𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Epilogue

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"Push!"

Dr. Orsini's gentle voice filled the room, and Imani groaned in pain, pushing again to no avail.

"Keep pushing, babe!" she pursed her lips when she heard Matthew's voice, hating him at that moment.

Why the hell did women have to go through pregnancy and birth? Why can't men at least share one of those burdens?  Imani thought bitterly, realizing she might hate him then, but he was right. She needed to keep pushing. She felt him wipe sweat from her forehead, and for a second, she forgot her hate, yet the pain persisted like a bad cough.

"You know I love you, don't you?" She knew that without any doubt. Those few words injected more strength than she knew she had remaining, pushing one more time to give birth to a healthy baby boy.

They called him Nathan Joseph Ocean, named after one of his father's favorite people in the world. He was born on the day his mother's doctor had approximated, crying his lungs out, his tiny face bloody and, according to his father, more than a little unsightly. His father joked he would be a man that respected time; he grew up to be precisely that.

Imani tried to smile while Matt proudly lifted his son, looking at his screaming face with eyes sparkling with delight as if he was the only man ever to have a child.

"Are you okay?" He asked her, handing the baby to Dr.Orsini to be cleaned and dressed. Imani's heavy eyes followed the baby until the doctor disappeared from her view, nodding to Matt even though she felt exhausted.

Matt kissed her forehead, then put his forehead on hers for almost a minute, closing his eyes with gratitude. He had been worried for his wife and the baby; having them healthy meant the world to him.

"Don't sleep yet," he whispered, going to the closet for clean bedding and a change of clothes. Although Dr. Orsini was supposed to help her clean up, Matthew wanted to do it. Going to the section, Imani had designated the baby's side in their closet; he found everything he needed besides beddings, which he took from their usual shelf. He carried them to their bedroom, placing them at the foot of the bed, and then went to lift Imani from the bed.

She groaned when he lifted her, and Matt's eyes widened with panic thinking he had hurt her. He couldn't handle causing her pain, having witnessed the agony she went through a few minutes ago.

"Sorry," Matthew muttered, slowly placing her on the couch.

"It's okay," She replied, her eyes stinging with tears she didn't want to shed.

"No, it's not. I'm sorry I hurt you; I just need you to be comfortable and in clean beddings."

Matthew changed the sheets, gently cleaned her up, and then returned her to their bed right before the doctor brought Nathan to nurse. Imani's whole demeanor changed when the baby was placed on her chest; it was like fatigue magically disappeared; her arms felt strong, and her fingertips softly touched his almost bald head.

"Ouch," Imani exclaimed, grimacing with pain

"I know," Dr. Orsini said with sympathy, " it gets easier," Imani couldn't imagine feeling this pain every time she nursed him.

"Is there anything we can do to alleviate the pain?"  Matthew's concerned face made the doctor's lips twitch with a smile, shaking her head, thinking how lucky Imani was to be as loved as she was.

Luckily, Imani knew and was grateful.

After Dr. Orsini taught Imani and Matt everything they needed to know, she left, flying back to new york in a private jet. It was a new experience for her when she was picked up more than seventy-two hours ago. Now she would be dropped off. She had liked Imani; she was friendly, beautiful, and so young, yet she took her role as a wife to one of the wealthiest men in the world in stride.