Chapter 240

Gus did return from his trip in time for the baby delivery, as I said he would.

And thank Nehcor for that, because Milly had had every right to scream bloody murder. Labor HURT and Gus's magic was my epidural. If I hadn't been deep in outer space in love with him before, I sure was now.

The whole delivery traumatized Gus. He was still out of it and pale as a ghost when Milly put our squawling, newborn daughter into his arms, swaddled in the softest fabric I'd reserved just for the occasion. It took five minutes of him staring at her and her calming and staring back for it to finally click in him what he'd been handed, and when it did he actually jumped.

"Baby," he said.

I laughed. "Yes, Gussy, you know your shapes."

"I thought you were going to die." Poor Gus had gone hoarse as though he'd been the one screaming.

Milly, who was wrapping up the afterbirth for disposal, guffawed.

"She didn't even scream thanks to you, what are you so scarred by?"