Two Years Later #4
“I think the girls wore themselves right out today,” Gunner said as he walked into their bedroom. Lily was in bed, on top of the covers and still fully dressed, her eyes looking at the television but not focused on what was playing.
“Oh, I know they did. I swear, we need to get together with everyone everyday like that. The girls would never fight bedtime again.”
Gunner smiled. “It’s kind of hard with everything going on now. Nash and Lacy are only here part time, and Gage and Sloane are traveling more.”
“Don’t remind me. I’m still pouting over their trip to Montana without the rest of us.”
“You couldn’t go, even if Wings flew you there himself with Doc on board.”
“I could have. Your son is stubborn. He won’t let me go into labor on the ground. I doubt he’d be so bold as to let my body do it in the sky.”
“Speaking of our son, how is Graham?”
“Being as stubborn as ever,” Lily groaned as she placed her hands on her belly.
She was so fucking beautiful. Gunner didn’t think it was possible to love her any more than he did when he confessed his feelings to her after they moved to Silver Springs.
But with each day, with each moment of life, with each pregnancy as he got to watch her body grow with the children they’d conceived together, it was magical.
And he didn’t care how many tears he cried, they were all the same.
The love-filled tears came at Sage’s birth.
And at Magnolia’s. And he was certain more tears would come when Graham decided to finally give his mama a break and evacuate the cozy home she’d given him for the last nine months.
“I know you want him to come, but it’s good that we didn’t miss the day for Seb and Emma.”
“I know. I just thought Magnolia would come early and she was so stubborn. Leave it to your son to show her up.”
“Noli was born after her due date. We aren’t even to his yet. Next week.” Gunner took her hand and kissed her wrist. “We just have to make it to next week.”
Lily’s face scrunched up, her free hand landing low on her belly. “Mm, next week.”
He watched as she closed her eyes, blowing out her breath.
He didn’t think she was timing the contractions, but he sure as hell was.
They’d gone from every twenty minutes at the end of the baby shower, to every ten minutes by the time they pulled into their driveway.
And now as the darkness of night blanketed their home, they were at every seven to eight.
“I need to get up and roll my hips on that damn birthing ball. But I feel like I could fall asleep here.”
“I have a better idea,” he smiled as he squeezed her fingers. “Why don’t you take a bath? I know your back is bothering you.”
“Birdie said rolling on the ball would help get him into position. And I’m afraid if I take a bath, it will scare away these contractions.”
“Take the bath,” he smiled. “They’re getting closer together.”
“They are, aren’t they?” she whispered.
Gunner helped Lily up from their bed, guiding her gently into the bathroom.
He knew she would likely be in there for an hour or so, which gave him plenty of time to get things ready.
He turned on the water, checking that the temperature wasn’t too hot, before helping Lily up over the edge.
His wife’s face immediately relaxed as nearly every part of her body sank under the water level.
Just her bump and her breast stayed above…
“Don’t look at me like that,” Lily laughed. “I don’t get it. I’m the size of this house and you still look at me like I’m beautiful.”
“I’m not looking at you like you’re beautiful. You are beautiful. You are perfect. Fucking sexy as hell carrying our son. Just like you were when you carried our daughters. Do not get out of this tub without me here to help.”
“Sure thing.” She winked and he knew without a shadow of a doubt she would try to ignore his instructions. That just meant he needed to install the car seat quickly. No problem. He was a pro at those things now.
Gunner shook his head as he walked down the hall.
Life had taken the most unexpected turn when he had to travel back to Connecticut to say goodbye to his mom.
Lily being there, what a fucking blessing that had been.
It was worth giving up every field op, every government contract, every dream of traveling the country protecting people he didn’t know, to spend life with Lily and their children.
Gunner peeked his head through the doorway of their daughter’s bedroom. Both girls were fast asleep, Sage in her big girl bed, and Magnolia in her crib.
Like an absolute rookie, Gunner struggled to get the damn seat into the SUV.
He’d spent weeks researching this damn thing, noting every safety rating and feature it had, just like he did for the girls anytime they needed a new seat.
But this was a different one than Sage or Noli had as babies.
Three installation videos and about a hundred swear words later, Gunner was finally back inside…
one newborn car seat installed properly and their overnight hospital bag tucked safely beside it.
He didn’t hear Lily moving around, which was good. His next stop was to pop up to the bathroom and check on her. Lights flashed across the living room, and Gunner spun, watching a familiar car pull up next to his truck.
“Uh, hey guys. What’s going on?” Gunner asked as he opened the door, Sloane and Gage standing in front of him with smiles on their faces.
“Where’s Lily? How’s she doing?” Sloane asked, ignoring his question as she pushed past him. “Lily?”
“One sec,” she answered as she came down the stairs, her one hand supporting the underside of her belly while her other held the railing. Lily’s eyes grew wide before she reached the bottom step and Gunner moved to support her as her face crumpled.
“Lil? Shit. Is it really time?”
“I think you knew this was coming.” Her hand rested against his arm as he guided her towards their friends.
“I complained so much your son finally took pity on me. Of course, he waited until I was standing in the bedroom for my water to break. I think by how quickly these contractions are picking up, he’s finally ready to meet us. ”
“When she called, I just assumed she told you,” Gage laughed.
“Stubborn woman.” Gunner’s heart was about to beat out of his damn chest. As incredible as it was to be there to support Lily as she brought their children into the world, it still scared the hell out of him. So many things could go wrong… and she was the most important thing in his world.
“Yeah, yeah. Just help me out to the car, would you? Oh, grab the bag from the closet too. And the car seat…”
“I installed it while you were taking a bath. Figured tonight was the night.”
Lily smiled as she looked up into his eyes. “This feels familiar.”
“We’ve done this dance before,” he replied. “And I’m sure we’ll do it again.”
Lily laughed. “I hope we do.”
And then he watched her body grow stiff as her breath whooshed in and out of her chest. His wife’s face came to rest on his shoulder as her hand wrapped around his waist and her fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt.
“We need to go,” she groaned.
“Sure thing, boss.”
“I’ve got the girls,” Sloane said.
“They’re down for the count and should sleep through the night after all that running around they did… today….” Lily hissed as she turned into Gunner’s chest. He wrapped his arms low around her back as her arms came up around his neck and they rocked back and forth.
“There’s breakfast stuff in the fridge and—” Gunner started to explain before Gage cut him off.
“We’ve got them, Reap. I’ll text you if anything comes up. Just take care of your girl.”
“Thanks, Tracker.” Gunner cleared his throat as Lily pushed away from his chest.
“Thank you both,” Lily huffed as she pulled Sloane into a hug. “You truly are lifesavers.”
“The perks of being the kid-free auntie and uncle,” Sloane joked.
“Mm. Just don’t let the girls bribe you into ice cream for breakfast.” Gunner smiled.
“Oh, no bribing will be necessary. We’re already planning Graham’s birthday party!”
“You know what?” Lily laughed. “As long as the sugar rush has worn off by the time we come home, whatever you need to do to survive is AOK with me.” Her hand rested against Gunner’s bicep. “Okay, handsome. We need to get going.”
A few minutes later, as they pulled onto the highway between Silver Springs and Bell Ridge, Gunner’s hand slid over Lily’s bump.
The ride to the hospital was a sacred time to him.
The last few minutes he’d be able to feel their sweet child wiggle and kick through Lily’s belly.
Her hand pressed down over his and her head rolled so her gaze warmed the side of his face.
“This never gets old, does it?” she asked.
“Never,” he swallowed down the emotion that constricted his throat. “Thank you for this life, Lily. For letting me be your husband. For making me a father. For being so much of the glue that holds our friend group together.”
“Thank you for being brave enough to step up for me.”
“No. I wasn’t the brave one. You were. The bravest. To trust me to keep you safe. To trust me to love Sage. To be willing to start over in Silver Springs and leave everything you’d known behind. I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud to be your husband. I’m so proud of everything we’ve built together.”
“Okay,” she sniffled. “You probably need to just wait to say anything else nice to me until after our son is born. I can’t take it. I need my grumpy, growly man back.”
Gunner felt her stomach growing hard beneath his palm and her groan filled the air around them. “It’s okay. You’ve got this, Lil. Just keep breathing.”
He stayed like that, right by her side, from that moment on. Through hours of contractions. Through the infinitely sacred moments of pushing. He never let go. Never stopped trying to pour every ounce of strength he possessed into her.
And just as the earliest tendrils of morning light from the sunrise touched the edge of Lily’s hospital bed, their son’s beautiful cries filled the air around them.
THE END
Not ready to leave Silver Springs? Be sure to order your copy of Blue Norther, book 1 in the Silver Ridge Ranch series, today!