BEST FRIEND’S BROTHER

She lifted up Sasha’s gown and her face underwent a startling transformation. “Oh, good heavens!” she exclaimed. “You’re fully dilated!”

“Is that bad?” demanded Kaleb.

“No, it’s wonderful,” answered the midwife.” It means we’re going to have a baby! And sooner, rather than later!”

“Kaleb!” Sasha’s voice cracked as she gripped onto his hand, her body tensing up to face the next contraction. “Please don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going anywhere, sugar!” Kaleb had never known an experience as powerful as seeing his child being born-but along with the pride came panic. He tried telling himself that women had been giving birth for centuries, in conditions far more threatening than the clean and antiseptic surroundings of this hospital delivery room.

But nothing seemed to take the edge off his fears for Sasha and their baby.

Nothing, that was, until Sasha gave one last shuddering groan-and a long, skinny object with a shock of dark hair emerged, shouting, into the world.

“It’s a boy!” beamed the midwife, over the baby’s first lusty scream. “A beautiful baby boy.” She creased her brows as she deftly delivered the child onto Sasha’s stomach. “And just about the longest-looking baby I’ve ever seen. He’ll be tall-”

“Just like his father,” said Sasha breathlessly, and smiled up into Kaleb’s eyes.

“And would you like to cut the cord, Mr Sullivan?” asked the midwife.

Kaleb would have said that he was one of life’s more confident men, but he knew he would rather risk bungee-jumping from the top of the tallest skyscraper than risk harming his baby son. “I’d rather leave it to the experts,” he answered with a tight smile. “And the name is Luthor.”

“Oh. Is it?” said the midwife, with studied casualness, and something in her tone made Kaleb look up at her with a puzzled frown.

The cord dealt with, the midwife latched the baby onto Sasha’s breast. “I normally go and make you both a cup of tea now,” she explained. “Gives you a couple of quiet minutes alone with your baby.”

Once she had gone, the delivery room was filled with the sound of contented glugging, and their eyes met with delight and disbelief over the small dark head.

“He’s here,” said Sasha. “And somehow it feels as though he was always meant to be.”

Kaleb swallowed as he bent to wipe a damp strand of hair away from her forehead, and he was overwhelmed with a love so pure that he vowed never to forget the way he felt right at that moment. “Thank you, Sasha,” he said simply.

“You’re welcome!” She looked up and her eyes were shining. “Isn’t he beautiful?”

“He sure is. As beautiful as his mother.”

“No. Much more beautiful!” she insisted, confidently moving the baby onto the other breast while Kaleb watched with wondering eyes.

“Where ever did you learn to do that?”

“I didn’t,” said Sasha, with a slow smile. “I just knew he was finished on that side. And we’re going to have to choose a name for him soon-I can’t keep saying ”he” and ”him” the whole time! Did you have any ideas in the car?”

Kaleb shrugged. “Sort of. You say first.”

“Well, I quite like Nick.” Sasha stroked the downy head. They were interrupted by the return of Sister Beth, who was looking at Kaleb with a definite question in her eyes. “So. Have you come to any decisions yet?”

Kaleb smiled. “Not quite. Though we both like the name Nick.”

The midwife threw him one of her despairing looks. “Mr Luthor!” she exclaimed. “Have you not asked this poor girl to marry you yet?”

The dark eyes lit up with amusement as he met Sasha’s eyes. “Well, she might not agree to have me.”

The midwife gave a loud sigh which was obviously meant to signify her disapproval of false modesty.

“Will you marry me, sugar?” he asked softly.

Sasha was tempted to giggle with sheer happiness as Nick’s mouth slid sleepily from the nipple. “Kaleb, you don’t have to marry me just for the baby’s sake-”

“But I’m not!” he put in quickly.” I want to marry you because I love you. More than words could ever say. I was intending to ask you earlier, but we… I…” He grinned and shrugged helplessly. “Fell asleep.”

“Kaleb!” she murmured, on a half-hearted note of protest.

He crouched down beside the bed, so that their faces were very close. “Please say yes, Sasha. Say you’ll marry me.”

“Yes,” she said, and her smile grew huge. “Yes, Kaleb. I’ll marry you.”

“Congratulations! And about time, too!” The midwife bent and plucked the sleeping infant from Sasha’s arms and put him gently over her shoulder. “You and I are going down the corridor while I clean you up, young man,” she crooned softly. “Because your father has just asked your mother to marry him, and now they want a few moments’ peace and quiet to kiss each other. And they’d better make the most of it!” she finished darkly.

Sasha sent a half longing glance in the direction of the door as it closed quietly behind Sister Beth and little Nick. Acknowledging already the first pangs of separation from her child. But he would be back soon. Then she reached up her arms for Kaleb, who was in the process of breaking goodness only knew how many hospital rules-since he had slipped off his canvas deck-shoes and was now sliding a delicious denim thigh forward as he joined her on the bed. He put his arms around her and looked deep into her eyes.

“When shall we get married?” he asked.

“Who cares right now?” she responded softly.

They kissed until Kaleb wryly warned her that they had better stop-unless she wanted to get pregnant again! So they wrapped their arms tightly around one another instead. And that was where Sister Beth found them when she carried their son back in-the two of them fast asleep, blissfully curled up on the hospital bed!

The baby gave a cry, and two sets of startled eyes snapped open.

“Your turn,” mumbled Sasha sleepily.

“My pleasure,” murmured Kaleb . He got off the bed carefully, so as not to disturb Sasha, and then tenderly took his son from the midwife’s arms and began to rock him.

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THE END

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