CHAPTER TWELVE
Almost five months later
– REEF –
“How is she holding up?” Nixie whispers.
I’m nursing a cup of coffee while my gaze is locked on my old lady who is pacing the room. Her belly is round with the baby who wants to come into this world and is making it known. Maeve’s water broke an hour ago and she’s been pacing and stalling to go to the hospital since.
Her mother is rushing her, pushing to get into the car, and Maeve has been lashing out at everyone who gets close to her. Everyone except me. I’m at a safe distance, sipping coffee, and have been up with her most of the night. I do whatever she says and support her every damn step of the way.
Momma knows best and all, and I’m damn sure my old lady can handle anything. She’s so damn gorgeous pacing barefoot back and forth behind the couch. A couch I’ve taken her sweet pussy in every position I can think of.
We’ve been living here for about four months. After Stuart died in the living room Nixie complained about the cleanup and Zale suggested she’d move in with him and Leon. She accepted and it’s how Maeve and I came to live with each other in this place. It took me almost a month to strip the place clean, renovate some parts, and together with Maeve we decorated the place to our own liking.
We turned the pottery studio into Maeve’s office where she can work whenever she wants or needs to. Zale extended their house to create a new pottery studio exactly how Nixie wanted it. She has more space now and has been all smiles about the new living situation, and the fact her daughter lives right next door.
It’s been a little over five months since we met through a text message and instantly became friends, and a little while later became lovers, and eventually both admitted our feelings involving falling hard and wanting more.
Maeve stops pacing and braces herself on the back of the couch. I place my mug on the table and walk over to my woman. From the corner of my eye I notice Nixie who is waving at me not to engage.
The corner of my mouth twitches. Yeah, we all became very much aware of the fact that my woman is a little vicious when she’s in labor. It’s not every day she’s trying to get a tiny person out of her body so it’s understandable, and mostly? I don’t give a fuck whatever attitude or words she throws at me because I’ll stand by my old lady no matter what.
“What do you need, darlin’,” I rumble and come to a stop behind her.
“Nothing,” she hisses and groans in pain.
I use a flat hand to stroke up and down the side of her spine and I can feel her leaning into me. Nixie tries to get my attention again and gives me a stern look while she points at her daughter and then at the front door.
Her mother has been trying to convince Maeve to consider giving birth at the hospital instead of a home birth. We have an obstetrician to assist right here and easy access to a specialist at the hospital. Maeve considered all the options and has been planning it for months.
This home is special to her, even if someone died here who wanted to do her harm came in and tried to take her and the baby. Maeve wants the birth of Violet, previously known as Pickle, to be right here in the house previously owned by her grandmother, who she will be named after.
I can’t tell Nixie because she doesn’t know Maeve picked that name and wants a completely natural birth right here surrounded by family. Though, Leon and Zale are in the kitchen and waiting for the kid to be thrown into the world.
I’m not convincing my woman of anything others want for her, so I merely ask, “Your mother wants to make sure you haven’t changed your mind about the hospital.”
Nixie gives me the stink eye, and flips me off for good measure. I shrug ’cause in the end I’ll always have my woman’s back with any life’s choice she makes.
“I’m sure,” Maeve grits. “I’m also sure this…ooouuuccchhhh. Fuck. She wants out.”
“All the pacing might have given us the last few inches we need. Let me check if you’re fully dilated,” the obstetrician says and Maeve moves to the bed we placed in the living room.
I move with her and stand beside her head while the obstetrician does whatever she needs to do between my woman’s legs. Maeve’s tearstained face hits mine and I hate seeing the pain in her eyes.
“You’re so fucking strong,” I tell her and receive a glare in return.
I turn to hide my smile and reach in the bucket of cold water to rinse the washcloth and wring it out so I can place it on Maeve sweaty forehead. She closes her eyes for a heartbeat and when they open and are fixed on mine? All the fucking love she has hits me full force as I feel them just as deep and true.
Our gaze doesn’t break when the obstetrician tells her she’s ready and can push when the next contraction hits. I take her hand in mine and Maeve’s eyes fall shut as she grunts through the pain. The love I feel for this strong woman started out of friendship and became a solid web over the past few months. Yet, seeing her going through hours and hours of pain and discomfort makes me feel helpless and shows the strength this woman possesses.
Kicked to the curb by the fucker who didn’t want to become the father of their unborn child, moving to another state to handle motherhood and start a new life for both of them is what this strong woman did all by herself. She had my support as a friend, although things have shifted these past few months.
Feeling her unborn child move inside her at the sound of my voice made me love this baby without even seeing her. Knowing my old lady’s the one growing Violet inside her belly makes her mine.
I don’t care about blood, DNA, or the label father, stepfather, parent, what-the-fuck-ever. This kid will have my loyalty, my friendship, my strength, my love, and whatever else she needs throughout life.
The little one was a part of our relationship from the start, and now the time has finally come to meet face-to-face. To welcome her into this world and really start our life together as the three of us. I swallow hard at the raw emotions coursing through my veins.
Fuck. I hate standing at the sidelines while my woman battles her own body like a true mother-warrior breaking through inhumane barriers to create life itself.
A single cry falls from Maeve’s lips after long moments and finally the relief is there when the obstetrician says, “It’s a girl. ”
Maeve’s gaze is set on something in front of her while I lean down and press a kiss on her sweaty forehead.
“So proud of you,” I muse.
Maeve’s eyes collide with mine and I get a tired but stunning smile. Someone places a tiny bundle on Maeve’s chest and my gaze shifts. One look and the little one imprints love straight to the bone. Fuck. A tiny human with wrinkles wrapped in innocence. An overwhelming sense of responsibility hits me and the urge to protect this little girl against the whole damn world ignites.
Emotions clog my throat when I reach out to gently brush my fingertips against the baby girl’s chubby cheek. “Welcome to this fucked-up world, Lettie. I’m going to make damn sure nothing bad will ever touch you.”
“Reef,” Maeve whispers my name in a scolding tone. “Sweet and all, but can you not swear twice in the first thing you tell our little one?”
Our little one. Our. Fuck. My eyes don’t sting, and I’m not feeling wetness slide down my cheek. Okay, so what if a tear or two leaks from my damn eyes? It’s a moment in my life I won’t ever forget.
“Our girl,” I echo.
“Lettie?” Nixie asks as she steps closer.
Maeve’s lips twitch. How can this strong woman look tired as hell and yet oh so stunning all at the same time?
“Lettie is Reef’ s version of her name. He’s been using it ever since I made the decision to honor Grams and name her Violet.” Maeve’s gaze shifts from Lettie to Nixie. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Nixie places a hand over her heart. “Mind? Oh, Maeve, I think it’s perfect.”
The following hours are a rush of shit Maeve needs to handle with the afterbirth and making sure everything is fine with her, and then it’s time for some peace and quiet. It’s a good thing we put a bed in the living room along with a crib. Right now both can get some sleep and thank fuck Lettie latched on and already drank some of her mother’s milk.
“Perfection,” I muse as I stare at both my sleeping girls.
“I’m a grandma,” Nixie whispers from beside me.
I shoot her a grin. “Yeah, you are.” Shifting my gaze, I try to rile up my prez. “That makes you gramps, Prez.”
He flips me off, but there’s a huge smile on his face.
“Does that make me Maeve’s brother, and Lettie’s uncle?” Leon eagerly asks.
Zale stares at Nixie, both at a loss for words.
“We’re all one big happy family, dude,” I tell him. “Found family, by blood, or by brotherhood, we’re all connected.”
Zale places a hand on his son’s shoulder. “And that right there is the damn truth.”
Leon raises his soda can. “To found family. ”
I grin and let my glass tap his can. “To found family.”
“May we all live life as fully and hard as riding a bike on a perfect summer day,” Zale states.
Nixie shakes her head with a huge smile on her face. “To life, love, and good people who share the worst shit, and the good times no matter what’s thrown at our feet.”
The little one seems to agree when a small cry cracks through the air. My gaze collides with Maeve who blinks away the sleep. Such a sweet momma bear already. My feet move without a single thought.
Gently I lift Lettie from her crib and place her beside Maeve. There’s nothing sexual about my woman baring her tit and offering it to our little girl. Fuck. If anything it’s a primal thing where it ignites pride for the way she’s able to provide for this little one that already grew strong inside Maeve’s belly.
Yeah, I’m most definitely proud as hell to share my life with Maeve, and now start a new chapter as a family. The future is wide open, like my arms, to embrace whatever we’re graced with. If the past few months with Maeve is anything to go by? I’d say we’re in for a wild ride…and I can’t wait to have her on the back of my bike…along with a million other new things we’ll experience together, and as a family.