Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Owen
Peyton rolls her neck, breathing out small huffs as she rubs her belly. I watch her, my anxiety through the roof because she’s in denial that she’s laboring.
The skin on her stomach tightens. She sucks air in through her teeth as her breath catches. Her eyes squeeze shut, and I start the timer on my watch, waiting for her to relax.
“I’m not going till my mom is here. She said the plane lands in an hour.”
My heart aches for her. Neither her nor her mom wanted to fly out so close to her due date, but her mom had to meet up with a specialist in the next state over. Whatever scans or tests they wanted to run couldn’t be done in the closest hospital. The good news is that if the visit goes well, then we can officially declare her in remission.
“Honey, your mom wouldn’t want you to endanger yourself or the baby just to wait for her,” I try to explain calmly.
Peyton growls, flashing her furious eyes. “People have babies at home every day!”
I hold up my hands. “I know, but we didn’t prepare for that possibility, remember?”
Her expression drops and her eyes water. “I just really want my mom.”
My throat aches as I try to stay calm for her. “I’m going to call her again, okay?”
Putting it on speaker, I let it ring and ring. Peyton watches it as her tears fall. I hang up with a sigh when it reaches her voicemail.
“What do you want to do? Do you want to try to lay down?”
She nods, holding up her hand for me to pull her up and off the couch. I grab onto her and help her stand. We only make it a step before her nails dig into my arms.
“Owen…”
I glance down at the dark stain growing on her gray leggings between her legs. My eyes widen. “Your water broke?”
“Or I peed myself. But I don’t think it’s that.”
Our stares lock and I tilt my head. “Honey…”
She swallows. “I know. Help me change and let’s go.”
Kneeling before her, I strip off her leggings and use the dry parts to wipe down her legs. I rush to our room and grab her a fresh pair. She waves me off to get everything else while she changes.
I grab the hospital bag and the separate bag full of items for us. Peyton is leaning against the front door as I jog down the steps and swipe the keys from the table.
Holding the door for her, she slowly waddles to the driveway and I help her into the back of the car. We’re only fifteen minutes from the hospital, but every minute feels like an eternity.
Peyton is moaning and nearly standing straight in the seat, the way she’s hunched over it. “Oh my god. I’m never doing this again.”
I bite down on my smile. “That’s fine, honey. I’m happy with one.”
“Shut up,” she hisses through her teeth. My phone vibrates, and I answer quickly.
“Marla, hey. We’re on our way to the hospital.”
Peyton gasps, staring at the dashboard. “Mom, where are you?!”
“We just landed, sweetheart. Your dad and I will meet you there, okay? You’re so strong, sweetie. You and Owen got this and we’re right behind you,” her mom says, the slight shake in her voice the only indicator to me that she’s as upset at potentially missing the birth as Peyton is.
“I’ll let them know you’re coming and let you back into the room with us when you arrive,” I say, and Peyton nods, her fingers curling around the door handle as another contraction starts.
“Oh god,” she groans.
“Take care of my baby, Owen. And then take care of my grandbaby.” Phil’s stern voice drifts through the car.
I smile, knowing how nervous he must be. “Always.”
I kiss her sweaty forehead, pushing her hair back. “You’re doing so good, honey. You’re so strong for us.”
Peyton groans, looking up at me with tired eyes. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“If I poop, don’t tell me. Don’t ever mention it to anyone,” she says. I can’t tell if she’s serious, but the dejection in her voice has me nodding. Her pain has lessened since the epidural.
“I would never.”
The nurse on her other side smiles, holding up a thumbs up as if applauding my response. The midwife between Peyton’s legs scoots closer and taps her thigh.
“A contraction is coming. Give me a big push, okay mama?”
Peyton grabs my hand, squeezing it as she drops her chin onto her chest with a grunt.
“Good. Again.”
I keep my eyes on Peyton’s straining face as I lean down and remind her to breathe.
“There we go. One more time, mama.”
My forehead drops against hers. Peyton’s nails are puncturing my skin from how hard she’s holding my hand. Her body shakes and then she collapses back onto the bed, panting. I look down as the midwife holds our son, and the nurse hands over a towel. The midwife rubs his back with the towel before his sharp cry pierces the air. Goosebumps slither across my skin, and my eyes water. The nurse lifts him and brings him to Peyton to lie on her chest.
“Shh, you’re okay,” Peyton soothes him gently as his shrieks continue, and I watch them with awe. They are my life now. My heart outside of my body, and I’m terrified that the world could hurt them. I lean in, running a knuckle along his soft cheek.
“Hey buddy,” I say softly, then look up at Peyton’s watery eyes. I kiss her, leaning my forehead on hers when I pull away. “I love him, I love you. Thank you.”
She inhales sharply, giving me a knowing look but the nurse steps up to keep wiping him off, so I step away.
“Want to cut the cord, Dad?” the midwife asks.
I nod, grabbing the scissors from her. Two nurses hold up the umbilical cord and direct me where to cut. My hands shake, but I snip and hand them back to the nurses. They beam at me, and one is holding a phone I didn’t notice. The relief of her capturing the moment means a lot to me. I hadn’t thought to ask anyone to take photos or videos.
I move back to Peyton’s side, staring down at our newborn son who is still grumbling, but at least his cries have quieted. A nurse is on the other side, wiping away some of the birth matter sticking to him.
“He’s perfect,” Peyton whispers. The awe in her voice reflects how I feel. “I love him.”
Rubbing his back, I kiss the side of her head. “We have a baby,” I whisper into her skin.
Peyton turns her head to kiss my lips once. “I love you too, by the way.”
“I know, honey. Thanks for saying it anyway.”
We have an hour to ourselves with our son before her parents text to see her. Peyton had been too far into labor to allow her mom to come back, so I let her know as soon as our son arrived.
With her parents surrounding her now, I step out into the hallway and pull out my phone. My thumb hovers over her contact, my heart beating with nerves before I finally press it. It rings a few times before she picks up.
“Hello?” Her usual tone of annoyance is missing and it gives me the courage to continue.
“Hey, Brit. I just wanted to call and let you know that Peyton had the baby.”
She inhales sharply, her gasp loud in my ear. I wait for a response as we sit in silence before she finally speaks.
“And her… and the baby are okay?”
“Yeah, she did amazing, and he’s perfect.”
“He? So I have a brother…” Her swallow is audible and I can barely make out a small sniffle.
“Kellan Scott,” I tell her. I clear my throat. “We’re still in the hospital, if you want to…” I trail off, unsure if I should extend the full offer without asking Peyton first. I know she would never deny me if I wanted them to meet.
“Oh, uhm. Thanks, but I don’t think Peyton would want me there,” she says, echoing my thoughts. “Especially when she’s recovering, but I think… I think I would like to meet him, if that’s okay.”
My heart fills with a bit of hope and I nod, even though she can’t see me. “I’d love that. You were the first person I wanted to tell that he’s here.”
“Thanks, Dad. I just—I’m sorry, okay? And can you tell Peyton I’m sorry too?”
Her defeated tone makes me want to find her and hug her, but I glance over my shoulder to the room I just exited. I have two people who need me more right now, and I’ve never felt more torn.
“I will, sweetheart. You know I love you, right?”
She huffs out a laugh. “Even when I was a bitch?”
“We’re all human, kid. Living life for the first time. I never held it against you.”
Brit sniffles again. “I needed that.”
I sigh, rubbing my face. “I gotta go back, but do you want me to send a pic?”
“Wait—I just want to say that I’ve been going to therapy the past few weeks, and I want to try to fix our relationship. I know mom might not like it, and she’ll probably mess with my head like usual. But I guess… I’m just trying to say thanks for not giving up on me completely.”
My throat aches with emotion. “I’m always here for you. You’re my daughter.”
“And send me a photo of my little brother.”
We hang up, and my chest feels lighter than it has in years.