Chapter Thomas Kingsley
Thomas Kingsley
Five Years Later
When I left the governor’s detail almost six years ago, I never imagined my life ending up the way it had.
I’d resigned myself to a solitary life, devoting my time and energy to my career.
Owning my own company, Kingsley Security, had taken off after my initial season with the Storm.
Management had decided it was more feasible to outsource a larger security network, freeing up capital for player services.
And when my bid for the trial run was accepted, I hired more security specialists, leaving me time to grow the business and be with my husband at the same time.
Win-win.
However, three years ago, we caught baby fever.
Maddie’s son, Maddox, was the first exposure, followed by the birth of Lennox and Dane’s twin girls.
Spending time with them and seeing how happy they were made us reevaluate what we wanted out of life.
So when we went to visit Axel and their mother, we spent some time figuring out what we truly wanted.
Mason wanted to embrace his mother’s heritage.
So we hired Carson’s father to investigate the legal issues on that end, but we soon found out it was not as accessible in the UK as it is in the U.S.
We ultimately decided to go with an American agency to find our surrogate.
We were fortunate enough to find a couple who gave us exactly what we needed.
After meeting them, we both knew they were the answer to our dreams.
A year and a half later, when we got the call that Sophie was going to be induced, my life turned upside down.
No longer was I the calm one. I was a fucking mess to the point that Mason had to sit me down before I passed out.
“Babe, it’s just a baby. We’ve been through birthing classes, baby CPR, parenting classes, read every imaginable book on raising children, bought every possible thing we might need, including three car seats to be ready for the transition, and even been to baby bootcamp. We’ve got this.”
I blinked at him as the panic set in. “What if it cries and we don’t know why? What will we do?”
Mason gazed at me with love in his eyes, exuding the calm I used to feel. He took my hands and kissed them. “We’ll be fine. You made a complete document with multiple checklists, Agent Kingsley. I think we’ll figure it out. But we’re going to be late if we don’t hurry.”
“Yeah. Okay.” I got to my feet and turned it all over to Mason.
He was my rock until we got to the hospital, and the nurses gowned us up.
We stood by Sophie’s head as she brought our son into the world.
Mason cut the cord, and I was the first one to hold our son, Lachlan Rhys Kingsley.
I felt the protective urge rise from my feet as I looked down at him.
With a head full of light hair and blue eyes, he looked up as he wrapped his hand around my finger.
And I wanted to cry. My heart filled with an overwhelming love like I’d never known.
One just as powerful as the love I felt for my husband.
Now we were ready to do it again, but with a lot more confidence.
Mason was bathing Lach when my phone rang. It was almost time to put him down for the night when Sophie’s husband, Martin, called.
“Hello, Thomas. It’s baby time again!”
“Is Sophie okay? Is her blood pressure good?”
He chuckled with the ease of an experienced father. “Yes, yes. She’s fine. Just like we planned, I’m going to send her mum over to stay with Lach.”
We’d chosen to stay close to the people who had given us our son and been more proactive this time by renting a house as close to theirs as possible.
That way, Polly was available to sit with Lachlan when it was time.
He loved her like a Nana, so it wouldn’t be traumatizing when he woke and we weren’t here.
“Okay. We’ll meet you at the hospital.”
“Thomas?” Martin called. “It’s going to be okay, just like last time.”
I appreciated his reassurance, but knew it was because I’d made a bit of a scene last time. This time, like I said, I was more prepared. Ending the call, I headed into the bathroom where Lachlan was splashing around. “Sweetheart, it’s time. Polly is on the way over.”
His eyes lit up as he stood. “Now? Really?”
I nodded eagerly. “Martin just called. They’re at the hospital. We need to get him settled and get ready to go.” As much as I wanted to bolt to the door, I stayed calm for Lach’s sake.
“Up you go, buddy.” Mason lifted him from the tub into my waiting arms, where I had his towel ready. “Papa and Daddy are going to get your baby sister,” I told him as I dried him off. “Polly is coming to play.”
“Baby sister is so sweet,” Lachlan giggled.
I picked him up and took him to his room. Polly walked in to take over as we kissed him goodnight. Lachlan squealed in delight at the sight of her, easing my irrational guilt for leaving him.
We grabbed our jackets and headed to the car. We’d packed everything the day we arrived so that when the time came, we’d be ready. After a short drive to the hospital, I parked and we went inside.
We found her room and knocked on the door. Sophie was breathing through a contraction to the second most beautiful sound I’d ever heard, echoing through the room. Our daughter’s heartbeat. I’d heard it over video calls, but to hear it now made it all real again.
“How are you?” I asked, approaching her bed.
She smiled as she caught her breath. “A little uncomfortable, but otherwise fine.”
“Are you sure you want to do this without an epidural? We are absolutely fine if you decide you want it. In fact, I hope you’ll change your mind.”
She smiled up at me and Mason. “I’ll be fine, Thomas.
This isn’t my first time.” A contraction hit, making her groan.
Mason squeezed my hand as it passed. We paced and walked the halls, giving her some privacy until it was time.
When the nurse came out to get us, I looked at my husband and smiled. “Thank you for giving me this life.”
Mason wrapped me in his arms and kissed me. “I’ll remind you of that when we get home and her nights and days are mixed up, and Lach wants to go outside to play.”
All those things were trivial in the scheme of things, and I couldn’t wait to do this with him again.
Those days didn’t last long, and we’d missed those times.
Half an hour later, our daughter, the third love of my life, made her debut into the world.
Sullivan Grace Kingsley came into the world, and we’d never be the same.
When the nurse placed her in Mason’s capable arms, I leaned in and kissed her head. “Happy birthday, baby girl. Your daddies are going to love and protect you for the rest of your life.”
Mason smiled down at me, then leaned in for a kiss. I had everything I’d ever wanted out of life, and I couldn’t be happier.
Thank you for reading Under Center. I hope you enjoyed their story.