Chapter 52

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian felt very useless standing by Jayda, doing nothing but holding her hand and encouraging her to push by whispering soothing and encouraging words in her ear.

He wished he could do more. He wished he could go through the labor for her, or somehow take away all the pain she was feeling. Watching her weep in agony broke his heart.

She’d been in labor for a few hours since they arrived at 11 p.m. Aaron was with his mother, and Sebastian was glad the little boy didn’t have to see any of this. This birth was being incredibly hard on Jayda.

She was a champ about it all, but he could tell how tired she was. With every push, she let out a scream. Every time, it sounded like she got a little weaker.

Sebastian held back his own worries. Jayda relied on him for support, and he had to be strong for her. He couldn’t let his own fears take over. He would not let her down.

“I can see her head, babe, just a few more pushes and she will be with us,” Sebastian encouraged, and kissed her sweaty face.

“You can do it Jayda, you’re the strongest woman I know.”

JAYDA

Jayda concentrated on the pains ripping her apart. She’d known it would hurt, but this was beyond anything she ever experienced. Her baby girl was almost here! Jayda used all the strength left in her to push really hard.

“Good job, keep going,” the doctor encouraged. “A little more!”

Jayda didn’t know if she had it in her to keep pushing. The world spun as she focused every bit of her attention on what was going on. She gripped Sebastian’s hand so hard she wondered if she would break his fingers.

She screamed again.

“A little more, my love,” Sebastian encouraged.

She took her strength from him. She pushed again. Then again.

And at last…

Lo and behold, the cry of a bouncing baby girl rang throughout the delivery room.

Jayda jammed her head back against the pillow and groaned in relief.

“You did it, my love, I’m so proud of you.” Sebastian’s voice shook with emotion as he kissed her lips. The doctor called him over to cut their baby’s cord.

Jayda was wrong when she thought she was done crying. Fresh tears flowed when a nurse placed her baby girl on her chest.

“She’s so perfect…so beautiful,” Jayda whispered through the hoarseness of her happy tears.

She placed a finger by her baby’s hand. Her heart swelled with so much pride when her little princess wrapped her warm hand around her finger. Every bit of the agony she’d suffered vanished with that little girl’s touch.

She’d never done anything so hard in her life. Nor had she ever done anything so worthwhile. All her fears began to leave her as she looked into her daughter’s precious, perfect face.

SEBASTIAN

“Yes, she’s perfect and beautiful, just like her mom. You two complete me. Thank you for blessing us with our gorgeous Ariella.” Sebastian stared down at them both with intense pride and joy.

Ariella Sophie Lynn Miller opened her eyes as soon as she heard her name.

Jayda murmured happily. “She recognizes your voice since you and Aaron would not stop talking to her while she was in my tummy. I’m so happy she has your eyes,” Jayda added.

Sebastian smiled proudly as he caressed Ariella’s soft cheeks. “I could watch her all day. She’s so perfect and calm.”

Jayda smiled weakly. “I feel the same way.”

JAYDA

Her eyes drifted closed. She was so happy to know her baby girl was in the world, but she was so tired, and suddenly, so cold.

As though from far away, she heard her beloved husband crying her name over and over, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t open her eyes. Ice filled her, and darkness followed. She was floating, far away.

“What’s wrong with her?” Sebastian demanded as the nurses and the doctor flocked around Jayda’s bedside.

SEBASTIAN

When nobody answered him, he shouted again. “Damn it, tell me what’s wrong with my wife!”

Even though they hadn’t yet been married, he shouted the words. As far as he was concerned, Jayda was his wife in all ways but the signed papers.

The doctor gave him a distracted look. “Her blood pressure is dropping. We need to you leave now while we get her stabilized.”

“What about my daughter?” Sebastian desperately cried.

“You can follow her to the nursery. But we need you to leave now so we can take care of your wife.”

The room burst into action as nurses and doctors pulled out equipment from hidden drawers and cabinets. Sebastian was shoved to the side. He couldn’t see Jayda behind the wall of people around the bed.

Terror rose inside him. He fought to see what was going on, but a tall orderly gently took him by the arm and pulled him away. A nurse was talking to him, trying to explain what he needed to hear, but he couldn’t focus on her words.

All he knew was that his wife was in danger, and they were taking his baby away from him.

“You need to come now, sir, or you won’t be allowed into the nursery. Please, let the doctors help your wife,” a kindly nurse said.

Sebastian had no choice. He had to hurry after the nurse pushing his baby daughter in her bassinet down the hall.

He had to leave the love of his life behind.