Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
THREE MONTHS LATER
E lla
Graham and I worked out a schedule. We stuck to it, and life was easy peasy with a newborn—as much as it could be. The one thing that wasn't easy was leaving my baby when I returned to work. The first day, I was a mess. I could have put her in the hospital daycare, but there was always a babysitter between everyone in my family. As the week went on, it got a little easier.
My shift ended before Graham’s, so I went to pick up the baby from my parent’s house. When I walked in, I saw my mom in the kitchen.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hi, sweetheart. How was work?”
“It was good. Where’s the baby?”
“Down at the beach with your dad.” She smiled. “He’s already spoiling her rotten.”
“I know. You might have to have a talk with him.” I laughed, opening the sliding door.
I walked through the sand to where my dad was sitting, knees up, with the baby nestled on him. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw he put little sunglasses on her.
“Hi, Dad.” I kissed his cheek.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“What are you and Aubrey doing out here?”
“Getting some fresh air. She loves it out here, Ella.”
“And the shades?” My brow arched.
“I’m shielding her eyes from the sun.”
I went to take her from him, and he stopped me.
“Just a little longer, sweetheart.”
“Dad, you’ve been home all day with her. I’ve been gone for twelve hours without her.”
“I know, and I get it. But I’m not ready to give her up just yet.”
“Okay, Dad. I’m going back to the house.”
“I’ll be in soon with her,” he said.
Opening the sliding door, I looked at my mom. “He won’t give me my baby back.”
She sighed. “Okay. You go home. You will have your baby back in five.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her.
I went home, unlocked the sliding door, and unloaded the dishwasher while waiting for Aubrey. The sliding door opened as I put the last dish in the cabinet, and my dad walked in with the baby.
“Apparently, your mom made dinner reservations at some new place that opened up and forgot to tell me,” he said, handing Aubrey over to me.
“Thanks, Dad. Hi, baby girl.” I lifted her up and kissed her.
“You’re welcome. When is Graham coming home?”
“He’ll be home soon. Now, go enjoy your dinner with Mom.”
A couple of hours later, Graham walked through the door and set his bag down.
“How are my favorite girls?” He smiled, kissing me first and then Aubrey.
“We’re good. When I went to pick her up earlier, my dad refused to give her to me. My mom had to step in and say she made reservations for dinner. Can you believe that?”
“Yeah, babe. I do. You know the bond between Aubrey and your dad is extra strong because he delivered her. He brought her into the world.”
“I guess you’re right. I didn’t think about that. Now I feel bad.”
“Don’t feel bad. He’s already seen her every day since she’s been born and will continue to do so for the rest of his life.”
“You’re right.” I sighed.
“But, if you feel really bad, maybe we can take the baby back over there for the night, and we could spend a quiet evening alone, and you can help me study for the licensing exam.”
“A quiet evening alone? Just the two of us?” I asked. “No crying, no feeding, no getting up in the middle of the night?”
“Just us.” He gripped my hips.
“Well, I do feel like I need to make it up to my dad.”
“Of course, you do. You’re a wonderful daughter.” A smirk crossed his lips. “Just let me hold her first before we take her over there.”
“Here. Have daddy/daughter time while I go repack the diaper bag.” I grinned.
After restocking the diaper bag, Graham and I walked to my parents' house. When we opened the front door, my dad was coming down the stairs.
“Ella. Graham,” he said. “There’s my sweet girl.” He took Aubrey from Graham. “What are you two doing here?”
“We came to ask a favor. Can you and Mom watch Aubrey overnight so I can help Graham study for his licensing exam?”
“Ah, that’s right. That’s coming up in a couple of days. You bet we can keep the baby overnight.” He grinned.
“I thought I heard your voices.” My mom walked down the stairs.
“Great news, babe. Ella and Graham need us to keep the baby overnight so Ella can help Graham study for his licensing exam.”
“It would be our pleasure.”
“Okay. Go on. I’m sure you have a lot of studying to do.” My dad practically pushed us out the door.
“Okay. Okay. We’re going.” I leaned over and kissed Aubrey. “Bye, baby girl. Mommy has the day off tomorrow and Grandpa will bring you home bright and early. Right, Dad?”
“We’ll see, sweetheart. Chop. Chop. Study away.” He closed the door.
“Wow, really?” I looked at Graham.
“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her.” His brows furrowed.
When we got home, the first thing we did was take a long hot bath together. Then, we made love without any interruptions. Then, I helped Graham study. He completed his fellowship program last week. All he needed to do now was take the licensing exam to become an official pediatric surgeon. I wasn’t worried, though. I knew he’d pass with flying colors.
One Year Later
“ G et back here.” Graham laughed as he chased Aubrey through the sand.
“He’s an excellent father,” my dad said, tipping the beer bottle to his lips.
“He sure is.” I smiled. “He’s the best dad in the world, next to you, of course.”
“Everyone gather around,” Piper shouted. “It’s time for the gender reveal.”
Graham grabbed Aubrey and stood next to me.
“What do you think Riley is having?” he asked.
“I say a girl,” I said.
“Nah. It’s a boy. I can feel it.”
We all counted to three. As soon as the top of the box was removed, several blue balloons flew into the sky.
“Ha! I told you.” Graham grinned.
We all shouted and clapped, including Aubrey. “Yay.” She clapped her little hands.
“Pa, pa.” She held her arms out when she saw my dad standing beside Uncle Conner.
“Dad, she’s calling for you.”
He handed Uncle Conner his beer bottle, walked over, and took her.
“Hi, princess. Do you miss your grandpa already?” He kissed her.
“Pa, pa.” She grabbed his face with a smile.
Riley, Lily, and I walked down to the shoreline.
“I’m so happy you’re having a boy.” I smiled, hugging her.
“Thanks. We’re so excited.”
“And you’re having a boy.” I reached over and placed my hand on Lily’s belly.
The three of us turned and stared at our family, watching my dad chase Aubrey around and Stefan chasing Violet.
“You were the first child in the family.” I looked at Lily. “What was it like? What were they like?”
“Well, it was only my dad, Uncle Sam, Uncle Sebastian, and Uncle Simon. Honestly, it was pretty boring.” She laughed.
I stared at my handsome husband as he stood talking to my dad, Uncle Conner, and Simon, thinking about how I was the luckiest woman to have such an incredible family. We were all lucky and lived each day to the fullest the only way we knew how: the Kind way.
“Hey, babe.” Graham walked over. “Your dad told Aubrey she could spend the night at their house so we can work on making another baby.”
“Are you serious?” I cocked my head.
“Yep. I know we were waiting until next week to tell the family we’re having another baby, but maybe we should announce it now.”
“You’re right.” I placed my arm around him.
We walked back to where my family had gathered. Georgia was the only person who knew I was pregnant again.
“Hey, Dad.” I smiled. “Mom, can you come over here?”
My mom walked over. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I smiled, hooking my arm around Graham. “We just wanted to tell you that Aubrey is going to be a big sister.”
“What?” My dad’s face lit up.
“You’re pregnant, Ella?” my mom asked.
“Yeah. We just found out the other day.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” My dad handed Aubrey to Graham and hugged me tight. “Congratulations. I’m so happy.”
“What’s going on over here?” Nicholas walked over. “You got another bun in the oven or something?” A smirk crossed his lips.
“Actually, I do.” I smiled. “You’re going to be an uncle again.”
“Damn. You two sure don’t waste any time. Congrats. This calls for a celebration.” He reached over into the cooler and grabbed a beer.
“I’ll take that,” my dad said, grabbing the bottle from him.
“You’re still keeping Aubrey overnight.” I looked at my parents.
“Of course we are,” my dad said. “You two can have a night to yourselves.” He took Aubrey from Graham. “Listen up, Kind family. My little girl is having another baby.”
“Woohoo!” Everyone shouted and showered us with congratulations.
Less than eight months later, our son, Nathan Graham Malone, was born. He was perfect and so very loved.
N athan
I stood in the sand with my brothers and cousins while we talked and drank beer. The smile never left my face as I watched Ella helping Aubrey build a sandcastle while Graham introduced little Nathan to the ocean.
“I remember the first time I watched Ella build a sandcastle.” I tipped the bottle to my lips.
“And I remember the first time Lily built one,” Stefan said.
“I remember when the twins built theirs.” Sam smiled. “Now, both of my girls will be helping their children build their own.”
“Are you douchebags getting all sentimental on me?” Simon asked.
“Yeah. Actually, we are,” Sam said. “Look at this family. The husbands, the wives, the grandchildren, and our soon-to-be grandchildren who will be gracing this beach soon. How did we get here?”
“We woke up, bro.” Sebastian smiled.
“It seems like yesterday that Lily came to live with me,” Stefan said.
“And it seems like yesterday that only four of us lived on this beach,” Simon said.
“I don’t ever want to go back to that time,” Sam said.
“Neither do we, bro,” Shaun said, patting his back.
“We’re really lucky having the family we do,” Conner said. “We’ve been truly blessed.”
“Yeah. Through all the drama, the secrets, and the turmoil, I think we all did a damn good job.” I smiled.
“You know why?” Shaun grinned. “Because life is family, and family is life.” He held up his beer bottle.
“Life is family, and family is life!” We all shouted, lifting our bottles in the air.
Thank you for reading Fourteen of a Kind: Dr. Ella Kind (Kind Brothers Series, Book Nineteen).
I hope you enjoyed it!