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“Here coritted her teeth

“Look at me,” Ryan demanded

She did

“Now, let’s breathe together”

Phoebe followed his lead

With the contraction over, Ryan lightly trailed his fingers over her middle until the tension left her and she lay back

“I need to get a few things out of the bathroo soft to swaddle the baby in You should have let ht and I could have been better prepared”

“You’re a funny man, Ryan Matthews”

“I thought you could use sos he needed and placed theth

Another pain took Phoebe and she ether This was one ti into the pain in someone’s eyes

“I feel pressure I need to push”

“Hold on just a second”

“This baby isn’t waiting for you,” she growled

Ryan examined her “The head has crowned” He moved to the end of the bed and leaned over the footboard “Phoebe—” his voice was low “—I want you to look at me On the next contraction I want you to push”

Her gaze“Push”

Ryan reached for the baby’s head and supported it His look went to Phoebe again “You’re doing beautifully”

Another contraction hit His gaze held hers He wished he could hold her hand and comfort her but he couldn’t be at two places at once “Push, honey”

Ryan glanced down The baby’s shoulders slid out and the rest of the tiny human followed He saw birth all the ti

Exhausted, Phoebe fall back on the bed

“It’s a boy,” Ryan announced He tied off the u it and laid the baby on Phoebe’s stomach

She reached a hand up to touch the tiny head

At the baby’s squeaking sound, Ryan came around to the bedside table and reached for the suction bubble He cleaned the air passages anda clean towel, he wiped the newborn