Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
ISLA
FIVE YEARS LATER
“She’s got your nose,” I whisper, looking down at our brand-new baby girl. “And your hair too.”
Hendrix sits on the edge of the bed as we both look at the perfect human that we created in complete awe.
He kisses the top of my head. “I hope that’s all she gets from me.” He kisses my crown again. “You did so good, baby. I can’t get over how strong you were.”
It’s been well over an hour, and he continues to praise me for birthing our beautiful daughter. I’ll admit, I feel sort of like a superhero because that shit wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I had the most supportive man by my side.
Hendrix proposed my senior year of college after we were together for two years.
He was playing for the New England Bay Sharks while I was finishing up college at NEU.
It wasn’t easy, being hours away from each other, but we made it work.
I knew that once I graduated, I was ready to hang up my skates for good.
And when we got married the following year, right away, we both agreed we wanted to start a family. It took a year of trying, but looking down at the angel in my arms, I know that she was worth the wait.
On the little stand next to my bed, Hendrix’s phone begins to vibrate, and he reaches for it.
“It’s your dad,” he says, immediately answering the call. “Hello?”
He listens for a second before gently sliding off the bed, careful not to bump into the baby. “I’ll be right down.”
Setting the phone back down, he turns toward me. “Your parents are outside the OB doors, waiting for someone to let them in.” He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it away from his face. “Be right back, my girls.”
Jogging out, he’s down the hall within a few moments, and I sit in the silence, just admiring my daughter as I wait for my parents to come into the room.
I know that my dad is going to be emotional—probably more so than my mom, but that’s all right.
Something I have always admired about my dad is that he isn’t afraid to show his emotions.
I hear the faint sound of their voices before, slowly, the three of them walk into the room. Hendrix stands out of the way while my parents both come to the right side of the bed.
“Oh my gosh,” my mom whispers, her eyes instantly filling with tears. “She’s perfect.”
My dad sniffles, wiping his eyes as he reaches down and strokes her cheek with his finger. “She sure is.” He leans forward, kissing my forehead. “Good job, I. I’m so proud of you.”
“Me too.” My mom fights back a sob. “Now that she’s born, can we finally know her name? You two have been so secretive about it.”
I look up at Hendrix, and he smiles, giving me a slight nod of his head. Her name is something we decided on months ago, but we wanted to keep it a secret. It was hard, but I think the moment that’s about to happen will make it all worth it.
“This is CJ,” I say, and my throat threatens to close up on me, so I pause. “But that’s for short.” I swallow. “Her name … is Cam Juliet Hunt.”
“What?” my dad practically croaks, wiping more tears that stream from his eyes as my mom does the same. “Really?”
I nod, looking at him. “I wanted her to have a name that meant something. A name that had so much love in it that she’d never have to wonder how loved she is.
” I sniffle. “Thank you for always making sure I know that I’m loved.
” I look at my mom. “And thank you, Mom. For putting me first all those years ago when you were just a kid. And for finding me the best dad in the whole world.” I swallow hard.
“And Juliet because that woman was an angel. An angel who saved CJ’s daddy and aunt when they needed it the most.”
When I glance at my husband, he wipes his eyes, and that only makes me cry harder. Hendrix isn’t a man who shows emotion that often, but when he does … it always seems to be when it comes to me or, now, his daughter.
Juliet passed away a few years ago, and it was hard on Hendrix and Lilly both, but they had watched her slowly lose every part of herself that had made her the woman who saved them, and they knew that she deserved to rest after such a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
We wanted to honor her, but to be honest, I think CJ is the lucky one because she gets to carry the name of such an incredible woman.
“I don’t even know what to say,” my dad chokes out, and my mom looks at him before she throws her arms around him.
“You deserve it, Cam,” she whispers. “We are so thankful that you came into our lives.”
“Do you want to hold her?” I ask, blinking the tears away.
“Damn right I do!” Instantly, my dad’s arms are out, and he’s lifting her from my own.
When he walks toward the window, swaying her gently, my mom bends down to hug me.
“You’ll never know how much what you and Hendrix just did means to that man.” She kisses my forehead. “You’ve been his whole world for so long, baby. Thank you.”
Maybe it’s the hormones rushing through me or the fact that I went into labor at ten o’clock at night and I’ve been awake for so many hours …
but whatever it is, it has me crying like a baby.
And when my mom releases me and walks over to Hendrix, hugging him and thanking him, the tears only get worse.
The cocky, mouthy kid I met at hockey camp all those years ago ended up being one of the most selfless, caring, loving men that I’ve ever known. And I wouldn’t want my happily ever after to be with anyone else.
A long time ago, Hendrix decided he was going to get the goalie. I should have known back then that I never stood a chance.