Miss Chloe Amanda Sullivan came into this world eight hours later. By that time, I’d had my face sutured, bandaged, examined by three doctors and a midwife, and given a clean bill of health and taken up to the maternity ward. Dalton was there the whole time encouraging me, helping me breathe through the contractions and generally being a pain.

But I appreciated his effort more than he’ll ever know.

As Chloe came out with a loud squawk, we waited to see if we had a girl or boy. Dalton was completely wrong about having a boy, and wrong about God not filling his house with females. He didn’t show any sign of disappointment though and I’m proud of him for that. He held his daughter in his arms and I saw tears in his eyes as he studied her frowning, wrinkled little face. She keeps opening her eyes when he speaks to her, as though recognizing his voice. The look of amazement in his eyes amuses me as I watch them together. Eventually he passes her over to me to hold.

I gaze upon my daughter as she reaches out a hand and wraps it around my finger. I lower my gown and attach her to my breast to feed. Instantly she connects and suckles noisily.

I look up to Dalton and his eyes are teary again. “There’s no better sight in this world than a mother feeding her baby.”

“Look at her Dalton. She’s beautiful” I say in wonder, brushing my hand over her head of dark hair.

“She takes after her mumma.” He says, leaning across to kiss my forehead.

“I didn’t realize it would be this instant. This overwhelming love. I thought it might take a while. I can’t believe she’s finally here.”

“Me neither. This wasn’t exactly the way it went in my head though.”

‘Really? How did it go?” I ask as we both lower our gaze to watch her.

“Something like – you waking me in the middle of the night. A mad dash to mum and dad’s and then to the hospital. A long labour and a son at the end to show for it.”

Smiling up at him I cup his face with my palm. “Sorry Hun. But you know that the male is responsible for the sex of the baby, don’t you? Technically this is your fault.”

Looking up at me earnestly, he says, “I’m not disappointed at all. She’s healthy and you’re fine. That’s the most important things to me. I don’t really care she’s not a boy. But I can assure you the next one will be. We have to even up the playing field at home.” He finishes with a wide grin.

“I don’t know about a next one! Geez, let me recover from this one first!” I say with a laugh, the pain still fresh in my mind.

“One year. I give you one year and then we’ll be back here again. Chloe needs a baby brother, don’t you baby girl?” he coos to her.

I shake my head at him with a smile. If he thinks I’m going to be back here in a year, he has another thing coming.

“Oh shit. I’d better go and let the folks know. They’re all waiting outside to meet their youngest grandchild. Milly’s with them. Do you want me to bring her in first?”

I nod as he gets up to leave and I slip my breast from her mouth, now that she’s sleeping. Covering myself quickly I hear Milly squeal with delight. He must have told her she has a baby sister. She comes racing in and climbs up on the bed quickly.

Pulling down her swaddling cloth gently she looks at her in amazement. “Is she really my sister? What’s her name?”

“Chloe. Do you like that name?”

She nods as she looks back down at her baby sister, watching the expressions crossing her face. “How old is she?”

Dalton answers for me. “About half an hour. She’s brand new. What do you think Mill? Shall we keep her?”

“Daddy.” She replies rolling her eyes at him. “You can’t give her back ‘cause the stork already left!” As though he should already know this information.

He looks at me for help and I lower my gaze with a grin, silently telling him he’s on his own.

“Mummy, can I get the Nana’s to come see her now? Can I hold her then?” she asks excitedly as she runs out the door without waiting for a reply.

Tears fall on to Chloe’s face as I realize that she called me Mummy. I raise my teary eyes to look at Dalton who runs his hand down my face with an understanding smile.

“She’s right. You are her mum.” He says quietly.

“Dalton?” I say softly.

“Yeah Babe?” he answers with a frown.

“I love you” I tell him, leaning over to kiss him deeply.

“Back at ya Babe” he says with a grin.

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