Chapter 34
Baylor
I missed my niece’s birth. I’m not missing this one.
Niece or nephew, I don’t care. Healthy and safe are all that matters. Same for my sister. I’m glad I can be here. When we walk in, my dad stands at the edge of the waiting room holding hands with Daisy while Beckett sits nearby playing on his gaming device.
Lauralee and I held hands until we came around the corner in sight of the entrance. We agreed now was not the time to break our news. We’d rather the family focus on Christine and the baby. “Hey, Dad, how are they?” I ask on approach.
“Last I heard, good heart rates for both, and she was going to start pushing.” He checks his watch. “That was about fifteen minutes ago.”
Daisy raises her hands in the air. “Bay Bay.”
I lift her, settling her on my side, before I kiss her chubby little cheek. “How are you, Daisy girl?”
She giggles and starts blowing raspberries in the air.
I say, “Hey, Beck, you doing okay?”
“Bored,” he replies, not looking up from his game.
My dad says, “If it gets too late, I’ll take them home and get them to bed.”
Lauralee tucks strands of hair behind her ear, and says, “I can do that, so the family can be together.” She brushes against my side as she moves closer to huddle in. “I’ve sat with them many times. I know their bedtime routine.”
“Thanks. I’d like to be here when my next grandkid is born. Tagger’s folks are on their way.” My dad adds, “I wish Griffin could be here. It’d be nice to have the family together again.”
Lauralee takes Daisy from me, anchoring our niece on her hip and tickling her tummy. I move closer to my dad, lowering my voice to ask, “Have you heard from him lately?”
“A month or so ago. He’s hard to pinpoint on a map, but said he’d be back in Texas soon to visit.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I think about my brother and what drove him away.
Same as me, I suppose. Feeling like Peachtree Pass wasn’t home once my mom passed.
That took me years and talking to my sister to get over.
Now, I’m ready to return for good. My gaze tracks over to my wife, who’s found a book to read to Daisy.
She’s a natural caregiver. Lord knows she takes care of me and keeps me on my toes. I’m pretty sure she would say I do that last part to her as well. We still have plenty to talk about and more details to work through, but I can’t wait to start life with her.
I say, “If we can get him to stay longer than a few hours, we might be able to talk some sense into him.”
“He once told me he has a traveler’s soul.” My dad eyes me. “I’m not sure what that means. Sounds spiritual, and you know I’ve lost my way with the new paths the younger folks follow these days.”
I chuckle. “I don’ t think it’s that deep, Dad.
” I look down the hall when I hear a commotion.
Nurses are whispering, so I’m glad to see smiles on their faces, rather than the opposite.
When I turn back, I say, “Griff just likes to travel, and since he no longer plays baseball, he’s free to do what he wants.
He’s choosing to enjoy life. Nothing wrong with that when you have the money to support it.
I’ll text him tomorrow to let him know he has a new niece or nephew and see what he says. ”
“See if you can get an answer about coming home for Christmas. He told me he can’t commit this far out.
That was in June, around the time of the festival, when I asked.
” My dad worries about my brother more than he should have to.
We all do to some extent. None of us hear from him as much as we’d like, but he’s a grown man who can make his own choices.
“I’ll try my best. I think this will take a while. Let’s grab a seat.”
He grips my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Thomas Greene is an old cowboy who still hides most of his emotions, but every so often, he lets you know how he feels in quieter ways. I glance over and spot a proud dad grin on his face. More reserved, but that’s just him.
His hand falls back to his side, and his gaze travels back to a TV we can’t hear from where we’re standing. “You got your smarts from your mama, Baylor. All you kids did. She’d be proud of how well you’ve done, son.”
I would have reacted differently to that statement a few years back. The grief from her death would have consumed me for days, and I probably would have taken it out on everyone else around me.
Now I grieve because she’ll never get to meet her grandkids. She’ll never get to hold the kids I’ll have o ne day. I find relief that she met my wife, even if she didn’t know back then, though I’m not fully convinced she didn’t.
Parts of me will never heal, but when I set aside some of the anger from her being stolen away from us, I know she’s with me.
Rediscovering the car makes me feel closer to her again.
I can only imagine how driving it will be.
The breeze that comforted me on the courthouse steps affirmed I was making the right decision.
After all these years, I realized that Mom made me take notice of Lauralee Knot.
It wasn’t a grand production or anything.
Just taking a moment when we were in the living room alone to show me the photo now feels like a sign I never picked up on prior.
I didn’t need signs back then. I had her.
Now I have Lauralee in my life, and as my wife, and I know my mom is probably thrilled that her subtle matchmaking played out the way it was planned.
My dad is no slouch despite the old jeans and scuffed-up boots. He can fix anything, except apparently that bum knee of his. But there are doctors for that. “How’s the knee healing?”
He looks down as if he’d forgotten about it. “I’m almost as good as new.”
I’m not taking his word for it quite yet since he’s been known to hide his weaknesses, a mask of sorts, the same way we were raised.
Lauralee knew what she was doing when she expected more from me.
I’ll consider it growth that we can talk about anything, including our feelings.
That’s definitely not how I was raised. “That’s good.
You’ve been standing around long enough, though. Let’s grab a seat.”
We settle in for the long haul just as Tagger’s parents arrive. “Did we miss anything? ”
“Just on time,” I reply, hugging his mom.
Two hours later, Daisy has fallen asleep on my dad’s shoulder and Beckett hasn’t said two words to me, though he’s been talking Lauralee’s ear off.
I catch some keywords like caterpillar, excavator, and tractor.
I’m sensing a theme. Even though the conversation involves large equipment, Lauralee looks fully invested.
Another hour passes before she comes to sit next to me. “I think I should consider taking the kids home. I was going to see if the nurses can update us first.”
“I’ll go with you.”
We walk together out of the waiting room to the nurses’ station.
The urge to hold her hand is strong, but I refrain, starting to let annoyance get the better of me.
We finally make the decision to share the amazing news and are sidelined.
For a good reason, but I still want to get it out in the open so I can hold my wife’s hand.
When I glance at her, she says, “I know. Soon.”
At the station, I ask, “Are there any updates for Christine Grange? She’s in labor.”
The nurse adjusts her glasses and types on her keyboard. “Let me check for you.” When she looks back up, she smiles. “Looks like the baby has been delivered. The baby is doing well. The doctor will be out shortly.”
“How’s my sister?”
“She’s doing well and is in recovery.”
“That’s good. Thank you.”
Rubbing my back, Lauralee looks up at me.
“We have a new baby in the family,” she says, her joy overflowing through the words.
I don’t think she’s even aware of her hand being on me, but I’m not going to tell her either.
It comes so naturally for us to touch and connect when we want to, and I fucking need it.
“It’s an exciting time.” While we return to the waiting area, I say, “I think we should keep the kids here. Chris and Tag will want them to meet the baby.”
“I agree. I’ll try to keep Beckett up, though we lost Daisy to sleep hours ago.”
Just as we reach the family, I hear, “It’s a girl.” Lauralee and I turn around to see Tagger coming toward us with an impossibly big grin on his face. “We have another little girl.”
“Aw. That’s such wonderful news,” Lauralee says, hugging him. “Congratulations.”
He works his way over to us, where we do the handshake we’ve done since we were preteens, but I tug him in for a good pat on the back as well. “Congrats, brother.”
“Thanks. Your sister did amazing.” Turning to my dad, he says, “Pris and the baby are doing great. Healthy and happy.”
My dad stands to shake his hand. Lauralee takes Daisy to sit with her so she can keep sleeping. Embracing his son-in-law, my dad gives Tagger the old back pat like I did, and says, “Congrats. I can’t wait to meet my new granddaughter. Do you have a name?”
“Yeah. It’s perfect for her, but I’ll let your daughter share that news. I know she’ll want to be a part of it.”
Since we’re sticking around to meet the new baby, Dad and Beckett get snacks and drinks for everyone from the vending machines. It’s needed since I know Lauralee and I missed dinner.
But Tagger came and collected the kids as soon as they got back. My dad went in shortly after, and when he left, redder in the face than when he entered—his emotions getting the best of him, Tagger’s parents were taken in.
The kids and my dad go home since it’s the middle of the night. The hospital is quieter, and I’m not upset a bout spending time alone with my wife. I just wish it were at the apartment so I could appreciate her properly, and all over, inch by beautiful inch.
Lauralee finishes the last Funyon from the small bag, then shoots me a hard glare.
Cocking a brow since I have no idea how I screwed up this time, I ask, “What?”
“Why’d you let me eat that? Now I feel guilty.”
“Why wouldn’t I let you eat that?” I lean and lower my voice. “Also, wasn’t it you who told me I don’t have a say in what you do and don’t do?”
With an irritation wrapped in her eye roll, she replies, “That was when it pertained to you. This is about me devouring a bag of chips like I’ve not eaten in?—”
“In ten hours? You probably haven’t.” I gently nudge her elbow resting on the arm of the chair. “I know you don’t take enough time to eat like you should when working. We missed dinner, so you don’t need to feel guilty.”
She sits back and sighs before sipping on a bottle of water. “My stomach has been upset.”
“That’s not good. Can I get you something to help it feel better?”
Reaching over, she strokes the back of my head and trails her nails down my neck. “No. It’s fine. It’ll pass.” She pulls her hand back to her lap, then looks down the hall and back at me. “I have a feeling you’ll get to meet the baby soon anyway.”
“You will, too. You were family to her even before we got married.”
“You don’t think she’ll be upset?”
“Christine will be upset that it was kept from her. I don’t think we can blame her for that, but otherwise, I know she’ll be thrilled that you’re officially a Greene.” It’s tempting to kiss her. I hate that I can’t.
Tagger appears in the hall and nods us over. “Ready?” he asks, the smile permanently plastered on his face.
Lauralee is giddy. “So ready.”
I say, “You keep grinning like that, and it’s going to stick.”
He chuckles. “I’m okay with that.” Leading us down the corridor, he stops outside the door and holds it open. “Go on in.”
Christine looks over from where her eyes had been on the baby in the hospital bassinet and smiles when she sees us. Her lids hang lower, and her hair is pulled back in a knot on her head.
Lauralee rushes to her, and they embrace with gentleness. “I’m already crying,” Lauralee says, and briefly peeks over at the baby. “How are you feeling? Can I get you anything to make you more comfortable?”
“I’m good.”
I come around, brushing against Lauralee’s side, and poke my sister’s leg. “You doing alright, sis?”
She laughs. “Yes, big brother.” She looks at the baby, and says, “Go meet your new niece.”
I walk around, already smiling. The proud dad moves to the other side of the baby and rubs his wife’s shoulder.
Pink and tiny and so perfect, she’s bundled tight in a blanket.
I ask, “What’s her name?” and then bend to read the card attached to the front of the clear bed.
It hits quick . . . Leaning down, I drop my head and rub my eyes since something’s gotten in them.
“Are you crying, Baylor?” My sister’s voice is barely above a whisper as she rubs my shoulder.
I clear my throat and then stand back up. “No, just got a frog in my throat,” I lie through my teeth, but no one falls for it. They’re kind enough not to mention it either .
Lauralee is on the other side of the bed when she says, “It’s okay, Baylor.”
Catching the others looking between us, I ask, “Can I hold her?”
Tagger reaches down to pick up his baby girl. He kisses her forehead and then comes around to hand her to me. “She’s so tiny,” I say, taking her into my hands because she’s not much bigger. I adjust her in my arms, already loving this girl so much. “Welcome to the world, Julie Ann.”
“Julie Ann?” Lauralee says, in a quieter excitement fitting the room as she comes around behind me and peeks at the baby. “Aw, I love that you named her after your mom. What a treasure.”
I felt signs of moving toward the notion of having kids, but it’s holding this little one while my wife is leaning against me that seals the deal. I want this. I want this with her so badly. I can wait for her to decide, but I hope we’re on the same page.
She asks, “May I hold her?”
“Of course,” Tagger replies.
I shift to place little Julie Ann in the cradle of her arms, caught by the tightening in my chest when her eyes shine with so much love for this baby.
She’s always been beautiful, but she’s stealing my breath at this moment.
When she glances up at me, her smile filled to the brim with overwhelming happiness as tears fill the corners, words aren’t shared.
They aren’t needed. She and I are family now.
That I do wasn’t just a connection between the two of us.
It was a vow for the family we’ll create together.
.