Chapter Four #2
Kelsey dismissed him with a wave. “Don’t listen to him.
This experience has meant the world to me, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.
I cannot wait to see the remarkable person Darla grows up to be.
” More laughter came from Royce and the nurses.
“Go meet your little girl. It sounds like she’s already causing a ruckus. ”
Sawyer leaned forward once more and kissed her forehead. “I love you so damn much.”
“I love you too. Can I come meet her after I eat and get some rest?”
“Of course. Whenever you’re ready.” But Sawyer was still reluctant to leave Kelsey.
“I’ve got her from here,” Andrew promised him.
Sawyer nodded, released Kelsey’s hand, and stepped away. “Did you decide what you want to eat for breakfast? Pancakes, french toast, or biscuits and gravy.”
“Yes, please,” Kelsey said with a giggle. “Surely, I need to replenish calories after childbirth.”
Sawyer chuckled. “We’ll hook you up. Text us your room number once you get moved.”
“They’ll let me rest and recover here for a bit before moving me over. You can just put my name on the order, and someone from the desk downstairs will call up to labor and delivery. Andrew can go down and get it.”
“Is there anything special you want?” Sawyer asked Andrew.
“Nah, I’ll eat anything.”
“I’ll place the order as soon as they move us to our suite. Love you, guys.”
“Love you,” Kelsey and Andrew echoed.
Sawyer joined Royce and the nurses across the room.
He looped his arms around Royce’s shoulders, and Royce slid his arm around Sawyer’s waist. They stared down at their perfect angel, who blinked beneath the warmer’s bright lights.
Darla’s limbs were long and lean just like her mother’s.
Her skin was pink from getting toweled off, but the beautiful, warm brown tone of her skin was evident beneath the blush.
Sawyer couldn’t resist counting Darla’s fingers and toes as the nurses prepared to swaddle her.
He was dying to see her hair for himself too, but they’d already put a hat on her tiny head to help regulate her temperature.
He’d wait to sneak a peek once they got moved to their own room.
“We just finished her second Apgar test, and she scored great,” Megan said.
“Our brilliant baby girl,” Sawyer said. “How much does she weigh?”
Royce rested his head against Sawyer’s shoulder. “Seven pounds and two ounces. I’ve probably taken two dozen pictures already, and she’s about ten minutes old.”
“She’s twenty inches long,” Megan added.
“That’s incredible, considering she arrived four weeks early,” Sawyer said.
Darla’s tiny bow mouth opened, and she made her opinion about their conversation known.
“She has those healthy Locke lungs too,” Royce said. “Never afraid to speak their minds.”
Megan laughed as she finished the swaddle and transferred Darla to a bassinet attached to a chest of drawers on wheels. “Are you guys ready to head over to your suite?”
“Yes,” Sawyer and Royce said.
They called out their goodbyes to Andrew and Kelsey before following Megan out of the room.
“We need to order a breakfast fit for a queen,” Sawyer said.
Royce whipped out his phone. “Leave it to me.” He tapped and scrolled for the duration of the walk. “How do we make sure she gets it? There’s a box here for delivery driver instructions.”
Sawyer repeated what Kelsey had told him.
Royce typed for a few moments, tapped once more, and grinned with satisfaction. “I added food for us and treats for the nursing staff too.”
“Bless you,” Megan said as she entered their suite. “Which one of you is going to take the first shift of skin-to-skin bonding?”
Sawyer whipped off his shirt before she finished the question. “Me.”
Megan blinked a few times, turned a cute shade of pink, and shifted her attention to the baby. “You make yourself comfortable, and I’ll bring her over to you.”
Sawyer sat down on the love seat, and Royce joined him. Megan carefully unwrapped Darla, who immediately cried to protest the loss of warmth.
“I have something better for you, sweetheart,” Megan said as she carried Darla over. “You want her tummy against your chest. We recommend thirty minutes twice a day for the first few weeks of her life, but some experts recommend the practice for longer. Feeding times are the easiest.”
Sawyer’s heart was in his throat, and his hands shook as he accepted the crying baby from Megan.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Daddy’s here.
” He gently placed Darla against his chest and covered her with her little blanket.
“I’ve been waiting for you forever.” Darla calmed immediately and made the cutest little newborn noises he’d ever heard.
Sawyer let peace wash over him and prayed for time to slow down.
Royce stroked his finger over the tiny fist resting against Sawyer’s chest. “What a blessing.”
“So sweet,” Megan said. “I’m going to head back over to my side of the unit. Your new nursing team will check in with you soon to get her ready for her first feeding. They’ll also go over basic newborn care.” She smiled warmly. “Looks to me like you’re both pros already.”
“We’re involved godfathers and uncles,” Royce explained. “We’re no stranger to diapers, bottle feedings, and anything else this little girl might throw our way.”
Megan smiled brilliantly. “Nothing left to do but settle in and get to know your baby girl.”
“Thank you for everything,” Sawyer told her.
“It was my pleasure.”
Sawyer had mostly held his emotions in check while Megan was in the room, but tears flooded his eyes the moment she stepped outside and closed the door.
“I can’t believe she’s finally here.” The tears ran unchecked down his face.
Sawyer swiped them away, but new ones immediately took their place.
“I can’t turn these darn things off. Can you find the faucet and give it a hard crank? ”
Royce got up on his knees, wrapped one arm around Sawyer’s shoulder, and carefully draped the other under Darla, pulling them into a family hug.
He pressed a kiss into Sawyer’s hair and on top of Darla’s head before whispering, “Cry as much as you want to. This is the biggest moment in our life.” Royce’s voice was thick with tears too, and Sawyer felt the way Royce’s body trembled against his.
Sawyer leaned into Royce’s warmth and rested his head against Royce’s shoulder. “She’s so perfect.”
“Gorgeous, just like her mom,” Royce agreed. “And she has so much hair. Kels will have to teach us the proper way to care for those glorious curls.”
“I didn’t get to see her hair,” Sawyer said, not bothering to keep the pout from his voice.
“Take a peek.”
“I want to, but I don’t want to let any of her body heat out.”
“We’ll be fast,” Royce said. “Then I’ll cover you both with my favorite blanket Aunt Tipsy knitted.”
“Okay, but quickly.”
Royce reached over and gently peeled the knitted cap off her head to reveal thick, dark curls. “Evangeline is going to go nuts over this hair.”
Sawyer longed to run his fingers over the silky strands but resisted the urge. “Okay, cover her back up. It feels cold in here.”
“That’s because our little angel is stealing all your body heat.”
“Worth it,” Sawyer said as he shivered.
Royce positioned the hat back in place and retrieved the soft blanket from the bag. “Lean forward.” Sawyer did as instructed, and Royce draped it around his shoulders and crisscrossed the material over his chest, leaving Darla’s head sticking out of the little cocoon. “How’s that?”
“Better if you were in here with us. This blanket is certainly big enough.”
“Let me reach out to Ivy first, and then I’ll climb under there with you.”
“Can you do a quick group text to our friends and family to let them know Darla is here too?” Sawyer asked.
“Yep. Ivy first so she can get our legal documentation filed, then friends and family. I know just the first picture I want to send them.”
Royce called Ivy first and left a voicemail message when she didn’t answer.
Then he sent out their birth announcement before switching his text notifications to vibration so they wouldn’t disturb their little miss.
Dozens of messages flooded in within seconds, everyone congratulating them and expressing their excitement to meet Darla.
Evangeline and Eddie wanted to know when they could come to the hospital, and Royce replied that he’d get back to them in a few hours.
Sawyer lifted a corner of the blanket in invitation, and Royce slid inside the toasty cocoon. “I have never felt this at peace with the world.”
“Me neither.” Then Royce tilted his head to the side. “Or I will be as soon as Ivy confirms she sent the post-birth agreement to the judge.”
“I’m sure she’ll get back to us soon.”
But before they knew it, hours had passed.
They’d consumed their breakfast and made sure Kelsey got hers.
She’d responded with a picture of her buffet spread around her and a second picture of Andrew eating a single strawberry and wearing a sad face.
A nurse named Kitty had assisted them with Darla’s first feeding.
Their Lil Pumpkin had been sleepy and shown little interest in eating.
Kitty had assured him that some babies just wanted to be left alone after their big arrival.
Darla took almost an ounce with patient coaxing, and the nurse accepted that for her first feeding.
Kitty had made sure they were comfortable changing her diaper and had given them a thumbs-up when they’d completed the task.
They’d get additional training before they took Darla home, which reminded Sawyer that they hadn’t heard from Ivy yet.
Sawyer reluctantly placed Darla back in her bassinet and turned to Royce. “Should we call Ivy again? Or maybe try her office. Someone else could surely file the paperwork on our behalf if she’s tied up in court today.”
“It’s worth a shot.” Royce pulled up Ivy’s contact on his phone and called the office. He pursed his lips as he waited, then said, “It’s going to voicemail too. This is Thursday, right?”
“Yep.” Sawyer checked his time on his watch. “It’s too early for them to close for lunch if that’s their practice.”
Royce left a voicemail message at the office and then texted Ivy’s cell phone for good measure. “I’m sure we’ll hear from her soon. Do you want to take a nap while Darla sleeps, or should we reach back out to our parents and let them know when they can come visit?”
Sawyer sighed heavily. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep after so much excitement.” But his mouth parted on a jaw-cracking yawn that contradicted him. “Maybe a little nap.” He looked at the two hospital beds. “Do you have a preference?”
Royce snorted. “I’m getting in your bed and spooning you, so pick one.”
“Here? What if a nurse comes in to check on us?”
“We won’t be naked, and Kitty said they’d mostly leave us alone unless we called for them. We have plenty of diaper supplies and baby formula. Kitty posted Darla’s feeding schedule for us, so there’s no reason for them to come in.”
“Bring that blanket,” Sawyer said as he headed toward the closest bed. His feet grew heavier with each step he took. Just maybe he could shut his eyes and catch a quick nap.
They settled into the bed with Royce spooning behind him.
Sawyer lay facing the bassinet, where he could stare at their little angel until he dropped off to sleep.
Royce had no issues nodding off. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Ninety-nine percent of Sawyer wanted to doze off too, but that one percent kept his lids open and his mind focused on the one thing that hadn’t gone according to their carefully laid plans.
Where the hell was Ivy, and why wasn’t she returning their messages?