He smiled at me, overcome with emotion. “It’s a fucking miracle.”
“It’s so nice when baby’s first words heard include the f-word,” the doctor quipped with an amused smirk.
“Fuck…ah…crap…sorry.”
The nurse wrapped the baby up after the doctor cut the cord. “You have a beautiful baby boy,” she said, handing the baby to me.
“A boy.” I would have been happy with either, but I couldn’t deny wishing for a boy. I wanted one of each, at least. And I wanted to give Jude a boy. Not that he cared.
Jude moved in close to look down at our son. “He’s amazing. You’re amazing. God, April…”
I looked up at him. His gaze moved to mine and he leaned in to kiss me.
“Do you have a name yet?” the nurse asked.
“Maya, that’s our daughter,” Jude clarified. “She likes the name Albert.”
The nurse’s brows arched, but then as if she was catching herself, her expression morphed into simple curiosity. “That’s an interesting name.”
“It’s for Albert Einstein,” I explained. “He’s her favorite scientist.”
“She’s going to be a great scientist when she grows up. She’ll be awarded a Nobel Prize for sure,” Jude said with pride shining through for his daughter.
“She’s going to call him Bertie,” I said. I looked down at my son. “What do you think about that, huh? Bertie.”
An hour later, we’d been moved to a new room, and Bertie, now checked out and given a clean bill of health by the pediatrician, was back in my arms.
“Why don’t you hold him, Jude?”
Jude was fascinated by the baby, but so far hadn’t held him. “I don’t want to break him. He’s so tiny.”
“You won’t break him, honey.” I lifted the baby to him.
Jude looked uncertain, but he took the baby and cradled him close. I watched his face as awe and love filled it. His eyes watered.
He looked at me. “Thank you, April.” His voice was so low, almost like he was too overwhelmed to speak.
“For what?”
“For this. For Maya. For loving me. For giving me this incredible life.”
Now tears came to my eyes as his feelings wrapped around me, filled me with awe too.
“I love you,” I said.
He bent over and kissed me. “I love you, so much. So, so much.”
There was a knock on the door and August peeked in. “Can we come say hello?”
“Come in,” I called.
Maya bounded into the room, passing August. “Is the baby here?”
Jude sat down in the chair in the corner. “Come meet your brother.”
Maya stood next to him. She looked down at the bundle in Jude’s massive arms. “Hi baby.”
“His name is Albert,” I said to her.