Page 140 of Through the Storm

“Welcome to the world, buddy,” I murmur.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ben

FINALLY STILL

I’m sittingin the chair beside Katy’s bed, our baby asleep on my chest, his tiny hand gripping the edge of my t-shirt like he’s already picked me to be his favorite person.

It’s only the three of us in the room, and Katy should still be sleeping, but she won’t stop staring at us.

I don’t think I’ve ever loved her more. I look up at her. “What?”

She shakes her head, smiling. “You’re just… so calm and quiet. You’re never like this.”

I laugh quietly. “Guess I finally found something worth being still for.”

The smile she gives me is everything. The baby stirs with a soft whimper, then blinks, those same light blue eyes flickering in the dim light.

Katy bites her lip and smiles at that, the kind of slow, tired grin that says everything is finally right in the world.

There’s a soft knock at the door. I glance up, then look at Katy. “That’s probably your brother and Ella. Is it okay? Are you up for it?”

She nods. “Yeah.”

I carefully place the baby in her arms and go to the door.

Ella peeks in first and freezes the second she sees the baby. “Oh,” she breathes. “Oh my God.”

Declan steps in behind her and goes still too.

Ella crosses the space slowly, eyes shining. “Can I?”

Katy nods silently, her throat probably too tight for words.

Ella leans over the bed, one hand pressed to her mouth as she looks down at him.

“He’s perfect,” she whispers. “Katy… he’s so perfect.”

Declan clears his throat and steps closer, studying the baby with the same intensity he brings to everything else.

“He looks like Ben,” he says quietly.

I snort. “Apparently it was important to him to be clear about that.”

Ella laughs softly through her tears. “It really was.” She looks at me then, really looks at me, and something like pride settles over her expression. “You did really well,” she says simply.

I swallow. “She did all the work.”

Ella’s gaze shifts back to Katy, fierce and proud. “We’re proud of you.”

Declan nods once. “Yeah. Very proud.”

The baby squirms against Katy’s chest, making a small unhappy noise.

My hand comes up automatically, steadying him.

Declan watches that—the ease, the instinct—and something in his posture shifts.