Page 25 of Pumpkin Patch Cutie

“It’s ok. I managed to doze through the contractions thanks to the epidural.”

I smiled. “At least you got some sleep.”

He nodded. “The nurse just said that they’re going to move me to a delivery room. Apparently I’m entering the second stage of labor.”

“That means any time now, right?”

He laughed. “Right.”

I helped him go to the bathroom one more time before the nurses came in to take him to a delivery room. Then everything seemed to happen fast. It seemed like only a few minutes before the doctor was telling him to push.

Scott screamed through the pain, and for a moment I was so focused on him that I didn’t notice when he relaxed.

Then a new voice made itself heard, and my heart burst.

Our baby.

“Congratulations!” the doctor declared. “It’s a girl.”

Scott burst into tears, and for a moment I was worried. Then he held his arms out, and I knew he was crying from pure joy.

A nurse set our baby on Scott’s chest, and I realized I was crying as well.

This beautiful man and our baby girl, this time last year I hadn’t even known he existed. Now we were a family.

“What’s her name?” asked the nurse.

Scott and I shared a tearful glance, then he turned to her. “Abigail. Abigail Jane.”

“Named after somebody important?”

We both nodded. “Great grandmothers,” I replied.

“I bet she’ll make them proud,” the nurse replied. Then she turned to me. “Head down and help cut the cord, then we’ll clean and weigh this little one.”

I knew my grin was goofy as I cut the cord, and even as we were escorted back to Scott’s room, but I couldn’t help it. I was deliriously happy.

We savored the relative silence of the night as Scott fed Abigail for the first time. But soon the late hour caught up with him, and he fell asleep with her still on his chest.

I noticed that Abigail had fallen asleep as well and moved her to her bassinet. A nurse would be by soon enough to take her to the nursery, but I was going to enjoy those few minutes of us all together until that happened.

My mate and our baby. Was there anything more an alpha could ask for?

I smiled. I’d returned to Valle Granja to help family and others, and had found my own family in the process. Whatever happened in the future, this moment would always be perfect to me.