Page 141 of Rival Hearts

“I’m here, I’m here,” he said and planted a quick kiss on my lips. “What did I miss?”

“Right on time, Dad,” Doctor Rowe said.

The rest happened so fast. I was barely ready when the head was out. I had to breathe through the next contraction before Doctor Rowe ordered me to push one more time.

“This is it, Mama,” she said, and when I cried out, a tiny cry filled the room.

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and Alex kissed me.

“You did it, my sweetheart.”

“It’s a boy,” Doctor Rowe said with a smile and held up a pink baby, screaming at the world.

“Oh, my God.” Alex swayed on his feet. “A boy.”

A nurse wrapped the baby up in a blanket and handed him to me. I held onto the little boy, crying and gasping and grabbing. Alex reached for him, and the baby grabbed onto his finger and held on tight.

Alex looked like he was going to cry.

“We did it,” he whispered.

“We did,” I said with a smile. “He’s here and he’s perfect.” I looked up at Alex. “What are we going to name him?”

“Can we name him Thomas? After the father I want to be able to be. The man I’ve looked up to my whole life. Tommy, so we can tell them apart.”

“Tommy,” I said and smiled at the perfect little baby boy we’d just brought into the world. “Welcome, big guy.”

When everything was taken care of and Tommy and I were both cleaned up and dressed, the nurses pushed us into a large private room. It was already filled with bouquets of flowers, gifts, and balloons.

Alex waited for us there with the biggest grin on his face.

“They’re all here to meet him,” Alex said. “Are you ready for it?”

“I am. You can send them in.”

“Before they come in, there’s something I want to ask you.”

I looked at Alex, and he kneeled.

“Oh, God,” I gasped.

Alex took a ring out of his pocket. “When Maya called, I was at the jewelry store, buying you a ring. I love you, and I love our little family. I want to do this with you for the rest of our lives. I want a family with you, a future. You’re my everything. Will you marry me?”

My eyes welled with tears. Alex was such a perfect man, and he’d made me so happy. He was always at my side, always here for me no matter what, and I couldn’t think of a better husband to do the rest of forever with.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

Alex stood and kissed me before he took the ring out of the box.

It was stunning—a large diamond set in a ring with a cluster of smaller diamonds around it. He slipped it onto my finger, and it fit perfectly.

“Maya helped me,” Alex said with a grin.

“I can’t believe she knew and kept it a secret.” I laughed.

Alex kissed me again. “I’m going to let them in now.”

I nodded and smiled as he opened the door, and his family, Gabe, and Maya streamed in.