Chapter 34
Holly
Knock, knock.
Stepping into the sunny hospital room, I see Sydney sleeping in the hospital bed, but the sight before me makes me catch my breath.
A little blue-hatted boy lay sleeping quietly in the sunlight in a bassinet, but Colin sits beside him, with his daughter laying across his lap, the rays shining across their faces.
Colin is so absorbed in his new role as daddy that he doesn’t even hear me knock.
A soft smile pulls at his lips, and he looks down at that little girl as if his whole world begins and ends with her and the two other people in this room.
He has wanted this for so long. Emotion clogs my throat, and I second-guess interrupting the moment.
Before I can step back out into the hall, Colin chances a look up toward the door and notices me.
“Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“That was obvious. I didn’t want to intrude on your moment. It looked pretty special.”
Colin huffs, clearly worn out from everything.
“I haven’t been able to sleep. I just keep staring at all of them.” His eyes wander over to Sydney, and his expression scrunches up like he’s fighting another wave of emotion but doesn’t have anything left to come out.
“They’re all here. They’re all safe now.”
“They almost weren’t. These moments,” he rubs a little pink cheek with his pinky, “almost didn’t happen.”
I see where he’s coming from, and I refuse to minimize what he went through all because an acceptable outcome happened. We all realize how easily it could’ve went the other way, none of which we could’ve bared to handle.
“I know. And I know that it’ll take a while to wrap our heads around. We’ll all be here to listen and help muddle through the hard days, okay?”
Colin looks up at me with weary eyes and nods, then looks over at his little man before his eyes wander back to his newest little sleeping beauty.
“How is she coping?”
Colin’s eyes slide back over to Sydney’s sleeping form and over the numbers on the monitor before taking a deep breath.
“She took it hard, but she assures me that it’s what she would’ve chosen as well.
She’s thankful everyone’s here and okay, but I can tell it’ll be something she’ll need time to come to terms with.
I will help her find someone to talk to.
I told her you’d all be there if she didn’t want to talk about it with me.
” He winces as though the idea that she wouldn’t want to share her deepest thoughts with him physically hurts.
“We’ve got her in those moments. Remember, you went through it too, so she may feel like some things will hinder your healing.”
“Yeah, yeah, doc…” he teases, trying to lighten the discussion. I go with it.
“Names?”
“Are you really going to share those with her while you think I’m sleeping?” Sydney breathes out with contempt, and I stifle a giggle. Sydney gets grumpy on pain meds. I probably should’ve warned him about that. Add in all the shit that went down…
“Did I forget to tell you how pissy she gets with pain meds?” I side mumble Colin’s way, and his expression says it all.
I can no longer hold back the chuckle as I walk over to my partner-in-crime, pick up her hand, and sit softly on the edge of the bed.
“Hey, lady, it’s damn good to see you haven’t lost your ability to make people wither where they stand.
” That earns me a crack of a smile. I’ll take it.
“Wrenley,” Sydney croaks out as she reaches for her water jug. “And Carter.”
Colin stands and sets the little pink bundle in my arms before picking Carter up and sitting back down in the sun.
“Hey, Wren. I missed you,” I whisper with a soft smile as I picture her snuggled up on my chest only hours earlier. Sydney reaches out and rubs a chunky cheek, a tender expression only mothers have.
“Thank you for what you did for me, Holly–” Sydney croaks, eyes filling with tears as she squeezes my arm. “For us.”
“You needed me.”
Sydney nods, trying to find words.
“And you were there.”
“You bet.”
“I love you.”
“Ditto, bestie. Ditto.”
???
By weekend’s end, Wrenley and Carter are so spoiled with all the things, blue and pink, between self-proclaimed aunts and uncles.
Add in the grandparents, and these two will have nothing to want for.
All the future littles of our group are covered with a plethora of hand-me-downs as well.
The thought that another little will be here in seven or eight months is wild.
I look down at my little secret and chew on my lip as I half-ass attempt to read my latest romantic suspense.
I’ve had to restart this page like three times now. A heavy sigh escapes me.
Realistically, I know two other gals who will likely follow right behind me.
The new bestie squad is going to be a thing.
Jane had it pegged. I’m thrilled to bring all the girls in on the news, but in light of Sydney’s emergency and Ava and Brynleigh both supposedly working toward conceiving, I’m a bit nervous that the surprise might not be received so well.
I know, in reality, that it’s bullshit, but that little niggling voice in the back of my head has me squirming.
Jaxon did indeed load me up with only the best prenatals he could find and has been waiting on me hand and foot the past few days.
I had to tell him to tamp it down at Sydney’s yesterday when we helped haul all the gifts they received at the hospital inside.
Sydney’s mom and stepdad took care of Amy and Bitsy when they got in Friday afternoon so Colin wouldn’t have to leave the hospital.
On Sunday, Sydney sent the cutest video of Amy sniffing the carseats with joy like they brought home multiple puppies or something.
She laid down at the bases of the seats and is sure to be the best guard doggy there ever was.
Bitsy is indifferent, unless one of the babies cries, then she runs for the hills.
“You sure Sydney’s up for all of us bringing food Tuesday night to their place?” Jaxon asks later that night as he puts on his glasses and crawls under the comforter beside me. He grabs his thriller off the nightstand, that I have noticed he’s silently claimed.
“It was her idea. I think she’s nervous to be alone and wants everyone around to keep up her sense of normalcy. I told her–if it’s too much, we’ll help get food in everyone’s bellies and get everyone out the door as soon as she gives the word.”
Jaxon rolls onto his side, slapping his book onto the covers, then pulls my book down.
“You think she’s okay?” he asks in all seriousness, knowing I’ve known her the longest.
“No. I think she’s struggling to find a way to cope with all of it, on top of the new-mom-of-twins role. I know I wouldn’t be okay for a good stretch of time if it were me.”
“Watch her closely with Colin. Promise?”
“Like a hawk.”
Jaxon’s hand slips under the covers and tugs up on my shirt before rubbing my lower belly.
“Ahhh, belly rubs. Do I get a bone now too?”
The minute it comes out, I know I’ve done it. I flop my head back on the pillow in exasperation as I bite my lip.
“I–”
“Would you like a bone?” he quirks his brows, the timbre of his voice dropping and scattering a horde of butterflies in my belly. Definitely not the baby. His fingertips walk slowly across the top of my panty line, teasing me as much as the tilt of his smirk. I love him.
“You’re adorable.”
He shakes his head, lowering it slowly toward my skin.
“Uh-uh. That’s not what I’m going for.”
I chuckle.
“Oh, I know it’s not, but it’s nonetheless a fact.” I slip my fingers through his hair, ruffling its softness.
“Pick some better descriptives.”
“Handsome.”
“Hmmm… that’s a smidge better,” he hums, kissing my belly. “Keep going.”
“Dashing.”
“Meh…” he answers sarcastically and nips at my hip bone.
“Dapper.”
“Did you go Regency-era on me?”
“Fine, you’re a dish.”
I get the eyebrow cock.
“Super Hunky. Hunkalicious.”
A cocky grin spreads across his face, and I roll my eyes as he presses a kiss to my upper thigh. Ooooh, I like this game.
“Devastatingly sexy.”
Jaxon pulls off his glasses dramatically and sets them on the nightstand before subsequently pushing his book down the bed and snagging mine to join it.
He slips under the comforter between my legs and pops his face out, still surrounded by the blanket, looking up at me with a smile.
I laugh because he might as well pull a flashlight out with it and say: ‘It’s really cool under this fort, c’mon! ’
“You’re such a dork.”
“Oh, you won’t be saying that in a minute.”
“A minute, eh? I don’t believe it.”
Challenge rises in his eyes.
“Start your timer.”
???
Jaxon
Spinning my pen between fingers, I check my phone for what seems like the billionth time this morning for a text from Holly.
It’s Tuesday, and I’m so amped up to hear how the test went.
I can’t stand it that she’s in the same building right now and that I can’t be with her.
I know there will be more appointments, but damn.
I should get something soon. Her ultrasound was set for an hour ago.
Buzz.
I snag my cell up lightning quick. Gah, just a stupid notification about the damn weather this afternoon. The rain probability changed again. Great. Grand. Where’s my baby?
Buzz.
It’s a sound clip. I press it. Fast little wooshes I recognize instantly as a heartbeat fill my ears, and my eyes well up with so much joy, I can’t contain it.
Holly: Isn’t it the best?
I swallow, unable to form words as a picture of a little bean forming pops up in the chat. That is not a month along baby. That’s…that’s… Holy shit, did we conceive that first weekend?
Holly: I should have started the week we got back from the lake house, but only spotted later that week. Thought it was just a funky cycle. It’s happened before. I must’ve ovulated late. So they’re putting me at seven-ish to eight weeks.
Holy crap. That’s my baby. I’m going to be a dad. I rub at the little box in the pocket of my slacks, and everything feels even more real. I’m excited, nervous, sick, joyous… The list could go on and on.
Me: This is unreal, baby. I’m out of words. Thank you. I’m going to listen to that little heartbeat off and on all day. I can’t wait to see you tonight
Holly: Needless to say, we might want to consider a different birth control after this baby comes
Me: None of them are foolproof. My guys found a loophole!
Holly: lmao
Me: How many do you want?
Holly: Umm, let’s just get this one here safely first before we go thinking about a baseball team
Me: I could get on board with that
Holly: I can’t!
Me: Just kidding, just kidding… kinda…
Holly: …
Me: Okay, no baseball team
Holly: *sighs in relief
Me: But can we have more than just one? Pretty please?
Holly: Beg me again later, and I’ll think about it ;)
Me: They give you print outs of the pictures? They better have
Holly: Yes, Daddy, they did
Instant hard-on. The whiplash of ‘beg me’ and ‘Daddy’ have me wondering who’s going to take charge later. Promises, promises.
Me: Now I’m hard. How am I supposed to tend to patients like this?
Holly: What did it for you? Telling you to beg later or calling you Daddy?
Me: Both for the win
Holly: Oh, this is gonna be fun.
I smirk at my phone, ignoring my cock.
Me: Yes, this adventure will be fun. Love you
Holly: I love you xoxo
Me: See you in a little