His dark eyes locked on hers. “You’re amazing. And you haven’t even complained once.” He spooned her some ice chips that soothed her throat. “You’re going to make a great mother.”
“You’re not doing so bad yourself. A great stand-in coach.” She started to say more when the door opened and the anesthesiologist walked in.
It didn’t take the doctor long to work his magic, and soon Mia was relaxed and feeling no discomfort, just pressure from the contractions.
Jarrett stood beside the bed. “Is it better now?”
Smiling, she nodded. “Isn’t medication wonderful?”
He laughed. “I’d still have to be knocked out to go through what you’re doing.”
Over the next hour things began to move a lot faster. Mia’s contractions started coming faster and harder, and they were different. She felt more pressure, lower.
Dr. Drake came in and checked the monitor. “Could you step outside a minute, Jarrett?”
He squeezed Mia’s hand. “I’ll be right back,” he promised as he walked out.
The doctor checked her. “You’re close, Mia,” she told her. “It won’t be long now.”
“Really?” She glanced at the clock. She’d only been here a few hours.
Lauren smiled. “Sometimes it happens like this, short labor is rare with the first baby.”
Mia’s thoughts turned to Brad and Karen and sadness swamped her. They should have been here.
Outside the room, a nurse handed Jarrett some paper scrubs. “But I’m not her coach. My sister-in-law is supposed to be here.”
The nurse frowned. “Well, if someone plans to be with her, they’d better get inside because she’s ready to go.”
Jarrett paused momentarily. He didn’t want to leave Mia to do this alone. She hadn’t complained, but there wasn’t anyone else here. He quickly slipped on the scrubs and walked back into the room.
“If you want me to leave, I won’t be offended. Just say the word.”
Before Mia could speak a contraction seized her and she grabbed his hand. Things happened quickly after that. The doctor instructed him to stand behind Mia. He continued to coax her through each contraction, and held his breath with each push. When she became exhausted, he made her focus.
The next thing Jarrett knew he was witnessing a miracle as Mia’s son made his noisy entrance into the world.
“Here’s your son, Mia.” Doctor Drake held the baby up for inspection.
Jarrett found he was counting fingers and toes and other male body parts. He swallowed hard. “Well, I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble hearing this guy.”
He looked down to see Mia’s tears. “He’s so beautiful, don’t you think?” she asked.
“Well, he runs a close second to Jenna, so yeah, he’s a good-looking kid.”
A nurse took the baby, carried him to a table and began to clean him up. “He’s seven pounds and ten ounces and twenty-one inches long,” she announced.
Mia gave him a tired smile. “Jarrett, thank you.”
He leaned closer to her. “Hey, you did all the work,” he said, brushing back her damp hair. He suddenly felt the urge to kiss her. To signify this special moment.
“Yeah, I did, didn’t I?” She looked sleepy. “I hate to ask, but would you call Nola? Let her know that I’m okay?”
Jarrett expected she wanted some privacy. He nodded and left. Outside the room he saw Kira hurrying toward him.
“Sorry I’m late.” She studied his face and smiled. “I take it the baby’s arrived.”
He could only nod, feeling his emotions rushing to the surface. “Yeah, it’s a boy. Mia and the baby are fine.”
She nodded. “And it looks like you did a good job as a stand-in.”
He didn’t even bother to deny it. “I couldn’t leave her.”
Kira took his hand. “Be careful, Jarrett. People might mistake you for a good guy,” she teased.
“I don’t think I have to worry about that.” He turned away, wondering when he could see the baby again. “Mia will probably want to see you.” He stripped off his cap. “I need a cup of coffee.” He started to walk away, but stopped. “Tell Mia I’ll be back in a little while.”
His sister-in-law studied him for a long time, then said, “Don’t look now, brother-in-law, your feelings are showing. It’s about time.”
Thirty-six hours later, Mia was nearly ready for the trip back home. She and her baby had been checked out, deemed healthy and could be discharged from the hospital.
There was one thing left. She had to put a name on her son’s birth certificate. During the night, she’d taken out the letter her brother and sister-in-law had left for her, not to be read until after the birth of their baby.
Mia sat up late to read it and let the tears fall—for the parents who would never know their son, and for the baby who wouldn’t have the chance to know them, either.
She opened the envelope.
Dear Mia,
Words can never express the joy and love we feel for you at this moment—the moment we learned that you were pregnant.
Joy and love not only for your unselfish act, not only for giving up a year of your life, but for carrying our child. For that Karen and I will be eternally grateful.
We don’t care if this baby is a boy or a girl. But like all mothers, Karen has chosen names for the child. Bradley Preston for a boy or Sarah Margaret for a girl.
Our son or daughter will know what a special person you are. To make sure of that, you will always be a big part of his or her life. Karen and I would like you to be the godmother to little Brad Jr. or Sarah.
If, God forbid, anything should ever happen to either of us, we want you to be the child’s guardian. After all, you carried this little miracle in your womb and in your heart for nine months. So who better? Our only other wish is that you find the happiness you truly deserve.
Love always, Brad and Karen.
Mia had sobbed most of the night after that, then the baby was brought to her to be fed. The second she held him in her arms, she knew that she loved him. Yes, BJ was her heart. And he was her son now.
Two hours later, Jarrett parked outside the apartment building and Mia glanced back at the baby. She still had trouble thinking of herself as a mother.
It didn’t take long for a welcoming party to open the door and wave. “Looks like everyone is anxious to see the new resident,” Jarrett announced.
That made Mia smile. “BJ’s going to have many surrogate grandparents, that’s for sure.”
“Let’s get him inside before they start the inspection,” Jarrett said.
He climbed out and came around to the passenger side. He opened the back door and unfastened the baby carrier from its base. “Come on, fella. You’ve got people to meet.”
He raised the carrier’s hood and used a blanket to protect the baby from the cold, then lifted him out of the car.
Mia was waiting and took his offered arm as they made their way up the shoveled walk to the door and went in.
“Welcome home, Mia,” Nola called along with several other tenants as they walked inside.
“Thank