Epilogue
Q
Three Years Later
“Did you grab the diaper bag?”
“It’s already in the car.”
“What about extra bottles? And what about Bella’s pacy?”
“Got them, too.”
Jules unlatched Bella’s car seat, then lifted it from its carrier and slipped her arm under the handle. Bella was only five months old, and we were both very protective of her. And rightly so. Jules had a difficult pregnancy, and I almost lost them both during her delivery.
We’d only taken her out a couple of times, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled about taking her out today. Unfortunately, there was no way around it. Mia was about to have her first kid, and there was no way we were going to miss it. Jules inhaled a deep breath before saying, “We’re all set.”
“Are you sure about this?” I looked down at Bella, all nestled in her car seat, and it was all I could do to keep from putting her right back in the car. Even though I knew she wouldn’t go for it, I suggested, “You could always wait in the car, or I could stay while you took Bella back home.”
“No, Quinton. We’re staying.”
“Okay, but she stays in the seat, and we’re keeping a blanket over her.”
“You don’t think you’re being just a little overprotective?”
“Absolutely not,” I lied. “I’m just looking out for our girl.”
I reached into the backseat for the diaper bag, then took the carrier from her hand.
Once we had everything, I closed the door, and we headed inside the hospital.
When we finally made our way up to the waiting room, I wasn’t surprised to find that it was packed.
It was just my luck that every brother and their ol’ lady had come to show Mia and her parents their support.
We were still standing in the doorway when Cotton and Cass came over. Cotton knelt to peek at Bella as he said, “I wasn’t expecting to see you guys here, especially with the little one.”
“We went back and forth on it a bit, but I couldn’t miss the birth of Stitch’s first grandkid.”
“Yeah, he could use the support.” Cotton motioned his head over at Stitch. “He’s been kind of a mess. Been pacing back and forth for the last hour.”
Wyatt stepped up next to me as he told us, “Yeah, he’s worse today than he was when Mia was born.”
“Surprised you remember that.”
“No way I could forget it. The man was a total basket case.” Wyatt chuckled as he told us, “He’s always so together and has everything planned out, but all that went out the window when Mom’s water broke. He lost it.”
“I bet that was a sight to see.”
“Oh, you have no idea. He couldn’t find the overnight bag and was ...”
Wyatt’s voice suddenly trailed off, and I didn’t know why until I heard Stitch ask, “Why do I get the feeling you guys are talking about me?”
“’Cause we are,” Cotton admitted. “Wyatt was just filling us in on how things played out when Mia was born.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah.” The blood drained from Wyatt’s face as I told him, “He was just telling us what a basket case you were. He seems to think you’re even worse today.”
“That’s because I am,” Stitch confessed. “That’s our girl back there.”
“And she’s gonna be fine.” Wyatt put his hand on his father’s shoulder, “Mia’s tough like her father. She’s gonna have this kid with no trouble at all. You just wait and see.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Wyatt looked down at Bella and feigned a smile. “I just don’t get what all the fuss is about anyway. Babies are just tiny, old people who cry all the time and shit their pants.”
“Yeah, they definitely do that.” I lowered the carrier to the floor, and once I’d unbuckled Bella, I lifted her into my arms, cradling her close to my chest. She reached up and grabbed my beard, then tugged it as I told Wyatt, “But it’s not so bad when it’s your kid doing it.”
“If you say so.” Wyatt’s expression softened as he watched Bella whine for Jules. As I passed her over to her mother, Wyatt asked, “You two gonna have any more?”
“Maybe, but not right away.”
Jules was quick to add, “But sooner than later. We want Bella to have a brother or sister to run around with, but I’m still trying to get my footing.”
“That goes for both of us.”
“Bella!” Caroline shouted as she rushed over with her hands in the air. “Give me the baby!”
“Hey, Caroline.” I watched as she snatched Bella from Jules’s arms. “It’s good to see ya.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” She planted kisses all over Bella’s cheeks. “How’s my sweet girl?”
“I thought you were coming by to see us last night.”
“I was, but I got hung up at work.” She gave Bella a big smile as she told her, “But I’m going to come by this weekend and spend the day with my girl.”
“And with her mom, right?” Jules teased.
“Yeah, you, too.” Caroline rolled her eyes as she told Bella, “Your folks are so needy.”
We continued to talk about kids and the future, and it wasn’t long before Mia’s husband came to the door. Stitch rushed over, and after a brief conversation, Stitch and Wren turned to all of us and announced, “It’s a girl! And she’s healthy. Her momma, too!”
We all shared our congratulations, and then, the three of them disappeared down the hall.
It had already been a long day, and Bella was starting to get fussy, so Jules and I decided to cut out early.
We said our goodbyes, then loaded up Bella and headed home.
When we got to the house, Jules took Bella back to her room and changed her into her pj's while I took Roscoe out for a bathroom break.
When I came back in, Jules was settled on the sofa, and Bella was nestled in her arms. Roscoe scurried over and made a few quick circles before settling at her feet. “Can I get you guys anything?”
“Just you.” Jules patted the cushion next to her as she said, “Come sit with us. Let’s watch a movie or something.”
“You got it.”
I sat down next to them and gave both of my girls a quick kiss before asking, “So, what’s it gonna be? Cartoon or the cooking channel?”
“Oh, the cooking channel. You know, the one with the guy.”
“The guy?”
“Yeah, the one with the funny beard?”
I had no clue who she was talking about, but I nodded just the same. “You got it.”
I started flipping through the channels until I came across a guy with a beard, and by then, both Jules and Bella were starting to drift off to sleep.
As I sat there looking at them, I’d never been more content.
I spent years thinking my time would never come, but it had come, and it had come tenfold.
I had it all—my club, my brothers, and I had my girls, and that was all I could ever want or need.
I was no longer a stone left unturned.
The End~