Step-Santa - A Stepbrother Forbidden Romance

“Everything ok?” Kane asks.

I nod. “Yeah,” but before I can say anything more, another cramp comes on even stronger. “Actually, I think I’m in labor.”

Kane springs from the couch, grabbing the bag by the door. “We need to get a move on. I’ve clocked a few different routes to the hospital and at this time of day,” he checks his watch, “I think our best bet is down Main Street.

I haven’t even gotten off the sectional before Kane is already out the door. “Umm,” I say, even though I know he can’t hear me.

He rushes back inside. “I almost forgot the most important thing,” he says, helping me off the sofa.

I huff through the next contraction, trying to take a step while my uterus contracts.

Kane helps me to his truck, and as he rounds the vehicle and hops into the driver’s side, I can see the excitement in his eyes.

Sure, he’s excited. I’m terrified.

How badly will this hurt?

What if something happens? I breathe through my next contraction like the Lamaze coach told me, and stare at Kane as he pulls out of our complex.

“I’m scared,” I tell him.

He smiles, clutching my hand in his. “Don’t be. I’ll be there every step of the way. I won’t leave you.”

If I could smile right now, I’d smile back at him, but an extreme pain shoots across my abdomen. “Get me to the hospital,” I say through my clenched jaw.

Kane speeds down the road, disobeying all the rules of the highway. He pulls into the hospital lot and parks the truck.

“Ready?”

I breathe through my nose and out through my mouth. “As I’ll ever be.”

I’ll spare you the gritty and gory details of my child’s birth and skip to the good stuff.

The baby.

He’s wonderful and healthy.

Kane was a champ throughout the delivery process, and now staring down into the beautiful green eyes of my son, I know life will never be the same.

“Did you call our parents?” I ask Kane.

“I texted them a while ago. I think they’re here.”

Ten fingers. Ten toes. I keep counting them over and over while the baby stares up at me.

“Hi, handsome,” I whisper to him.

My mother knocks on the door as she walks in, carrying a teddy bear with blue balloons. “I want to see my grandson.” She stands over my bed, staring at my new son.

It still sounds so weird to say that. I have a son.

A son with no name.

Randall walks in next and smiles at my mother. Even though their marriage didn’t last, they’re still great friends. In fact, Randall introduced my mother to his accountant, and they’ve been on three dates.

I still worry about her rushing off to get married, but she’s assured me she’s learned her lesson. Kevin is a lot more down to earth, and I don’t see him even knowing what the word spontaneity means.

I mean, he’s an accountant.

“Do you have a name for him yet?” my mother asks us.

I stare at Kane. “Not yet.”

Kane smiles. “Nothing seems to fit.”

I stare at my son, wondering what name fits him. And then it hits me. “I think we should name him Nick, like Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.”