His heart stopped. “Angela,” he whispered as the surgical instrument slipped from his hand.
The baby monitor suddenly sounded an alarm indicating that the infant’s heart rate was dropping dangerously.
Jonathan forced himself to focus as a powerful determination replaced shock.
“Give me another scalpel,” he ordered firmly. “We are saving both of them.”
The surgery became a desperate battle as the placenta proved dangerously attached to the uterus.
“Placenta accreta,” Jonathan muttered while requesting additional blood supplies and preparing for a hysterectomy after delivery.
Moments later he lifted the tiny infant from Angela’s body, but the baby was silent and blue.
“Neonatal team now,” he shouted.
After several terrifying seconds the baby finally released a small cry that quickly grew stronger.
Jonathan felt tears blur his vision.
“Hello Matthew,” he whispered softly. “Your father is here now.”
Three exhausting hours later Angela’s bleeding finally stopped and her condition stabilized.
When she opened her eyes at dawn she immediately searched the room in panic.
“My baby,” she whispered weakly. “Where is Matthew.”
“Right here,” a familiar voice answered.
Angela turned her head and saw Jonathan sitting beside the bed with exhausted eyes full of regret.
“Is he safe,” she asked breathlessly.
“Our son is healthy,” Jonathan replied quickly.
Angela let out a bitter laugh mixed with pain.
“Our son,” she repeated quietly. “Where were you when your mother destroyed everything.”
Jonathan lowered his head.
“I was a coward and you nearly died because of it,” he admitted.
Angela began to cry as years of anger finally spilled out.
“I loved you anyway and I hate that I loved you,” she whispered.
Jonathan gently held her hand.
“Please allow me the chance to become the man you deserved from the beginning,” he said.
At that moment the hospital door opened and Margaret Blake stepped inside.
Jonathan immediately stood between his mother and Angela.
“This woman is the mother of my child and the woman I love,” he said calmly. “If you cannot respect her then you must leave.”
Margaret stood silent for the first time in her life.
Three months later sunlight streamed through the windows of a small chapel on the Blake family estate while Angela walked slowly toward Jonathan in a simple white dress.
Melissa sat in the front row wiping tears from her eyes while Margaret carefully held baby Matthew in her arms.