“One more push, Mae,” Dr. Steven encouraged. “You’re doing great.”
Merit supported her from behind, bracing her back against his chest as she death-gripped his hands each time the doctor directed her to bear down. He’d thought she was amazing before this, but watching her give birth to their child put her up at goddess level.
My goddess.
She squeezed his hands hard with the final push, and seconds later, a tiny wail split the air. Relief flooded through him at the sound, and Mae sagged against him with a half-sob, half-laugh. The doctor rose up to place the baby on her chest.
Merit stared in amazement at their teeny human, face all red and kinda slimy as it screamed its little lungs out. In the surreal moment, his throat clogged, words deserting him as instant love flooded his chest.
“We’re going to have Dad cut the cord, and then we have to get your little boy here on oxygen in the NICU so we can get him checked out.”
The word boy took a second to register.
“Oh, Merit, look at him,” Mae choked out as she cuddled their son against her bare skin.
He turned his head to press a kiss to her damp cheek without taking his gaze off the baby. “He’s perfect. You did great.”
A hand tugged on his arm. “Sorry to rush you, but we need you over here, Dad.”
Merit followed the nurse’s urging to stand by the bed and took what looked like scissors from her hand. After she clamped near the baby’s belly, he cut as directed, and then stepped back when more people in scrubs crowded him out of the way.
“Do you have a name for this little guy?” The question came from the nurse transferring the baby from Mae’s chest to a rolling crib with clear plastic sides. The crib was immediately surrounded by people.
Unable to keep sight of the baby, he turned his gaze to Mae’s, eyebrows raised.
“Maverick Matthew Diamond,” she stated.
He was surprised by a sting of tears even as he grinned at her. Ian had suggested Maverick a couple of weeks ago because he said it was a cool name like Merit’s. He’d loved it and loved that Mae did, too. His own middle name wasn’t something they’d discussed, but he loved that she wanted to use it.
As Maverick was wheeled from the room, the nurse turned to Merit. “Doctor has to finish up with Mae, but you can come with us if you want?”
He looked askance at Mae. She nodded and waved him to go along. “Yes. Go. Stay with him.”
First, he hurried over to the bed and cupped her face for a kiss. Then he leaned his forehead against hers. “I love you. Thank you. For saying yes, for our little boy, for…everything.”
It was a little after midnight when Merit left Mae’s postpartum room and headed out to the waiting area. Honor was napping on Asher’s shoulder, and he was surprised to see Bryce in the midst of all his family, with Ian asleep in the chair next to him. Apparently, Mae’s brother listened as well as she did.
When he caught his father’s gaze, his dad stiffened and reached out a hand to his mom. They immediately drew the attention of the rest of the family, and Merit couldn’t contain a wide grin as he approached. Asher nudged Honor, and Merit waited for Bryce to shake Ian awake before he announced, “Mae and Maverick Matthew Diamond are both doing well.”
He’d planned to say his fiancé, but with Ian there, he realized they needed to tell him first. Together.
Amidst a mixed chorus of “Oh, it’s a boy!” and, “Congratulations,” Ian jumped up and ran toward him.
“You used my name!”
Merit scooped him up into his arms for a tight hug. “Sure did. It’s a good name.”
“Give us the details,” his mom demanded. “When can we see them?”
“Mae’s sleeping right now, and Maverick will be in the NICU on oxygen for a couple of days until his lungs develop more.”
“But he’s okay?” Honor asked with concern, her hand on her own belly. After what he and Mae had just gone through, he understood the anxiety in both her and his brother’s expressions.
“They assure me he’s good.”
“How big is he?” Ian asked.
Merit set him back on his feet and showed him with his hands spread so far apart. “He is almost eighteen inches long, and weighs five pounds, one ounce. They’re happy with his size for how early he is and said it’s a good sign.” He looked back at his mom as he added, “Only Mae and I are allowed to see him for the moment, so you’ll have to be patient, Grandma. Maybe tomorrow.”
She grinned, a sheen of tears brightening her brown eyes as she moved in to hug him. “I’ll do my best. Congratulations, hon. I’m so happy for you both.”
That started a round of hugs from everyone, and as the excitement settled down, his dad pulled him aside. “It’s been quite the night for you.”
“You could say that,” he agreed with a wry smile. It had been life changing—and now exhaustion had begun to creep in.
“I want you to know I’m reinstating your trust fund tomorrow.”
Surprise dipped his brow. “Why?”
“So you have it if you need it.”
He left it at that, and Merit was thankful. The doctors were cautiously optimistic, and he didn’t intend to go down any scary rabbit holes. “Thanks, Dad.”
“And anyways, I can see you’ve become the man I always knew you could be.”
His dad’s gruff voice triggered a lump in his own throat. “Is this where you say I told you so?” he teased.
“That wasn’t the point of any of it.”
No, he supposed it wasn’t.
“Are you happy with where you are now compared to six months ago? Are you proud of the man you are?”
He gave a solemn nod, head held high. “I am.”
“Good. That’s all your mother and I wanted.”
He shot a glance toward his mom as she sat listening to Ian chatter on. “You never mentioned mom in all this.”
His dad shrugged.
“You took all the blame.”
“That’s what a man does,” his dad said quietly. “That’s what a father does.”
Merit nodded. He got it now. Stepping forward, he pulled him into a tight hug as emotion choked his throat. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mooch.”
The nickname surprised a laugh as they broke apart. When his dad lightly patted his face, he was shocked to see tears in his eyes.
“I am proud of you, Merit. I always have been. I’m sorry I didn’t show it sooner.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t do more to earn it sooner.”
They shared an awkward smile, and then a nurse interrupted to let him know Mae was awake and asking for him so they could go see the baby together.
“Can I go, too?” Ian asked.
“In the morning, bud.” He glanced up at Bryce. “Are you good to bring him back tomorrow?”
“Definitely. Just name the time.”
Wednesday a little after nine-thirty a.m., Merit stood beside Mae as she hugged Ian with his back to her chest while they watched Maverick through the glass.
“He’s so little,” Ian said in awe.
“He’ll grow, Scoob. Just like you did.”
“How big was I?”
“Six pounds, five ounces. I’m getting used to you little guys.”
“He looks funny.”
“So did you,” she teased. “Like a wrinkly little alien.”
He giggle-snorted. “I did not look like an alien.”
Merit smiled as Mae shot him a grin. Then she dipped down to rest her chin on Ian’s head. “Hey, Merit and I wanted to tell you something.”
“What?”
Merit’s pulse skipped as she said to Ian, “He asked me to marry him, and I said yes. That means the four of us will be a family together. You okay with that?”
He spun around, eyes wide as he looked from Merit to his mom. “Really?” Mae nodded, and Ian suddenly fixed a very serious gaze on Merit. “Does that mean you’ll be my dad, too?”
His breath hitched at the direct question. Mae found and squeezed his hand as he gave Ian a hopeful smile. “If you want me to, yes, I would love to be your dad.”
Ian launched himself forward, and Merit caught him mid-leap. As the boy’s skinny arms wrapped tight around him and he buried his face in his neck, Merit reached blindly to draw Mae into the wet, messy embrace.
He ignored the nurses moving around them, didn’t care one bit if any of them saw him crying. He was proud of his family and the love he had for each and every one of them.