Epilogue Dare
T wo Years Later
“What do you think about this one?” Ava asked.
Glancing up from my phone, I eyed the paint swatch in her hand. I furrowed my brows. “Isn’t that the same color you just showed me?”
With a roll of her eyes, Ava said, “That was French Silver. This is Classic Silver.”
“They’re the same.”
“No, they’re not. This one is a lighter grey than the other.”
“Like I said a thousand times before, I’ll love whatever you pick out.”
Ava huffed out a frustrated breath. “Fine. I’ll go over to your mother’s and get her opinion.”
Two months ago, we’d closed on a house next door to my mother’s. Ava didn’t think our penthouse could survive baby-proofing. She was constantly worrying that Piper was somehow going to take an accidental leap off the balcony. God forbid what could happen when a baby started crawling.
I never thought I’d see the day I would be so fucking domesticated in a four bedroom, two bath house with a swing-set in the backyard.
But here I was.
Happily married with a daughter and a new baby due in two weeks.
With a smirk, I said, “Is this what the baby books call the nesting period?”
My remark earned me a death glare from Ava. “I’m so done being pregnant,” she grumbled.
Despite her feelings on the subject, I had enjoyed the hell out of her pregnancy. The hormones that made her ridiculously horny and her swelling curves were magical. Throw in the fact I got to feel my child move within her, and I’d hit the jackpot. I also knew I had to enjoy every moment because this would be our last child.
Originally, Ava and I had wanted to be one and done. But then I wanted to experience what I had missed in the three years I’d been separated from Piper. All those aspects of pregnancy and babyhood that I enjoyed with my nieces and nephews.
So, I’d already gone under the knife and joined Callum as the second Kavanaugh to have a vasectomy.
When Ava started past me, I grabbed her by the waist and dragged her over into my lap. “Oomph.” she muttered.
“Did I hurt you?”
With a grimace, she shook her head. “No. My stupid lower back has been hurting since yesterday.”
“Is that why you were tossing and turning so much last night?” When Ava nodded, I said, “You should’ve taken some medicine.”
“I hate to risk it.”
Grinning, I said, “There goes your stubbornness again.”
She playfully smacked my arm. As I started kissing my way up her neck, Ava sighed. “You’re distracting me.”
Flicking my tongue against her ear, I replied, “Is is working?”
She laughed. “A little.”
As my hand came to knead her breast, she groaned. “I need to pick a paint color for the dining room.”
“You need to relax. Stress isn’t good for my son.”
“Who says it’s a boy?”
I shrugged. “Just makes sense. We have a girl, so we need a boy.”
“And what if it’s another girl?”
I groaned and not with pleasure. “I’m not sure I’m meant to be a girl dad.”
She ran her fingers through my hair. “You’re an amazing dad to Piper, so you’ll be an amazing girl dad.”
“We’ll see.” The truth was I was scared to death of another girl. Having just one was doable but two? The very thought of periods and hormones and trying to kill off every male that came sniffing around completely exhausted me.
Needing to get my mind off things, I ground my erection into Ava’s ass, causing her to suck in a surprised breath. “You actually want me like this?”
“Has there ever been a time I haven’t wanted you?”
A girlish giggle escaped her lips. “No.” After cupping my cheeks, she stared into my eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in the mood lately.”
“It’s okay. You’re been a hell of a good sport throwing me those consolation blowjobs.”
“You’re welcome,” she laughed.
“How are you feeling about today?”
She waggled her brows. “I think I could go for one round.”
“Fuck, yes,” I replied, as I slid my hand underneath her skirt. When I found her soaked, I started to chuckle, but then I realized something wasn’t right. “Love, I don’t think this is just arousal.”
“What?”
“I know I have no experience with this, but I think your water just broke.”
“Seriously?”
“I would be so honored if this was all for me, but I’m thinking no.”
When Ava started to feel up her skirt, she grimaced. “What?” I asked.
“I just had a pain.”
“Oh shite,” I muttered as I hurried to push Ava to her feet. Once she was standing, I said, “I’ll get the bag.”
She nodded. “It’s upstairs in our closet.”
“Got it.” After racing upstairs, I snatched the overnight bag. Taking out my phone, I texted Caterina and Isla asking if they could grab Piper from preschool.”
When I got back downstairs, Ava was bent over, her palms resting against her knees. “Are you okay?”
“Not exactly. It’s so different from Piper.”
That was the last thing I ever wanted to hear. “Right, well, let’s get to the car.”
As I started across the living room floor, Ava cried out. Turning back to her I said, “What is it?”
She didn’t speak for a few moments. Instead, she bent over the couch and groaned. When she finally righted herself, she replied, “It’s happening. Now.”
Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop. “No, it can’t be.”
With a glare, she countered, “Considering I’ve done this before, I think I know.”
“Christ,” I muttered as I reached for my phone.
“Dare, I need you.”
“I need to get an ambulance.”
She shook her head. “I’m serious. It’s coming right now.”
My phone dropped from my hands. I could hear the 911 operator calling, “Hello? Hello?”
“We’re having a baby. Send help! NOW!” I shouted as I ran over to Ava. “What do you need me to do?”
“Take off my panties.”
Normally, I would’ve welcomed that statement. But right now it was the last thing I wanted to think about. When I reached beneath the hemline of her dress, I snatched my hand back. “Holy shit. The head is there.”
“No. shit,” she gritted out.
I quickly reached back up to tear her panties down her thighs. Once she could spread her legs, her breath came in harsh pants. “Be ready…to…catch…the baby.”
“You’re joking, right?” When she shook her head wildly back and forth, I said, “Don’t you want to lie down?”
“Can’t.”
In that moment, I would’ve much rather been flaying open the skin of a man than having the pressure of ensuring my child’s safe delivery. I could never live with myself if something happened to it or to Ava. Fuck, none of this was happening like it did in the movies or in the childbirth classes I’d taken. Okay, maybe it was a little like that show Ava made me watch about midwives in London.
Kneeling down, I slid my hands up her thighs. With a groan, Ava bore down into a push that brought the baby completely into my arms. “Holy shit,” I murmured. I didn’t dare move for fear it might slide right through my hands.
My elation was short-lived when I realized the baby wasn’t crying. At the sight of the cord wrapped around the neck, my blood ran cold. I slid my hand up to unwrap it.
But there was still no cry. Glancing up, I stared into Ava’s frightened eyes. “What do I do?”
“Clear out the mouth.”
Reaching into the tiny mouth, I scooped out some of the fluid. Out of nowhere, the idea came to smack the back. I’d seen it happen in enough movies that it had to be okay.
After bringing my palm down on the baby’s back, it jolted in my arms before a hearty cry tore from its lips.
“What is it?” Ava asked.
I realized then that I hadn’t even stopped to check the sex. Flipping the baby over in my arms, I glanced down. A happy sob tore loose from my chest. “It’s a girl!” I cried, as tears stung my eyes.
“Really?”
“Oh yes.” I lifted our daughter up so Ava could see.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Aye, she is. This time I think she takes after her mother.”
The wail of an ambulance broke up our celebration. After getting up, I shifted the baby into the crook of my arm while helping Ava around to sit down. “I’ll ruin it,” she protested.
“We’ll get another one,” I replied, as I eased her down.
“It took me two months to find this couch.”
“I’d say that you’re going into shock the way you’re talking, but then I also remember how insane you’ve been with the decorating.”
Niall ushered the paramedics in. I would’ve given anything to have a camera to capture the absolute shock on his face at the sight of the baby in my arms. “You didn’t call me.”
“We were busy.”
“I can see that,” he mused.
“Another girl,” I said
Niall chuckled. “We can be girl dad’s together.”
I grinned. “Sounds like a plan.
“Sir, we need to take a look at the baby.”
Reluctantly, I handed my daughter over. It was ridiculous how empty my arms felt once she was gone. I kept a watchful eye on what the paramedic was doing to her.
“Would you like to cut the cord?” he asked.
“Hell yeah,” I replied with a smile. After handing me over the scissors, I cut the cord where they had clamped it.
“While everything looks good, we’d like to take your wife to the hospital just to be checked over.”
Although Ava didn’t look convinced, I nodded my head. “Absolutely.”
As they started loading her onto the stretcher, the paramedic holding the baby asked, “Does she have a name?”
Ava and I exchanged a glance. Grimacing, I replied, “Not exactly.”
“It’s okay. I just thought I’d ask to get the paperwork started.”
With a smile, Ava said, “Since I named Piper, I suppose you should get to name this one.”
“You might regret giving me such leeway.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
Grinning, I replied, “I expected as much.”
She playfully rolled her eyes. “Let’s not give her one that’s Greek or Irish. Like I did with Piper.”
“Can I at least give her Orla for her middle name?”
I couldn’t help wanting to honor my mother. “Of course,” Ava replied.
“Thanks, love.”
“We could give her a name that starts with P to go with Piper.”
“Why do I have the sneaking suspicion you’ve got one picked out?”
“I really like Poppy.”
“Then Poppy is it.”
“Are you sure?”
“It kind of suits her since she popped out so quickly.”
“That’s not what I was going for,” Ava argued with a smile.
I laughed. “I know. But it’s grand.”
The EMT’s wheeled Ava out then. I trailed behind the stretcher. When we reached the ambulance, the paramedic holding Poppy asked, “Would you like to take her?”
“Absolutely.” As I eased her back into my arms, I caught Ava’s eye. “I was an absolute wanker to think I didn’t want another little girl.”
Ava smiled. “I told you.”
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”