Page 82 of My Scarred Laird

ISLAY

Her stomach grew daily. Round, full and as her baby kicked, it made her smile.

Callum loved feeling the movements and each night as they lay in bed, he would laugh, kiss her stomach and talking to their child.

He proudly told everyone he knew about their baby, and she smiled as she heard him talk about her being with child to yet another of his warriors, though everyone well knew.

She was walking the keep, knowing her date to deliver was just around the corner, when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach.

She cried out, clutching her stomach and leaning against the wall as the pain overtook her.

Lachlan was at her side in an instant and yelled for someone to find Callum.

Lachlan helped her to her room, stopping every so often as a wave of pain filled her.

Islay took deep breaths, knowing it was time and once she was in her bedchamber, she sent Lachlan to have water heated and for clean linens.

Roberta came bustling in moments later with the linens, and Lachlan was back with the water, then he left.

Callum came in moments later, covered in sweat, shirtless.

“Are ye all right?”

Islay smiled, “I am fine. Our babe wishes ta make an appearance today though.”

Callum’s jaw dropped, “Ye arena supposed to have it yet.”

She smiled, shrugging, “Bairns come when they choose,” a wave of pain overtook her and she sighed, “No’ when we want.”

He rushed over to her, “Wha’ can I do?”

“Help her out of her clothes and inta a nightgown. Then hold her. She will need help.”

He did as she asked, and Islay was cradled in his arms as her contractions grew closer over the next few hours.

She put her head on Callum’s shoulder and felt pressure down below, “I think it’s time.”

She got up in a different position and Callum held onto her as she started to push.

Within moments, a baby’s cry sounded through the room and Roberta crowed, “Oh, ‘tis a boy.”

Callum looked down at the babe, squalling in Roberta’s arms, and Islay watched as tears filled his eyes, “A son.”

Islay sucked in a breath, and he looked over at her, “He is beautiful.”

Roberta carefully cleaned up the baby, wrapped him in a blanket, and handed Callum the babe.

Callum carefully held the boy, looking at the dark hair that covered his small head and he looked over at her, “Ye did it. My love, ye did it.”

She smiled, and Roberta helped with the rest of the delivery while Callum held the baby.

Once Roberta was gone, Callum handed the baby over to Islay, who started to root around, and Islay helped him to latch onto a nipple, gasping at how hard he suckled.

Callum chuckled, “He is my son.”

Islay smiled up at him, then looked back at the small face. He looked like his father, with the same dark hair.

“Wha’ will we name him?”