Temporary Secretary

Thirty-Three

"It's a...Boy!"

"Congratulations! You have a healthy baby boy!"

Paul squeezed my hand as the doctor delivered our surprise, both of us being happy that we now had another little boy to care for.

"Do you have a name for him?" One of the nurses asked as another nurse handed me our baby who was now wrapped up in blankets and had a light blue hat on his head.

"Winston Thoreau?" Paul asked, making sure he had it just right.

"Winston Thoreau..." I said as I admired the bundle of joy in my arms.

"Winston Thoreau McCartney." Paul told the nurses as he let Winston wrap his tiny fingers around his own.

His eyes were a striking mix of blue and green; they were a deep blue on the edges of his iris and lightened towards the center, where his pupil was surrounded by green.

Just as I was admiring Winston's eyes, Paul noticed as well.

"Look at his eyes, love. They're beautiful..."

"The blue came from my mother..." I said, silently wishing she was here.

"She doesn't know, does she?" Paul asked quietly as the nurses began to leave the room, giving us some privacy.

"She doesn't..."

Winston also had a little button nose, similar to mine, but I noticed one quirky trait: it was slightly lifted up on the left side, just like Paul's.

"We'll have to invite her down once we get back home."

"Not my father, though."

"Only who you want. Can I hold him, darling?"

"Of course," I said, handing Winston to Paul, "You know, he has the perfect blend of our noses." 

Paul chuckled and shook his head.

"He really does."

Paul lifted up Winston's hat slightly, revealing a head of dark brown hair.

"Just as I expected." He said matter-of-factly.

"His hair?" I asked.

"Dark brown."

"Could you expect anything else?" I asked rhetorically.

Seeing Paul with our child only warmed my heart more. I couldn't be more happy with everything that has happened, but I sensed that something was bothering Paul.

"Paul, love, are you all right?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I have the most beautiful finace in the world and the cutest baby I've ever seen." He said, smiling down at Winston.

"Seriously, Paul. I can tell something isn't right."

He sighed and looked down at Winston, letting his fingers run over his smooth skin.

"I don't want to talk about it right now, but just know that it has nothing at all to do with you, Winston, Stella, or James. It's...I don't know how to explain it...Well, I do, but it's just so hard."

"We can talk about it later, okay?" I said, reaching out my hand to run my fingers through his hair.

"Thank you..." Paul said quietly.