Page 30 of Light

But not just her.

My son is counting on it too.

I feel that now. I feel him, five times more forceful than before. His energy is a palpable power in my senses. It hums stronger by the second, crackling like static through all my nerve endings, as I reach into the opening I’ve created.

And feel a smile breaching my lips.

As pure happiness fills my spirit.

It’s impossible to keep out, this joy and wonder and fulfillment, shining like the amber light that emanates from every inch of my astonishing woman. Yes, from inside of her too—a glow that pulses stronger and stronger, illuminating my fingers as if I’m reaching for a comet inside a nebula. If that’s the case, I’m more than ready to let this orb pulverize every cell of my being.

And the next moment, I’m pretty sure it does.

As I suck up my qualms and laser the new incision across her uterus.

As I stop for a second, wondering why there’s no reacting scream from Emma.

As I stare at the smile that breaches her lips instead…

Just as one tiny, perfect hand reaches out of the incision…

Then another, stretching the opening back a little farther. And then even wider, as those hands spread out like an angel distributing the riches of heaven…

A comparison that really isn’t one.

Because I’m damn sure I’ve just laid eyes on a piece of God himself.

The most perfect, effulgent, brilliant, magnificent piece.

It’s all right there, in the divinity of that little face. In the high strength of his cheeks, the proud jut of his chin, the brave set of his lips. In the lush mop of his white-gold hair and in the amber seriousness of his brows.

But most of all, it’s in the grand glory of his gaze. Those silver-gray depths that blink at me, already knowing me. Already seeing right through me…

Already loving me.

But not nearly as much as I love him.

Wholly. Utterly. Terrifyingly. With a capacity I never even knew I was capable of—until I met his mother. Only this is even more. An expansion of that fusion. New doors and windows flying open inside me, exposing the beauty and light of a daybreak I never imagined for myself. A purity I never thought I’d know again. A new start in my soul. A new perfection in my life.

A new light in my heart.

As I pull him all the way free and then lay him across Emma’s chest, I see the same comprehension moving across her features. I feel the same bright wonder bursting wide in her soul. It explodes into more intense light through her entire body, translating into a healing power to the incisions I’ve made. We both look on, wrapped in wonder, as our son rolls over a bit, reaching and trailing one of his little hands across the gap in his mama’s body. The moment his tiny fingers connect with Emma’s abdomen, all of her organs rearrange themselves into proper order. And though I’ve got the best seat in the place for witnessing this miracle, I’ve barely blinked in gawking astonishment before the outside incision itself starts fusing back together, already healing with healthy pink skin.

“Holy…Christ,” I husk out—and then add a silent Thank you, Christ upon realizing I won’t be the one called upon to sew all that shit back up. One good visit with my wife’s innards is more than enough for one day, thank you very much.

“Huh?” Calvin calls from the front seat. “What’s that, boss?”

Emma catches my gaze as our boy latches on to one of her breasts and starts sucking. Though her eyes are brighter than supernova stars, they also dictate what I already know. Cal would never believe me if I told him.

“Right,” I blurt instead. “I said take the next right.” And I do it with burgeoning, blinding happiness. This is our last turn of the trip. At the top of this climb, we’ll finally be at the ridge.

As soon as Cal stops the car in the front drive, Sawyer and Lydia do their typical pop-out-the-front-door routine. They’re both wearing dorky glittery party hats. As soon as Lydia clears the portal, she blows on one of those weird snake charmer party favors, leading me to one of the few occasions I’m glad not to have had a typical upbringing. While I love my mother, I’m damn sure she’d have a kitten if confronted with one of those things.

“Shit,” I mutter then. Mom. I’ll have to find a second to call her and tell her she’s just become a grandmother—as soon as I overcome the shock that I’m now officially a father.

“Heeeeeyyy! You two are heeeeere! Happy New Y—” Lydia interrupts her celebration to crunch a puzzled frown. “Uh…where’s your wife?” she demands as soon as I hoist myself up and then out, standing on the runner with one elbow braced to the car’s roof, the other atop the open door. “Dude? Bolt Jolt? What the hell is going on?”

I actually manage to cock a brow. “I think you mean what the hell has already gone on.” And then crack a smirk, suddenly and immensely proud of myself. “Or if we’re getting technical, what I’ve already pulled out.”