Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Willa
Daisy and I arrived home from the shop. With her on my hip, I rummaged through the mail that was delivered earlier. A smile graced my face when I saw the white envelope from my OB/GYN.
“Mommy needs to put you down.” I set Daisy on the playmat in the living room.
“Mama,” Daisy said, smiling.
A few moments later, the elevator dinged, and Damien was home. Daisy knew that sound all too well because she crawled across the floor as fast as she could to him.
“There’s my princess.” Damien grinned, setting down his briefcase and picking up Daisy. “God, I’ve missed you.” He hugged her tightly.
“Dada.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.” He walked over and kissed me. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hi, handsome.” I smiled. “I’ve been sitting on pins and needles. How did it go with the board? Did you throw a chair? Did you quote Taylor Swift? Did Charlie say something inappropriate on your behalf?”
“I’m officially done.”
“I know, but did you dramatically stand up and say, ‘You’ll regret this?’”
“I told them they can keep their titles while I keep my soul.”
“Shut up!”
“I swear.” He grinned. “Oliver dropped his pen on the table. It was beautiful.”
“What did Charlie do?” I asked.
“Signed his resignation with a glitter pen. We both did. Thanks for giving that to me this morning. It was epic.”
“The ultimate power move.” I grinned. “How do you feel?” I reached around and softly rubbed his back.
“Lighter. I feel lighter. Almost as if a huge weight was lifted.”
“That’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said.” I smirked.
He set Daisy on the floor, looked at me, and gripped my hips. “You’re why I could do it. You, Daisy, and our soon-to-be new boss baby.” He placed one hand on my belly.
“So, what now, CEO of Feelings?” A smirk crossed my lips.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into him. “Now, we start building something better.”
“Oh, I have an idea. We can make a candle called Corporate Funeral .”
“I love it.” He chuckled.
“Change of subject.” I broke our embrace. “Something came in the mail today.” I walked over and held up the envelope.
“Is that?—”
“The results. The gender. Blue or pink? Take your guess.” I held the envelope to my forehead.
“Are we ready for this?” Damien smiled.
“I’m emotionally fragile and full of Daisy’s string cheese. So yes. Let’s do this.”
I tore open the envelope, pulled out the paper, and stared at it.
“Well? The suspense is killing me,” Damien said.
I started singing the lyrics to Daddy’s Little Girl. “You’re sugar, you’re?—”
“Another girl?” His eyes widened.
“Another girl. We’re outnumbered. She will team up with Daisy. We’re screwed.”
Daisy’s loud squeal made us flinch. “She sees this as a victory.” Damien smiled. “Wow. Two girls.”
“You realize what this means, right? I’m going to be the emotional mentor of two tiny future CEOs. That’s a lot of pressure. You know, every time that one yogurt commercial comes on, I cry.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my lips. “You’ll be an incredible emotional mentor.”
I noticed the tears swell in his eyes, and my heart melted.
“Are you crying?” I smiled.
“No. It’s the onions.”
“There are no onions.” I laughed.
“Exactly.” He pulled me into him.
Out of nowhere, Daisy started wailing in the middle of the floor. Damien and I glanced at her.
“Another girl.” I sighed.
“Another boss.” Damien kissed the side of my head.
* * *
I gripped the side rail of the hospital bed. “Why? Why did you do this to me?” I shouted mid-contraction.
“You’re doing amazing, Willa.” The nurse sweetly smiled.
“I know I’m doing amazing. I’m birthing another girl boss, not hosting a brunch!”
“Sweetheart, take a drink.” Damien placed the straw in the Styrofoam cup to my lips. I slapped it away. “We’re past hydration, Damien.”
Another contraction hit.
“YOU DID THIS TO ME!” The contraction brutally tore through me.
“I know. I’m sorry,” he said.
“TWICE, DAMIEN!”
“And I’d do it again, sweetheart.”
“And I’ll kill you! Where are my drugs!”
“The anesthesiologist is on his way up,” the nurse said.
After I received the much-needed epidural, I was able to relax until it was time to push.
“Okay, Willa.” Dr. Cassidy smiled. “It’s time.”
“Hold on a second,” Damien said, picking up his phone. Suddenly, the song, Push It by Salt-N-Pepa blasted from his phone. “Okay. Let’s do this.” He smiled.
“Are you kidding me?” I glared at him.
“Powerful choice.” Dr. Cassidy smiled.
“This is a power birth.” Damien smiled.
“Ready to meet Chaos 2.0?” I gripped Damien’s arm.
“You bet, sweetheart. Let’s birth another empire.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead.
And there she was. Thirty-eight minutes later, she made herself known with her high-pitched cries. Our second boss baby, Delilah Rose Blackwood, entered the world at seven pounds three ounces. And guess what? She was totally bald.