Aideen noticed none of this.
“Branna,” she whimpered. “It’s burnin’.”
She leaned her head back against my shoulder as the contraction passed for the moment, and I wasted no time to kiss her and tell her proud I was of her. She was panting, sweating, and moaning as pain consumed her.
“Push through that sting. D’ye hear me, Ado?” Branna said. “Push through it with everythin’ ye’ have.”
For close to thirty minutes, that was exactly what Aideen did. She pushed, pushed, and pushed some more. I felt absolutely helpless. I found myself wishing I was feeling her pain just so she would have a moment’s peace.
“The baby’s crownin’ so that means the head is almost out, Kane,” Branna whispered. “You’re about to deliver your baby.”
Fear struck me.
“Branna, help him,” Aideen pleaded, most likely fearing I’d let our baby fall.
“I’m ready,” I said and kissed her shoulder. “I’ve got this, baby doll, trust me. Push as hard as you can one more time.”
Aideen had to adjust her position until she was in a squatted position, and I was behind her, with my hands between her thighs. I pressed my hands against her vagina and felt my baby’s head. I could feel hair, lots of hair, and a sob caught in my throat. This was my baby, and the woman I loved more than life was bringing him or her into the world. An abundance of love, adoration, and happiness flooded me, and I had never felt so lucky as I did just then.
My brothers flanked Branna on either side and reached out to Aideen. She grabbed one of Ryder’s arms and one of Alec’s to steady herself. Their eyes were solely on her face, and my heart was filled, knowing they were here for such a special moment. I never thought I’d want them here when my girlfriend’s half naked, but there was nothing sexual about birth.
It was beautiful, scary, and an incredible thing to witness.
“Let’s do this, Ado.” Alec smiled. “You’ve got this.”
She bobbed her head, sucked in a huge breath, and with all her might, she bore down and pushed like her life depended on it. My eyes widened as more of my child’s head became visible. I could feel tiny ears, then chubby cheeks.
“Good girl, baby doll,” I praised. “Keep pushing ... keep pushing.”
“The head is fully out,” Branna whooped a few seconds later.
Aideen screamed as she continued to push. Dominic moved to the side to get a better view and laughed. “Nothing but dark hair. That baby is a true Slater.” He tried to high five Damien, who pointed at his own mop of white hair, causing Dominic to wince and say, “My bad, bro.”
Aideen screamed loudly as our baby moved through her body.
“Shoulders are out,” I beamed. “Chest ... Torso ... Butt ... Legs ... and toes. You did it, baby.”
Aideen slumped forward against my brothers who supported her. I adjusted my baby in my arms, my heart slamming in my chest as I carefully looked between the chunky thighs. I blinked three times before I realised what I was looking at.
“It’s a ... boy!” I announced. “It’s definitely a boy.”
Aideen gasped and tried to look, but she couldn’t turn to see because I was behind her, and the cord was still attached to her and the baby.
“Are ye’ sure?”
Branna carefully helped Aideen sit down, she leaned over the pool and lifted her leg so I could wind the umbilical cord under her so she didn’t hurt Aideen or the baby. Aideen turned her head, locked eyes on our child, and burst into tears. She was smiling but only for a moment.
“Branna,” she said. “Why isn’t he cryin’?”
“It’s normal. Give ‘im a second,” Branna said then reached over and took the baby from me without asking.
My happiness fled, and overwhelming fear consumed me as I stared at my child, willing him to cry.
“Oh, please,” Aideen screamed as panic struck. “Please, make ‘im cry, Branna.”
Aideen tried to stand, so I grabbed her shoulders to keep her still. She shoved my hands away and tried to move closer to Branna, but I wouldn’t let her. Branna had to focus, and Aideen could have hurt herself so I wrapped my arms around her body, and held her against my chest.
“Come on, baby boy,” Branna cooed to the baby as she rubbed him roughly with one of our baby towels. “Give me a nice big cry.”
Time slowed down, and every moment felt like an hours ... until magic. The loudest wail you could imagine from a newborn filled my apartment, and it was the best sound I had ever heard in my entire life. Aideen cried with relief and so did I. I pressed my face against Aideen’s hair as I silently thanked God for helping my child.
“Ye’ little brat.” Branna tearfully laughed as she finished wiping the baby’s face. “Givin’ your mammy and daddy an awful fright like that.”