”

I sat with her as she leaned her head on me and we shared in this moment together. Seth started to get fussy in her arms and she turned her attention completely to him. “Shh! It’s all right, baby. Bet you’re getting hungry, aren’t you?”

He continued to cry and I smiled. “I think that’s a yes.”

“Okay.” Adele moved him completely to her right arm and opened the front of her shirt with me still sitting by and she presented her right nipple to Seth for the first time. He had no problem latching on and became calm as he started to suckle.

“There. Better? Of course it is.”

“You’re a natural, you know.”

“Well, this is what they’re really made for.”

I laughed and rubbed my son’s head while he was feeding. “They have benefits for me too. It’s just different when I see it this way. A different kind of beauty.”

“Well, I hope you get used to it.”

“I’m sure I will.”

Adele smiled and leaned her head back on the pillows behind her with a relaxing breath. “I could fall asleep like this.”

“In time, Love. I do want you to be well rested after what you went through.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve been wanting to get it over with so we can get back home.”

“You in that much of a rush? He just came out.”

“I know but I miss being home. We only planned to be gone for a couple days and that turned into months. Imagine all of the rotten food and dust that’s gathered. We’ll have a lot of work to do to make it livable for the boys.”

“Well, I thought we could stay just a bit longer. You know, now that Seth is here, we could have your father come visit then go home after. It’s better than having to make the trip to Dorlin to see him. I’m sure Aleksander will be happy to come here.”

“All right. Then we’ll stay. I don’t want to wear you out to make that trip.”

“Are you regretting our future plans already?”

She laughed. “No. I just don’t want you to feel too tired to do anything. We have a son now. It changes everything.”

“It does but it’s the way things are supposed to be.”

Adele smiled and brought her free hand to mine, holding it tight as we both looked down at our beautiful newborn son.

“Let me see!” My father bursts through the door, eagerness obvious and set his gaze at the child.

“Father. He’s perfect.”

My father sat on the other side of Adele and gently touched my son’s golden hair. “Seth. Nothing else compares to the joys he’ll bring to your life. I’m proud of both of you but your journey is not over. A greater one is just beginning.”

For once I’ll listen to his insight because he was right. Seth was finally in our life and nothing was going to change that future. There was still much to do.

Coming Soon—

The Ninth Installment

Of The
Fate’s Intent
Series

Rising Sun