“Are you okay?” Travis’s voice was full of concern.
“I’m fine. Nursing hurts for a bit. It will get better shortly, in a few days, and then I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, okay. I guess there’s not anything I can help you with on that front.”
“After he finishes, we need to get Mindy in here. I’m sure the grandparents are all here at the hospital by now. All three sets.”
“I love that the Adamses are our children’s grandparents, too. I know they are Mindy’s, but they have already stated that this little one is also their grandchild.”
“I know. They’re wonderful people. Alex was just like them.”
“I’m glad. I feel like I know him a little bit from their stories and yours. I know I would have liked him.”
“You two would have been very good friends.” She felt a pang of sadness but realized that Alex would always be with her through Mindy. Now she needed to concentrate on the future with Travis and their children.
The nurse walked over. “Is everything going all right, Mrs. Morgan? No problems nursing?”
Willow couldn’t tell what the woman looked like behind the mask, just a pair of sky-blue eyes surrounded by black lashes that looked bare of mascara.
“We’re fine. He’s a good nurser.”
“Good.” The nurse waited for Tyler to finish nursing.
Tyler had fallen asleep.
Willow eased him away from her nipple and put him on her shoulder to burp him, which only took a couple of pats on his little back. Then she laid him atop of the blanket and swaddled him.
“It’s amazing what I still remember how to do after more than ten years.” She handed the baby to Travis. His eyes were wide to begin with then he gazed down into the face of his son, and he relaxed and smiled.
Travis looked over at her. “He’s so small. And look at his eyes. They’re so blue.”
“Many babies have blue or gray eyes at birth. The color can and will probably change for months, but I’m guessing he’ll have blue eyes, like mine and Mindy’s.”
The nurse came over to the bed. “Mrs. Morgan, while your husband has some daddy time, let me get you cleaned up, into the wheelchair and to your room. Then you can show your new baby off to all those people in the waiting area. I swear the place is full of people waiting just for you.”
Willow laughed. “This baby has more grandparents and family, than I could ever have imagined.”
“He’s lucky to have so many people who already love him,” replied the nurse.
A little while later, Willow was in a clean gown and in her room.
Tyler lay in a crib next to the bed.
Travis picked him up as the door opened and the room filled with grandparents, along with Mindy, Tanner and Kelly.
Mindy walked up to Travis. “Can I hold him? You and Mom have had your turns. Now it’s my turn.”
“Of course, firefly. Sit in that chair over there.” He jutted his chin toward the lone armchair in the room.
Mindy sat and held out her arms.
Travis placed Tyler in her arms. “Mindy, meet Tyler. He’ll need lots of help to grow up, and I think you’re just the girl that can give it to him.”
She looked down at the baby and smiled. “I will. Tyler, I’m gonna be the best sister anyone could ever have. We’ll have so much fun and might even go riding together when you get bigger. You’re too little now.”
Tyler blinked wide baby-blue eyes and kept staring as she talked.
Willow looked around the room at all the people and couldn’t think of anything better in this world than having her family with her now at the birth of her son.