by Livia Grant
"You bet you are. Finding you and your daddy was the best thing that ever happened to me, Andrea."
Time passed in a blur for Calista as she was rushed into an ER examination room before quickly being transferred up to the maternity ward after the nurse's examination discovered she was already at 9 cm and moving quickly through labor. Apparently it was true that second births progress much quicker than the first.
Cali fought hard to hold back from screaming as the burning pain consumed her. Not one part of her body was left out of the party. The strain of the baby pressing to evacuate her womb was intense. She wanted to push so bad, but the nurses were all cautioning her to hold off until the doctor arrived.
Nick and Andrea sat next to her, each holding her hand. Nick swished a cold washcloth across her forehead, the look of worry etched on his handsome face. Surprisingly, Andrea appeared calmer as the birth approached. She watched the OB nurses carefully, taking in the excitement of the event.
Dr. Galloway arrived just as the urge to push wouldn't be denied. Cali held her breath as she propped herself to her elbows to bear down. The elderly doctor calmly examined Calista with a broad smile on his face.
"Well, I see that the Mikos family is about to have its newest member join them. This little one is just about to make their appearance." He looked up at Andrea with a kind smile. "Are you ready to be a big sister, young lady?"
"Yes, sir." Her voice was surprisingly strong.
"Well, I think it's great you are here to greet your brother or sister. I'm sure you're going to be a big help to your mom and dad when the baby goes home, won't you?"
"Yes, sir. I already helped decorate the nursery."
Calista's heart pounded. The exchange temporarily distracted her from the all-consuming pain.
When Nick's phone dinged with a text from Katie's parents that they were there to pick up Andi, his eyes locked with Cali's. They silently communicated before she saw him respond back quickly. The decision was made. Andi was staying with them for the delivery.
Nick got up on the bed behind Cali, taking her in his arms and propping her body up so she was supported as she pushed. He held her hands so she could squeeze when the pain got too intense. They gave Andi the job of wiping Cali's forehead with the cool compress between pushing.
Nick's loving words whispered into her ear helped her stay calm when the pain threatened to overwhelm her. "I love you so much, baby. You're doing so great. I'm so proud of you."
Fifteen long minutes later, Calista was exhausted and desperate for a rest that wasn't coming. The consuming pain never subsided and she found herself begging.
"Please Dr. Galloway. I give up. I need drugs. I can't do this anymore."
"I'm sorry, Cali, but it's way too late for an epidural. Your baby's head has crowned and in just a few minutes, you're going to hold him or her in your arms. Let's give it a big push now."
Cali took strength from Nick and Andi holding her up, encouraging her with loving words and she pushed until she was completely out of breath. And then it happened. She felt her baby slipping from her body as if a dam had broken. The intense pressure was gone leaving a full-body ache that was forgotten as soon as the healthy baby's cry filled the room.
The doctor beamed as he announced, "It's a boy! Cali and Nick, you have a son. And you, young lady, have a brother."
There was a flurry of activity as the nurses rushed to take care of the newest addition to the Mikos family. Nick reached up to cut the umbilical cord and within minutes, a baby swaddled in a baby-blue blanket was placed in Cali's waiting arms. She held him in one arm and put her arm around Nick who was moving in close with Andi for their first look at the baby.
Love flowed through Cali as she gazed down at the newborn in her arms. His shock of black hair contrasted with the splotchy pinkness of his skin. As his family looked down at him in awe, he opened his eyes and seemed to look directly into Cali's soul. He was perfect.
Nick's voice warbled with emotion as he welcomed his son. "Welcome to our family, Alexander Nicholas. We've been anxious to meet you."
As if he had understood his father's words, the baby looked at his sister and broke into a smile.
"Look Mommy! Alexander smiled at me!"
Nick leaned into kiss Cali's forehead. "I love you so much, Calista. Thank you so much for bringing these two perfect babies into my life."
As she looked up at her family, Cali once again felt a peace she had only known for the last year. She looked lovingly into her husband's eyes as she answered, "Don't thank me. Thank God. He's the only one who could have made this moment happen. We are truly blessed."
The End
Acknowledgment:
Thank you for taking the time to read Blessed Betrayal. The best part of being an author is hearing from my readers. I’d be so grateful if you’d take the time to either leave a review or drop me a line with your thoughts. Happy reading!
About The Author
Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons... one a teenager, the other a furry rescue dog named Max. She is blessed to have traveled extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia started writing when she felt like she finally had the life experience to write a riveting story that she hopes her readers won't be able to put down. Livia's fans appreciate her deep character driven plots, often rooted in an ensemble cast where the friendships are as important as the romance... well, almost. She writes one hell of an erotic romance.
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Other Books by Livia Grant:
The Passion Series, BDSM Romance
Wanting it All
Securing it All
Having it All
Protecting it All (coming soon)
Corbin’s Bend Series
Life’s Unexpected Gifts
Psychology of Submission
Anthologies
Twist
