Mercy
M ercy woke up surrounded by warm, hard bodies and was thankful that the guys had disregarded Emily’s direct order to sleep in the guest room. Her friend warned her that she needed total bed rest only getting up to use the bathroom and she planned on obeying that order to a tee. She wouldn’t chance her baby’s life and for the next three weeks, she planned on letting Cash and Callan take complete care of her.
She fell asleep early, after talking to her gram and trying to convince her that she and the baby were both fine and in good hands. Still, she had a feeling that her grandmother and Joe were going to cut their honeymoon short and head back to check on her.
She stirred and stretched, taking a minute to access any unwarranted pains but was happy that she felt none. had a few contractions throughout the night, but they finally stopped around dawn. She looked over to Cash noting how tired he and Callan both looked. They must have stayed up most of the night getting the nursery ready. She heard a few curses coming from the baby’s room and felt bad that she couldn’t help. Emily and Jackson had even stayed for a while. Jack had lent a hand in putting the furniture together and Emily washed and organized all the baby’s clothes and bedding. couldn’t wait to see the finished product, but she was afraid that the guys would put up a fight if she tried to step one toe out of bed.
“You can’t sleep, little one?” Cash peeked one eye open causing her to giggle.
“Nope, this little one won’t stop squirming around.” Cash put his hand on her belly to feel the baby kicking and moving inside of her.
“I guess this could get a little uncomfortable and even annoying when you are trying to sleep.” nodded, covering his hand with her own.
“Sure, but I wouldn’t trade this time with our baby for anything in the world. Right now, he or she is safe inside of me and I get this special time alone with the baby. When our little one makes his or her way into the world, I’ll have to share and that makes me a little sad.” felt silly saying those words out loud. She didn’t want Cash to think that she was selfish but there was no other way to describe how she felt.
“I get it, little one. Right now, you get the baby all to yourself. You two have a special bond and no one will ever be able to match that.” gave him a teary smile and he groaned. “I didn’t say that to make you cry.” He pulled her into his arms and cradled her against his chest.
“You didn’t make me cry, Cash. My pregnancy hormones are the culprit and brace yourself—I hear that the waterworks get worse after the baby comes. Regan hasn’t stopped crying in weeks.” Cash groaned again causing to giggle.
“You two are the worst whisperers that I’ve ever heard. You only have one volume and some of us could use a little more shut-eye,” Callan griped.
“Sorry,” whispered.
“Well, it’s too late to try being quiet now, I’m up. How about I run to the coffee shop and pick us up some breakfast.” enthusiastically nodded and Callan sighed and got out of bed. She couldn’t help her gasp when she realized that he was completely naked.
Callan smiled down at her, “Get used to it, honey. The only reason you have on clothes is that you fell asleep while Jack and Emily were still here.” He winked at her, pulled on his sweats, and grabbed his keys and wallet from his night side table.
“Keep an eye on our girl, Cash,” Callan said turning to leave. was about to yell for him to get her some bacon when Callan called back down the hall, “I’ll bring you back your bacon, Princess, don’t worry.” She giggled and cuddled into Cash’s body, realizing that he was also naked underneath the blankets. sighed—it was going to be a long two weeks if she had to spend her nights in bed with two sexy naked men who made her body ache to be touched.
After Callan returned with breakfast, which they ate in bed, they both helped her with a shower and then ordered her back to bed. When she tried to sneak down the hall to see the nursery, Cash pulled out his cell phone and handed it to her. He had taken pictures of the room, and she thought it was probably the sweetest thing ever. She climbed back into bed studying the pictures and imagining herself there holding their baby.
A few hours later, her grandmother showed up with poor Joe in tow. felt just awful that they cut their honeymoon short because of her. Although Joe was sweet enough to lie and tell her that was just not the case. He went on about his back acting up from those damn hotel beds and wanting to get back home to his bed. was grateful to him for trying to make her feel better. When Joe moseyed off to find the guys, her grandmother started to fuss over her, confirming her suspicions about why they had come back from Vegas early.
“Gram, you didn’t need to cut your trip short, I’m fine.” Her grandmother made her lie back and covered with her blankets like she used to do when was just a girl. “Please stop fussing over me, Gram. Both guys have been doing that all day and I’m tired of being taken care of. I don’t think I will be able to stand two weeks of this.” Her grandmother smiled at the mention of the guys taking care of her. knew that she was fighting an uphill battle, and her grandmother was only hearing what she wanted to hear.
“Nonsense darling, you are about to give birth to my first great-grandchild, and I wanted to be here.” giggled.
“Gram, this baby won’t be here for another three weeks. I think you would have made it back in time for the delivery.” Her grandmother sat on the edge of the bed and laid her hand on ’s belly.
“No dear, this baby is going to be here in a few days, and I wanted to make sure that I would be back in time. A grandmother knows these things.” saw the determined look on Gram’s face and knew there would be no arguing with her.
“Okay, Gram. Whatever you say.” took the bottled water that her grandmother handed to her.
“I have a little secret to tell you, and I will probably need to follow it up with an apology .” Her grandmother looked worried, and sat up, propping a few pillows under her back. “I pushed you into their arms.” Her gram admitted and could only gather that she was talking about Cash and Callan. laughed. No one had to push her in either of their directions. She willingly leaped into their arms, and she would do it all over again. Being with them both felt right like she found her place in the world.
“Gram, you didn’t push me into Cash and Callan’s arms. Being with them was my decision and I’d make it again,” admitted.
Her grandmother smiled, “When I told you that Joe wanted to move in with me and he wanted his privacy and that you would have to move out—well, I lied. Joe was fine with you living with us and I was too. I knew that if I let you stay you’d never let those boys back into your life.” Her gram rubbed her belly, “And that would have been a mistake,” she whispered.
knew that her grandmother would never put her out on the street with nowhere to go. Honestly, she was grateful that Gram gave her a push towards the guys. She was being a stubborn ass, and she wouldn’t have willingly gone to them otherwise. Asking them for help was the hardest thing that she ever had to do. Gram telling her that she had to move left her no choice but to swallow her pride and go to them.
“Can you forgive me?” Gram asked and nodded without hesitation.
“Of course, Gram. There is nothing to forgive.” pulled her grandmother in for a hug and froze when she felt a gush of wetness between her legs. “Um, I think that something might have just happened,” squeaked.
“Well, I’d say your water just broke, honey. Let’s give Emily a call and let your guys know that they are about to be daddies.” wanted to smile at the way her grandmother so willingly accepted both guys into her life but honestly, she was terrified of what was about to come next. All she could do was nod her head as her grandmother sprang into action. She was about to become a mommy, and she was scared to death.