Page 47 of Healing Hazel

I nodded and felt a peace settle over me. “Yes, she’ll tell us herself.”

Over the next hour, the Ranch’s residents descended on the hospital to fill the waiting room to overflowing. And they didn’t arrive without gifts. Not those for the baby or the new parents, but for the staff who didn’t get to spend their Thanksgiving with their own families. To say the staff was surprised was an understatement. As every flat surface was covered with casseroles and desserts, eyes widened and mouths dropped open.

The moment the double doors pushed open, every head turned to see not one, not two, but three doctors walking side by side. Words weren’t necessary as the smiles on the faces of the trio spoke loud and clear. I promptly burst into tears.

“Hey, don’t cry,” Wes said, stepping forward to hug me close. “Both Mira and our son are fine!”

I was rather surprised when the hospital’s roof wasn’t blown off by the cheer that went up.

“A son? You had a boy!”

“Well, Mira, did, but yes. A healthy boy, thanks to Nigel.”

“No, thanks to Mira,” Nigel instantly corrected. “That woman is one tough momma bear.”

An hour later, I was holding Mira’s son as she beamed up at me. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

“The most beautiful baby ever,” I agreed, already in love with what was really a miracle.

“Nigel, I can’t ever thank you enough for everything,” Mira said.

“You thanked me by proving that you were as tough as I knew you were,” Nigel said, smiling as the baby clung to his finger. “Seeing you and this little guy are all the thanks I’ll ever need.”

“Seriously, Nigel, I owe you thanks as well,” Wes said from where he stood beside Mira’s bed, his hand never ceasing to touch her hair, her shoulder, her hand as if needing to reassure himself that she was actually still with us.

Nigel looked over at me and smiled. “I’d say we’re even seeing as how you helped my Zellie fight as well.”

Another thought popped into my head. “I know his birthday is a little earlier than expected, but have you decided on a name?”

“We have,” Mira said with a smile. “I wanted to call him Nigel?—”

“No!” Nigel said, his surprise obvious.

“Exactly what I said,” Wes said. “You’d not expect us to call him Nigel just because you had a hand in it?—”

When Nigel barked out a laugh and I gasped, Wes looked surprised and then he rolled his eyes. “I’d worry that you’d spend the next fifty years reminding me of how idiotic that was except for one thing.”

“What’s that?” Nigel asked.

The baby let out a little whimper and Mira instantly reached for him. After I’d placed her son into her arms, she laid him on her breast and stroked his cheek. “What Wes is saying is that while we plan on calling him Danny, once he’s older he might want to be called Daniel or even perhaps go by his middle name.”

“Which is?” I asked.

Wes grinned. “We named him after the man we hope will agree to be his godfather. What do you say, Nigel?”

“I say whoever that is should feel very honored.”

“Glad you think so,” Wes said, his lip quirking, “since that someone is you.”

“And Hazel, we’d love it if you’ll be his godmother,” Mira said.

I felt tears well and Nigel looked stunned as Wes said, “Meet your godson, Daniel Nigel Lake, and know that every day of our lives we will be thankful you were both there when we needed you the most.’ We hope that if something happens to us, you will be willing to protect Daniel with your lives and love him as your own. Will you do us that honor?”

Nigel’s eyes met mine and as one, we chorused, “Yes, forever and always, yes.”

The End