CHAPTER 60
OLIVIA
M y phone buzzing on my bedside table startles me awake and I let out a frustrated groan.
I’ve only been home two days, and the jetlag is kicking my ass, so I’m fully prepared to chew out the person brave enough to wake me at such an ungodly hour.
Grabbing the phone, I squint against the harsh light as Savannahs name flashes across my screen. I shoot up in my bed and swipe the answer button.
“What’s wrong?”
Her breaths are heavy through the phone as she announces, “my waters broke.”
I throw the blanket off me and all-but jump out of the bed. “I’ll meet you at the hospital.”
I hang up the phone and discard of it somewhere on my bed as I rush around my bedroom in search of some clothes.
Once I’m dressed, I jog down the hallway and knock lightly on Bella’s bedroom door, not waiting for a response before pushing inside. “Bells,” I whisper into the darkness.
“Mmm?” she mumbles in response .
“Can I borrow your car?”
“What?” she grunts, her voice filled with a mix of sleep and confusion.
“Savannahs waters broke. Can I borrow your car?”
“Oh my God.” I hear her shift beneath the sheets before she appears in the doorway in front of me with her keys in hand. “Here you go. Keep me updated.”
I take them gratefully. “Thank you. I will.”
I pull on some shoes and rush out the front door, climbing into Bella’s car and tearing out of the driveway.
I make it to the hospital in fifteen minutes, arriving mere minutes after Hunter and Savannah. The three of us are quickly shown to a labour and delivery suite where Savannah is given instructions to make herself comfortable.
She doesn’t.
Instead, she paces the room as she grunts and groans in pain. Hunter follows her every move, his face lined with panic. All this does is piss her off and more than once, she stops her pacing to tell him off.
The whole thing is amusing to watch. Seeing my sweet, caring best friend a little unhinged is a rare sight and if Hunter knew what was good for him, he’d take a seat next to me and enjoy the entertainment.
All jokes aside, I feel for the girl. Her hair is damp with sweat and every few minutes she’s doubled over as another contraction takes over.
After about an hour, an older lady enters the room, introducing herself as Suzanne and explains that she’s going to examine Savannah.
I watch Hunter’s face turn an interesting shade of green as he watches the woman’s hand disappear between his fiancée’s legs.
Poor guy has no idea what’s still to come .
Suzanne announces that Savannah is nine centimetres dilated before leaving in search of some pain relief. The moment the door closes behind the woman, Savannahs head swings to me as tears roll down her face unchecked. “I can’t do this,” she cries.
I stand, walking to her bedside and gipping her hand. I give it a reassuring squeeze. “Yes, you can. You done it once, you’ll do it again, Sav,” I say, all amusement gone now as I comb her damp hair away from her forehead.
Suzanne returns quickly, giving Savannah some gas and air to help with the pain and I swap places with Hunter as the doctors announce it’s time.
I watch from the sidelines as my best friend and the love of her life welcome their beautiful baby boy into the world.
Hunter’s eyes shine with love and so much pride as his son is placed on Savannah’s chest and I take a step back, discreetly wiping the tears from my face as the two of them stare down at the tiny little human in awe.
***
Savannah got out of the hospital a few days after she gave birth to baby Crue and I managed to hold myself back for a few days before going over there and showering my new nephew with love.
I wanted to give them some time alone as a family so that they could adjust to having a newborn and for Reign to become acquainted with her baby brother.
But, today, the whole family are gathering at the big house on The Calloway Ranch, and I plan to soak up every second I can with newborn snuggles.
I haven’t given much thought to the fact I will have to face Grayson today. He’s been relatively quiet since I arrived home from London, but his dozen or so text messages have made it very clear that he’s not giving up just yet.
Bella parks her car in front of the main house, and I send up a silent prayer to make it through this without incident before I climb out.
Bella, Daisy and I make our way up the steps and enter the front door without knocking. Voices filter down the hallway and we follow them into the open living space next to the kitchen.
Amelia greets us first, wrapping all three of us in a hug one at a time. Savannah is next, her face glowing with happiness and pride as she holds her son close to her chest and the three of us coo over the small bundle in her arms as he sleeps peacefully.
We make our rounds, saying hello to everyone before we’re summoned to the kitchen by Amelia and Elizabeth for a celebratory drink.
Elizabeth and Mason sold their house in London a few weeks ago and moved out here permanently to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren and I couldn’t be happier about it. Having them here with us is the last piece of the puzzle that makes Rosewater Creek home.
We clink our glasses in cheers and take a drink of the bubbling liquid. Savannah sucks down the entire glass and reaches for the bottle for a top up.
I raise a brow at her and she shrugs. “I’ve got breast milk in the freezer and Hunter is on baby duty. I’ve waited nine long months for this.”
I throw my head back with a laugh and it’s echoed around the room as the other women join in. “Touche`.”
We chat for a few minutes before we head back into the other room .
I stand off to the side with Savannah as we watch Hunter show off his son proudly to his family. Reign follows closely at his side, never taking her eyes off her little brother and the entire scene is more than my little heart can handle.
My eyes wander around the room, stopping short when they land on familiar emerald-green ones. My stomach dips as Grayson pushes off the doorway he was leaning against and begins walking towards me.
Panic crawls up my throat and I feel my breath hitch. I give my head a small shake, hoping he can see it in my eyes that I’m not ready to have this conversation yet. If he see’s it, he ignores it as he continues his approach, only stopping when he’s standing directly in front of me.
“We need to talk,” he says, his eyes boring into me with an intensity that makes me squirm.
I feign indifference as I stare back at him. “I have nothing to say to you.”
His face drops and his eyes take on a pleading gleam. “Please, Liv. Just let me explain.”
I blink at him, keeping my mask firmly in place. “Give me one good reason why I should listen to anything you have to say.”
I feel Savannah shift uncomfortably next to me, clearly wanting to make an exit but not sure how to do it discreetly. Grayson’s eyes search mine as though he’s looking for the answer within them and I wait.
He opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, but nothing comes, and I shake my head at him before pushing past him and walking away.
I make it exactly three steps before six little words stop me dead in my tracks.
“Because I’m in love with you.”