Miles Ever After (Miles High Series)(29)

She reaches up and grabs my finger, my heart stops, and my eyes well with tears anew. This is a real living little person, with her own heart and mind.

A piece of me and Claire.

Oh my god.

I hear clattering coming down the corridor outside and I hear Claire’s laugh.

She’s here.

I stand and with our bundled-up tiny baby in my arms I wait for my wife. Claire comes into view and the tears start again.

My god, stop it.

Claire laughs when she sees me. “Here they are. My two babies.”

They wheel Claire in and check all of her vitals as we both stand in the corner and wait patiently. She’s hooked up to blood-pressure machines.

“Do you want to hold her?” I ask.

She nods and I carefully pass her over, she’s so small that I’m scared I’m going to break her.

“Hey, bubba.” She smiles as she looks down at her. “You are so cute.”

I get a lump in my throat as I watch on.

She rearranges her and the nurse lifts her onto her nipple and she begins to suck.

How the hell does she know how to do that already?

My kid is a genius.

The nurses finally leave us alone and I sit on the side of the bed and kiss Claire’s forehead.

There are no words for what I’m feeling.

Love drunk….

“Tris.” Claire smiles down at her. “She’s perfect.”

“Like you.” I hold her close. “Thank you, I have never loved you more.”

We both smile down at her.

“What do you want to name her?” Claire asks. “It’s your pick, I like all of the names on your list so it’s up to you.”

I stare down at her and smile, I know exactly what to call her. “Summer Claire Miles.”

Claire’s eyes cloud over. “It’s the perfect name.”

“For the perfect child, did you see how smart she is knowing how to do that when she was born like five minutes ago?”

Claire giggles.

“The kid is a genius.”

“Patrick, walk faster.” We hear squabbling from the corridor. The boys come into view and they all stop at the door, wide eyed.

“Come and meet your sister, boys.” I smile proudly.

“A girl?” Patrick frowns.

Claire smiles. “A little girl.”

Harry winces. “A girl?”

“Yes, a girl,” I snap.

Thank fuck not another boy.

The boys all crowd around the bed and watch on in silence, half shocked. Who am I kidding, completely shocked.

As am I.

“Her name is Summer.” Claire smiles dreamily as she looks down at her. “Summer Miles.”

The boys all goo and ga over her.

She finishes feeding and Claire rewraps her.

Harry holds his arms out. “Can I hold her?”

I break into a cold sweat; I get an image of him accidently dropping her on her head or some shit. “Um….” I glance to Claire.

“Let her rest now, baby, she’s had a big day, you can hold her tonight.”

Phew….

I stand back and look around the room at my four children and wife.

So much to love.





Claire


I watch Summer sleep in her crib, so peaceful and serene. Her little arms are up by her face and every now and then she sucks her bottom lip. She has dark hair and olive skin, rosy lips.

An angel.

She looks so much like her dad; the perfect little bundle of joy and I had no idea the level of peace she would bring me. It’s as if my whole being has let out a deep sigh of relief.

She’s here.

A little girl to love forever. I was a young mother last time, caught in a whirlwind of business. Desperate to keep working and prove my worth to myself and the world.

This time will be different, nothing else matters. I know my worth now and I’m going to savor every single second of time with this beloved baby girl.

“Knock, knock,” sounds at the door.

“Come in.”

“Hello, is now a good time?”

A familiar face comes into view with a huge bunch of flowers and I laugh. “Gabriel, you came to visit me.”

“Ahhh, bella.” He kisses my cheeks and holds my arms as he looks me over. “Look at you, all glowing and momlike.” He glances over to the crib. “This is her.”

“It is,” I gush. “Look how beautiful she is.”

This is a big deal for Gabriel to come here and see me, he and Tristan don’t get along and although I know that will never change, they do tolerate each other for me.

He smiles down at the crib and rubs his hand over her hair. “So precious.”

“She is, isn’t she?”

“What is her name?”

“Summer.”

He smiles.

“Summer Miles.” He raises an eyebrow and I giggle. “Don’t say it.”

“Her complexion is so dark compared to your other children,” he says as he looks her over.

“She looks just like her father.”

“Oh.” He softly strokes her hair with his fingertips. “You poor darling.”

I go to sit up and wince and he frowns. “What’s happening, are you in pain?”