Chapter 50 Jude
JUDE
Exhaustion is set into every line of her face, the slope of her shoulders, the rise and fall of her chest, and she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I’d never been in the presence of such strength before, my own injuries paling in comparison to the way Arden brought our daughter into this world.
“I can feel you watching me.” She smiles, her eyelids fluttering open as Salem Harmony lies on her chest—Harmony the perfect namesake for my mother.
“Just thinking about how incredible you are, what an honor it was to be here with you.”
“Your strength gave me strength. And look at her,” she says, stroking Salem’s back with a gentle touch. “She’s perfect.”
“She is. And so are you.”
The doctors and nurses had been thorough, making sure there were no complications with Salem coming three weeks early even though she was technically full term. It seems our little girl was just tired of waiting, or maybe she knew that Arden and I needed her more than ever.
That we didn’t need more time to figure things out. We just needed to start living.
“Do you want to get your brother? I don’t know who else is here.”
“Your parents and basically everyone else, I think. Montana texted me to say Ellison is also in labor today.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope, said that she was pissed we went first and started pacing outside until her water broke.”
“She’s something else.”
“Nothing compared to you.”
“Go get Deacon and I’ll see how I feel after that.”
Pressing a kiss to her lips, I linger, enjoying the way she sighs and melts into the pillow, like just my touch can bring that kind of bliss.
Gratitude flows through my veins not just for this moment but for all the vulnerability she laid at my feet. She gave me those pieces of her to protect and I would with my life, but with that also came this resilience—like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
“You got it, Tennessee. Thank you for making today the greatest day of my life.”
“Thank you for making it mine too.”
“Today and every day after.”
ARDEN
“How are my girls doing?” Deacon says in a hushed tone, a mile wide smile spread across his face.
“I’m here too, you know,” Jude mutters, not upset in the least.
“Yeah, but I’ve seen your ugly mug for almost four decades, so you can wait till after I hold this sweet angel,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as the pad of his thumb brushes over Salem’s cheek. “She’s perfect. Congratulations, mama.”
“I’ll let that one slide,” I tease, not minding him calling me mama this time—not when my daughter is in my arms. “Are you ready to meet your niece?” I ask, unable to miss the tears in his eyes.
“Please.”
“Miss Salem Harmony Rhodes.” Even saying her name has a wave of emotion washing over me, my heart so full it’s liable to burst.
Deacon is gentle as he takes her from me, his massive arms cradling her like she’s the most precious thing in the world.
And she is.
“I love you,” Jude says quietly, brushing my hair off my forehead.
“I love you back.”
“Get some sleep. I’ll wake you if I have to.”
“Promise?” I ask, even as I yawn and snuggle back against the hospital pillows.
“Promise.”
“You’re a good man, Country Rhodes.”
“Sweet dreams, Tennessee.”
Jude’s voice is the last thing I remember before falling asleep, only to be awakened by the sweetest little cry. My boobs already hurt from trying to get Salem to latch, but she’s getting the hang of it and I think I am too.
“I can’t believe you had your baby first,” Ellison grouses as she appears in my doorway.
“Oh my gosh, what are you doing here?” I ask, glancing at the clock and seeing it’s nearly midnight.
With the dopiest grin on his face, Montana pushes my sister’s wheelchair into the room, a little pink bundle in her arms.
“A girl?” I squeak, tears streaming down my face and emotion clogging my throat.
“Don’t do that,” Ellison hisses as Montana helps her out of the chair and into bed with me.
“You could have waited.”
“No, I couldn’t,” she says, leaning her head against mine. “I needed you and I needed
this.”
“I love you.” Clearing my throat and tilting my daughter toward Ellison, I add, “And this is Salem Harmony.”
“Hello, Miss Salem, this is Lyric Presley, your new best friend.”
“Can you believe we made it? Our daughters are here and they’re going to grow up together.”
“It’s the best thing in the world.” She says the words quietly, all of her usual bravado absent as she looks from the girls to me.
“It really is.”
“Eddie, I promised the nurse I’d have you right back,” Montana says gently as he looks at my sister.
She’s about to protest but I shake my head. “Go rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
I can tell she wants to stay, but they need the time together and so do we. A lifetime of memories awaits—we just have to get out of here first. With one final round of goodbyes, I watch as Ellison, Montana, and Lyric make their way down the hall.
“Good thing the guest room is free now, isn’t it?”
“Why’s that?”
He nods toward the door. “Because I have a feeling they’ll be sleeping over. A lot.”
“You gonna be okay with that?”
“For you? Yeah, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“We don’t wind up with any goats.”
I snort out a laugh. “What if it’s an accident?”
“There’s no accidents when it comes to you.”
“Guess it’s a good thing we fell in love then, isn’t it?”
“Not just good, Tennessee. It’s everything.”