Page 36 of The Billionaire's Baby
Adira leaned forward and looked at the tiny baby in the incubator. She reached out to touch him through one of the ports in the side and pulled her hand away.
“It’s okay, you can touch him,” the nurse said gently.
“He’s so small,” she whispered and Favian could hear the tears in her voice.
“Mrs. Rivera, he’s strong. Thirty-two weeks is so much better than what you may think,” the nurse explained. “Those little tubes in his nose are giving him oxygen so he doesn’t have to work too hard to breathe. But other than that, all those wires are just monitoring his heart and pulse. It’s not as scary as it looks. We also count how many wet and poopy diapers he makes to make sure that his liver and kidneys are working.” The nurse started writing things on his chart. “Let me make sure to take his readings and then I can help you hold him.”
She looked up at Favian and then to the nurse. “I can hold him?”
“Being close to mommy and daddy’s chest actually has been proven to help premature babies thrive,” the nurse said. “He’s going to be here until he is at least five to six pounds. I’d say over the next few weeks I’ll be seeing you holding this little man quite often.”
“Yes, we will. You can be sure of that,” Favian said.
They waited patiently while he was carefully checked and his progress charted. During that time Adira stroked his leg through the little ports in the incubator. When it was finally time to hold him, the nurse took him out gently and arranged him carefully in Adira’s arms so his monitors and breathing tube would not be compromised. Favian looked down at the tiny pale brown face. The baby opened his eyes and he swore the baby knew who they were. Adira stoked his tiny fingers and they outstretched as he yawned. Both she and Favian laughed softly.
“Hey, my lovey, I’m your mum,” Adira whispered. “Look at you, my precious little one.”
“I don’t think he can be called Baby Rivera forever,” Favian said huskily. “What should we name him? We never really discussed names.”
“I’ve had one for a while, one that I would love for him to have. Mateo,” she said. “I saw your family photographs; he should have your father’s name. Mateo Favian Rivera.”
He didn’t know if he could love her more than he did at that very moment. Adira thought enough of him and of his family to give their son his father’s name. This time, as he touched Mateo’s hand, his tiny fingers curled around the tip of Favian’s digit.
“Hello, Mateo. We’re your parents, mi hijo,” Favian said. “Get big and strong so we can take you home.”
“Now two men hold my heart,” Adira said. She kissed the top of the baby’s head. “You don’t know how much we love you, Mateo.”
“Yes, he does.” Favian kissed her temple.
The nurse brought another rocking chair for him and he sat close as Adira held the baby. Soon after, it was his turn and the tiny body fit just perfectly in the crook of his arm. He rocked back and forth and sang a song his mother used to sing to him while he was growing up. The anger he felt earlier drained away and the only thing left in his heart was pure joy at being a husband and father.
* * * *
Four weeks later Mateo was allowed to go home. He grew quickly and hit every NICU milestone. He was six pounds by the time he left the hospital and Favian had taken to calling him pequeno muchacho gordo which meant little fat boy. The way he said it was filled with so much love that no one could chastise him for it. Even his aunt and the rest of the family had picked up the loving nickname. They cooed it to him as they held him or as they watched him in his crib when they came in for a peek.
It was during that time that their house reminded Adira of Grand Central Station. Mateo was going to be spoiled. Adira knew it, but she didn’t care. He had made it through the first difficult month of his life and was progressing in leaps and bounds. He deserved all the extra special love he was getting.
Hillary was taken care of, so to speak. Favian was still unwilling to forgive but didn’t press charges. She was barred from their home and it was made clear she was not allowed to ever approach his family again or he then would press charges. She kept her allowance, but not much else. Favian barred her from the offices and from using his name for her various charities. And to keep her allowance, she would be forced to get a job. For Hillary, that was probably worse than prison. Adira was relieved. She wouldn’t have to deal with the spiteful childish woman any longer. She would have never felt comfortable with Hillary around her son and now that wasn’t even a possibility.
