Epilogue
“Wake up!” Sophia slaps at my chest. “It's time! My water broke!”
“What? How do you know?” I ask her in my sleepy haze. “What time is it?”
“It's only three in the morning. I'm sorry. I know you just fell asleep, but the bed is soaked. So I either peed my pants or my... Aahhh!”
She grips my arm, her nails digging into my skin, and I shake myself awake.
“Okay, yup, definitely in labor. Time to go, Goddess.”
She lets out a long breath and loosens her grip on my arm. “Can you call Mimi K?”
“Sure can.” I hand her a fresh pair of leggings and one of my long sleeves. “Do you want normal socks or the thick ones for the hospital?”
“Normal. Thick ones are already in my bag.”
Me: It's time. We're on our way to the hospital.
Mom: Oh my goodness! I had a feeling! We're on our way. What can I do? What do you need?
Me: Coffee and pastries from Margaret.
Violet is still on her version of maternity leave. We haven't been able to fully keep her out of the kitchen, but Margaret comes in early to bake here before going to the bakery.
Mom: On it! I love you guys and tell my girl I'm so proud of her. She's going to do amazing.
Me: Absolutely will. I’ll send an update as soon as we're settled in a room.
Mom: >
Helping Sophia down the stairs and grabbing the bag by the door, we load up in the car in a matter of minutes.
“We're going to have a baby.” I kiss her cheek after buckling her in.
“I can't wait. I can't believe we made it the whole pregnancy without caving and finding out the gender.” She grips at my arm again, her face grimacing.
“Either way, I'm just glad we'll be able to find out today.” Leaning over, I try to kiss her, but she pushes me away.
“I love you, but I swear to God if you do not drive this car to that hospital …”
“Got it.” I throw the car in reverse and thank my lucky stars the forecasted Nor’Easter hasn’t shown up yet.
We make it to the hospital in record time. Parking my car in front of the emergency doors, I help Sophia out, and a nurse meets us at the front with a wheelchair. I move as fast I can to get the car parked and get back to Sophia in record time.
“Well, looks like we’re about to have a baby aren’t we?” The nurse asks with a cheery smile on her face despite the clock reading the middle of the night.
“We better be.” Sophia grips both sides of the wheelchair just as the nurse starts to wheel her in.
“An epidural better be in my future too,” she grits out.
The nurse chuckles. “I believe we can arrange that for you.”
I follow behind the nurse and Sophia, clutching at the small box in my pocket.
Fifteen hours later, we have a beautiful baby boy named Nathan Ryder Keaton.
I’ve been sitting with Sophia, staring at her and the baby since the nurses and doctors left the room.
“I think it is time to let your mom and dad come in.”
“Are you sure? I don’t think I’m ready to share him yet. Or you.”
She giggles, kissing Nathan’s forehead. “Yes, I’m sure. I’m excited for him to meet his namesake. Well, one of them.”
“If you’re sure you’re ready for the chaos, I’ll go out. You know the whole family is waiting.”
Her eyes widen. “I love them, but let’s just start with your parents for now.”
Picking up the football, I walk down the hallway towards the waiting room, pushing open the doors.
I hide the ball behind my back to keep the gender from everyone.
Just as I thought, my entire family is sitting in the waiting room, all twelve of them.
When they see me, all eyes are trained on my hands, waiting to see the gender of our baby.
“Baby Keaton arrived at six-seventeen PM at nine pounds, three ounces.” I hold out the football, and the waiting room erupts in cheers. “Mom and Pops, we would like you to be the first ones to meet him.”
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Mom and Pops hold hands as they follow me down the hall.
Pushing the door to the room open, I lead them in. Mom instantly starts sobbing harder when she sees Sophia and the baby.
“Mom, Pops, I’d like you to meet Nathan Ryder Keaton.” I stand behind Sophia and watch his face.
“Son, you named him after me?” Pops asks, staring at me.
“You’re the best man and dad I know. I couldn’t think of a better, or stronger, name for my son.” I laugh. “And the way this family is going, probably your only grandson.”
Violet and Liam welcomed a little girl just three months ago, adding the third granddaughter to the family. Nathan is the first grandson.
“May I hold him?” Mom reaches out to Nathan, and Sophia nods her head, handing him over. “Oh my goodness. He is just so perfect and precious.”
Mom and Pops sit on the couch, admiring their grandson, while I sit on the bed next to Sophia.
“While you’re both here, I have one more surprise.”
All three of them look at me with their brows raised, but as I get down on one knee, their eyes widen and smiles split their faces.
“Sophia, you are the strongest woman I know. The smartest woman I know. The kindest woman I know. And the funniest. Plus, you get some points for going toe to toe with me everyday and running a half marathon at five months pregnant. I can’t imagine anyone better to spend my life with.
I will spend the rest of mine trying to be better for you. ” Tears stream down Sophia’s cheeks.
“Will you marry me, Goddess?”
She sobs so hard she can’t answer, but nods her head emphatically, holding out her left hand.
I slip the one-and-a-half-carat emerald-cut solitaire on her finger.
“Oh my goodness. It’s beautiful.” I join her back on the bed, pulling her towards me and hugging her tight.
“How did I get so lucky?” she asks.
“You were destined to be mine. We just needed to find each other.” I kiss her senseless until Pops clears his throat.
“Just so you know, we can’t actually leave the room with the baby.” He laughs and motions between us. “So, you might want to stop before he gets a brother or sister.”
Mom hands Nathan over to Pops and stands to walk towards us. “Oh, my sweet girl, you are officially going to be a Keaton.”
She hugs Sophia tightly before stepping back. “I think it’s time that we let your siblings take turns before they bust down the door and get in trouble with that one nurse who looks like she follows every rule in the book.”
Mom grimaces, and I chuckle knowing exactly which one she’s talking about.
Pops gives Nathan back to me. “We’ll start sending them down one couple at a time for ya.”
I settle back next to Sophia on the bed, cradling Nathan in my arms. “Now the chaos really begins. I’m so glad to have you by my side to handle it with me for the rest of my life.”
“I can’t believe you were able to surprise me. How did you sneak the ring in without me seeing it in the hospital bag?”
“That was very stressful. I kept having to move it every time you wanted to go in the bag. When they gave you the epidural, I was grateful because you needed me to get things out of the bag instead of digging around yourself.” I laugh at my luck.
Over the next few hours, my family trickles in, two at a time, offering their congratulations on both the baby and the engagement.
But the best part of the night was when everybody left, and I was with Sophia and Nathan alone. My two favorite people in the world.
And I can’t wait to start the rest of our life together.