Chapter 6 Cleo
cleo
. . .
Nine Months Later
“Oh my god, can you drive any faster, gramps?” Lennox chimed from the front seat of Bishop’s truck. “Josie will probably be released from the hospital by the time we get there.”
Bishop sighed as the light in front of us turned red and he slowed to a full stop. “I can’t make the light turn green, killer. It’s luck of the draw.”
“Yeah, but you could’ve pushed through the last three yellow ones,” she grumbled, crossing her arms and pouting.
“Yellow means slow down.”
“Well in this case it’s a suggestion,” she shot back. “This isn’t one of our safe words. And given the circumstances, I think yellow warrants pressing down on the gas pedal instead of the brake. I’m an aunt! I need to meet my little mini-me.”
“Christ, Lennox. Do you ever keep some thoughts to yourself?” he cursed.
I stared out the window, chuckling to myself as they softly bickered. Or rather, Bishop kept his voice at a normal, even tone while Lennox babbled incessantly about how long it was taking to get to the hospital and why it was no big deal I knew what they did in the bedroom.
Honestly, I didn’t care, but I felt like I’d learned way more about my younger sisters’ sex lives in the past year than I ever thought I would.
It was still dark outside, just after five in the morning, and all of us were running on zero sleep. The excitement over the newest addition to the Hayes family had kept us up way too late.
Last night, Lincoln texted the family group chat to tell us Josie’s water had broken, and they were on the way to the hospital.
Mom, Dad, and Lennox had immediately tried to follow them up there, but Bishop and I’d talked them down.
The new family deserved time for themselves because there was no way they’d get it once they got back home.
I’d be surprised if either our mother or Lennox didn’t take turns sleeping on the couch for the first few months.
Even though visiting hours at the hospital didn’t even start until six, I couldn’t hold them back anymore.
Or rather, I couldn’t hold Lennox back anymore.
She’d bolted up to the main house the moment Lincoln’s message came through, ready to storm through the doors of Ashwood Memorial Hospital like she was the one giving birth.
I’d give it to her. She really was going to be the best aunt.
Mom and Dad followed behind us, their headlights reflected in the rearview mirror.
They hated going to the hospital, and rightfully so, but even that couldn’t put a damper on their spirits today.
When I came into the kitchen this morning, Dad was already buzzing around, making sure everyone had cups of coffee ready to go.
Growing up, his coffee was notoriously terrible.
It was almost comical how infamous it was around Ashwood.
No one would ever accept a cup if he offered it, but lately it’d been better.
Over Christmas, we’d all pitched in for one of those fancy machines and tossed his battered old one out in the trash.
He’d been so angry, ranting and raving about how it had been “seasoned,” and we’d thrown out decades of hard work.
It died down after Lennox made him a cup and forced him to take a sip.
Now, it was his newest obsession. He spent most of his free time trying new recipes and flavors.
At least he had something productive to do with his time.
After Dad’s health scare on his birthday, his doctor had told him he had two choices. He could either continue with the long, stressful days that came with being a rancher and dig himself an early grave, or he could retire and double his chances.
For a split second, I’d held my breath. I had no idea which one he’d pick.
Since I was a kid, Dad had told me he didn’t know who he was without the ranch. It was in his blood, a part of who he was. He said it gave him a sense of purpose, a way to give back all the knowledge and advice he’d been granted over the years and pass it on to another generation.
I understood that more than anyone, except my identity wasn’t tied to the ranch itself, but the people on it.
For the next month and a half, I listened to Dad moan and groan about retirement and how horrible it was.
Sometimes I’d find him staring out the window, watching the cowboys in the field or the cattle passing by.
I worried he’d never get over losing that sense of purpose, but thankfully it didn’t last long.
Everything changed the moment he found out about Josie’s pregnancy.
Suddenly, his newfound free time was filled with crafts and projects and plans.
Pregnancy had been rough on my sister, so he took her to nearly every doctor’s appointment Lincoln couldn’t make it to.
His doting was adorable. Except for the new father, I’d never seen a man so excited about a baby coming into this world.
Dad had told the whole damn town he was going to be a grandpa, and they’d rallied together to make sure Josie had everything she needed.
“Finally!” Lennox said, bouncing in her seat as the hospital sign came into view.
Bishop slowed and turned into the parking lot.
“We might actually get to see the baby before they go off to college.” She paused, putting her hand behind her ear.
“Wait, is that the graduation march I hear playing in the background?”
Lennox didn’t wait for a response. She threw open the door before her fiancé had even parked, practically sprinting to the hospital entrance.
Bishop let his head drop to the steering wheel and groaned. “Ya know, I’ve been wondering why more grey hairs have been popping up since we got together,” he mumbled. “But now I fucking get it.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s your girl. You chose that one.”
He straightened in his seat and turned off his ignition, staring out the window to where Lennox had disappeared. The corner of his lips kicked up a fraction. “For all my bitching, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Even if she is the biggest pain in my ass.”
My heart seized at the adoration on his face, but I didn’t let it show. “I’m sure you wouldn’t.”
Dad popped up on the other side of the door and yelled, “Boo!”
I screamed as he and Bishop both laughed. “You assholes,” I cursed, reaching forward to punch Bishop’s arm. He dodged, barely sliding out before Dad opened my door and held out his hand.
“Well, come on now. We don’t have all day. Your sister is probably in there terrorizing the staff for visitation.”
I placed my palm in his, letting the warmth ground me. “You started this, old man.”
“And I’m finishing it, too.” He pressed his lips to my temple and pulled me close. “Come on. Let’s go save the nurses.”
As it turned out, Lennox’s pestering didn’t win us any favors with the hospital staff.
We were all stuck in the waiting room for over forty-five minutes before Lincoln strolled over, hands in his pockets.
There were deep circles beneath his eyes, and he was clearly exhausted, but there was a new sparkle there.
I’d never seen a man happier to be running on fumes.
“I heard y’all were causing a fuss,” he drawled. Mom handed him a cup of coffee, which he took with a grateful nod.
Our fingers pointed in Lennox’s direction, who didn’t even try to deny the accusations. “Excuse me if I’m excited to meet my niece,” she grumbled, leaning back in the chair with a huff. “That’s not a crime.”
“It’s not,” I said, shaking my head. “But threatening a nurse is.”
“I didn’t threaten her. You’re so dramatic. I just told her if she didn’t stop blocking my path, then I’d push her aside.”
“That’s a threat, killer,” Bishop said with a sigh.
Lennox just stuck her tongue out in response.
Lincoln laughed and held up his hands. “Listen, I have permission to bring y’all back if you don’t start bullying the staff again.”
“Fine, fine. I promise.” She hopped up. “But now it’s baby time?”
Lincoln nodded. “It’s baby time. Come meet the newest member.”
We fell in line, following Lincoln until we stood outside a big blue door.
Mom and I made a pink and green wreath to hang on the outside that said ‘Baby Hayes’ in big, white cursive letters.
Lennox added a little pair of sparkly cowgirl boots at the bottom because she said we hadn’t added enough pizzazz.
Lincoln knocked once, and we heard a muffled, “Come in!” from the other side of the door. He peeked inside, smiling widely before letting us follow him.
Josie was sitting up in bed, cradling the sweetest little bundle in her arms. “Everyone meet Stella Carter Hayes,” she said. Her smile was wide, brimming with the newfound joy of motherhood. “Eight pounds, six ounces. Twenty-one inches long.”
Lincoln and Bishop stood back as we inched closer.
Stella was perfect. There was a dusting of dark hair across her head, something she’d likely inherited from both her parents.
Her little pout already rivaled her aunt’s.
There was no way she wouldn’t have every single person in this room wrapped around her tiny little finger before the end of the hour.
“I’m so proud of you,” I said, coming around and pressing a kiss to Josie’s forehead. “You did good, momma.”
She passed the baby over to our mom, letting her and Dad fuss over Stella as Josie took my hand and squeezed. “That is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she said, leaning back on her pillow. Her eyes never left her daughter’s. “But my god, she is perfect.”
“She really is,” I agreed. “And she will be so, so loved.”
Josie nodded, pulling her gaze away to give me a soft smile. “She’s gonna need some cousins to run around with.”
Every muscle in my body tightened on instinct, but I forced myself to relax. I needed my smile to stay bright and happy for the sake of everyone else around me, even if it didn’t reflect how I felt on the inside.
“I think you’ll have more luck with those two,” I said, lifting my chin toward Lennox and Bishop.
He’d left Lincoln’s side and was standing behind our youngest sister, staring down at Stella like she hung the moon.
There was so much awe in his gaze. So much wonder.
Lennox stared at her fiancé, whispering something that had him pressing a kiss to her temple.
I knew the feeling well.
“Okay, fair point,” she said with a chuckle. “But I’m still holding out for you.”
I shook my head. “I know you’re sleep deprived right now, but need I remind you it takes two to tango and I don’t have a dance partner?”
She shrugged. “Who knows what could happen? Maybe that hot ex of yours will come rolling through again.”
I scrunched up my nose. “Way to ruin the moment.”
Talking about Grady was the last thing I wanted.
Despite my feelings at the time, there’d been the tiniest spark of hope after speaking with him. I’d convinced myself I could hear him out, that it might be different than last time. He said he was staying, after all. He deserved that much.
But I was wrong.
After Dad’s emergency, he’d packed up his van and hightailed it out of Ashwood without so much as a goodbye. Not that he owed me anything, let alone an explanation. Still, the whiplash was hard to wrap my mind around.
That’d always been his problem. It was one of the many reasons we’d broken up in the first place. I’d lost count of how many times I’d made excuses for him. After a while, I didn’t want to do it anymore. I couldn’t.
Waiting alone in a restaurant on my birthday had been the final straw. The killing blow.
Maybe I should’ve gotten used to it, but it didn’t make the knowledge of his leaving any easier. Even if I’d wanted him to stay, it didn’t matter. He was married to a beautiful, talented woman, with a little girl who was the spitting image of her father.
And after everything we’d been through, I could never be his friend.