A Present in Swaddling Clothes

By Andrew Grey

Josh held baby Vivien when she took her first breath in the world, and he has loved every breath she’s taken since. Now Vivien needs a home—a “for real” forever home, and Josh would love to be the one who takes her in. But Josh’s partner, Sammy, isn’t a fan of children of any size or stamp. Will Josh have to choose between being a lover or a parent, or will Josh’s niece work her baby magic on Sammy, giving them all the best Christmas present of all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781613722831

Andrew Grey

Andrew Grey is the author of more than one hundred works of Contemporary Gay Romantic fiction. After twenty-seven years in corporate America, he has now settled down in Central Pennsylvania with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Dominic, and his laptop. An interesting ménage. Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He is a recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and now writes full-time. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Email: [e-mail] Website: www.andrewgreybooks.com

Book preview

Chapter 1

The screaming vibrated along Josh’s spinal cord and not in a good way. Reaching for a cool towel off the tray, he wiped his sister Nicky’s forehead, trying to cool her off. Breathe, remember to breathe like they showed us in class. Josh tried to keep his voice calm, but his legs were twitching beneath him, and he was doing his best not to hyperventilate.

Fuck the breathing! Get this out of me! Josh barely understood the last part over the cry of pain that had Josh looking to the doctor. There had to be something they could do.

The baby’s not moving, the doctor said in a calm voice, and Josh knew that couldn’t be good, not with all the pain Nicky was already in. Bring over a surgical cart. We’re going to need to do a Cesarean. His voice remained calm even as the activity in the delivery room sped up.

Josh watched as everyone moved with a hurried but practiced grace. Nicky was strapped down, injections were given. At least Nicky calmed down and stopped screaming. Josh also saw that her eyes drifted closed, and he looked up at the others in the room. The person monitoring Nicky didn’t seem to notice anything wrong, but Josh still breathed a sigh of relief when her eyes slid open again. Just sit where you are and stay with her, the doctor told him, and Josh nodded, wiping Nicky’s brow once again.

Josh stayed behind the curtain, but kept looking up at the doctor as a feeling of complete dread settled in his stomach. What if Nicky wasn’t all right? What if something happened to her?

Everything is going to be fine, the doctor told them both, almost as if he’d been reading Josh’s mind. We’ll be ready to begin in a few minutes. We’ve already given you something to stop the contractions, and you should see your baby soon.

Nicky mumbled something and closed her eyes again. The doctor began quietly asking for instruments, and Josh watched and waited. Under circumstances like this, not that he’d ever been in a circumstance like this before, but when they were kids, Josh had always held Nicky’s hand. When they saw a scary movie, he’d held her hand, and when she’d fallen off her first bike, Josh had held her hand before helping her get back on. Nicky was his little sister, and he’d always been there to hold her hand. But now, at what seemed like such an important moment, he couldn’t hold her hand because of the arm restraints. All he could do was sit by her head and wipe her brow. It’s going to be okay. You’re going to see the baby soon, Josh encouraged her and stroked her cheek even as the activity around them continued. He hoped this would be over soon, because Nicky looked as weak and exhausted as Josh had ever seen her in his life.

You’re going to be a proud father very soon, one of the nurses said, and Josh didn’t correct her. The father of Nicky’s baby had taken off as soon as she’d told the lowlife that she was pregnant. Their other brother, Timothy, and his wife, Josh’s bitch-in-law, had actually tried to convince her to have an abortion. Nicky had immediately told both of them to go screw themselves. She was having this baby. It hadn’t mattered to her that she would be forty-one by the time the baby was born, she wanted this child. Josh had supported her then, just like he always had, and he was supporting her now, and he wasn’t about to stop.

I can feel things moving around, Nicky said.

Does it hurt? Josh asked.

No. It just feels like pressure. Then Josh saw the doctor lift out the red blood-covered baby, which he handed to a nurse.

Just another minute, the doctor said, and the baby began to cry. The doctor worked for a few more seconds, and then the nurse carried the baby to a table and they wrapped it in a blanket.

You have a girl, the nurse said, and she motioned for Josh to come over. She’s beautiful and perfect.

Her eyes are closed, Josh said as he looked down at the crying, openmouthed baby. The nurse turned down the light, and the tiniest baby Josh had ever seen opened her big blue eyes, and Josh felt his heart begin to melt. The nurse lifted the baby and handed her to Josh, who looked down into that beautiful little face, feeling a tear run down his cheek. Turning around, he showed Nicky her daughter. She couldn’t hold her because they had to finish the surgery, but Josh let Nicky look. She’s gorgeous, Nicky.

She is that, and her name is Vivian.

Hello, Vivian, Josh said softly, greeting his niece with a smile. He knew she