Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Weston
I cut the cord as tears filled my eyes.
“We did it, baby.” I leaned over and kissed Sam’s forehead.
“Correction. She did all the work,” Zoey said.
“Right.” I smiled.
The nurse set our baby girl on Sam as she wrapped her arms around her.
“She’s beautiful, Wes.”
“She certainly is. She looks like you.”
“But she definitely has your nose, Dad,” Zoey said.
“Perhaps she does.” I smiled.
“Welcome to the world, Charlotte Elizabeth.” Sam smiled.
The nurse took Charlotte from Sam, cleaned her up, weighed her, and wrapped her in a small pink blanket.
“Would you like to hold her, Dad?” the nurse asked.
“Can I?” I glanced at Sam.
She laughed. “She’s your daughter. Of course, you can hold her. Just sit down first, and make sure to hold her head.”
I stared down at my daughter and slowly rocked back and forth. She was perfect. Absolutely perfect, and the love that poured out of me for this child was unreal.
“So, are we all in agreement?” Zoey said, walking over and placing her finger in Charlotte’s hand.
“Agreement about what?” Sam asked.
“That nobody tells her she was born while Dad was having a mild panic attack.”
Sam burst out laughing, and I shook my head.
“Don’t listen to them, princess. I was not panicking.” I looked at Sam and Zoey.
“He absolutely was.” Zoey looked at Sam.
“Wes, sweetheart. You asked the doctor if babies could breathe in there,” Sam said.
“Okay. Okay. In my defense, it was a stressful situation. I was worried. I’m already outnumbered, aren’t I?”
“I think so, sweetheart,” Sam said.
“You definitely are. Girl power.” Zoey grinned. “Don’t worry, little sister. I’ll teach you everything you need to know. And I’ll protect you from Mom’s literary rants and lectures.”
“Hey,” Sam said, and I laughed.
I stared down at my daughter and then at the other two loves of my life. This was success, and the only thing in life that mattered.
I was in my study working, since I’d taken the last two weeks off from the office. I hadn’t heard a word from my grandmother since she was removed from the board, and I didn’t care. As far as I was concerned, she was out of my life for good.
“Your daughter is defective,” Zoey said, walking into my study, holding Charlotte against her chest.
“My daughter?” I smirked.
“Yes. She refuses to sleep unless someone is holding her.”
“I know that. Pretty smart kid, don’t you think?”
Zoey rolled her eyes. “Mom fell asleep twenty minutes ago, and I offered to help because I’m such a wonderful daughter and big sister. But apparently, Charlotte doesn’t appreciate my sacrifice.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” I stood and walked over to her.
“Nothing. She just keeps making these disgusting grunting noises.” She looked down at her.
“That’s normal,” I said.
“How do you know?”
“I read all the books.” I smiled.
“Of course you did. Here, take her. I have homework to do.”
“It’s summer. You’re not in school,” I said.
“Well, the guy from the country club texted me and wants to go on a date. I have to check him out first.”
My eyes narrowed. “Okay. Let me know what you find and if you need any help. I can have my people do some digging.”
“You’re hilarious, Dad.” She walked out laughing.
I took Charlotte over to my desk and sat down. I couldn’t stop staring at her as I held her in my arms. I thought my life was complete when I’d met Sam and Zoey, but now, since Charlotte was born, my life was more complete than I ever could have imagined.
One Month Later
Samantha
I took Zoey and Charlotte shopping. It was a beautiful day, and we were strolling down the street, Zoey with an iced coffee in hand, while my hands gripped the handle of the stroller.
We stepped through the doors of Bloomingdale’s and went straight to the baby section.
I saw an adorable pink blanket with little bows.
“Look how adorable this blanket is,” I held it up.
“The last thing Charlotte needs is another blanket,” Zoey said.
“She’s a baby. Babies need blankets.”
“She has like twelve of them, Mom.” Zoey sipped her iced coffee. “I’m taking my sister over there to look at the clothes.” She grabbed the stroller and walked away. I studied the blanket some more. Did she really need another blanket? Of course, she did. I smiled as I walked over to Zoey.
“The blanket won,” I said, tossing it into the basket of the stroller.
Zoey rolled her eyes, looked over, and said, “Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“Over there.” She pointed.
I turned my head and saw Evelyn walking toward us.
“Run. Hide.” I grabbed the stroller from Zoey.
“Too late,” Zoey said as Evelyn approached us, her expression flat as always.
“Samantha.” She nodded.
“Hello, Evelyn. It’s good to see you.”
“I had heard the baby arrived from the country club.” She leaned over and stared at Charlotte. “She’s cute.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“She has Weston’s nose.”
“That she does.” I smiled.
“I suppose Weston told you about my dismissal from the board.”
“He did.” I nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s kind of you. But it’s not your fault.”
Zoey went to open her mouth, and I lightly kicked her to keep it shut.
“I hope one day, Weston will let me know her.”
“I’ll talk to him if you’d like.”
Zoey’s eyes widened.
“It’s a decision he’ll have to make on his own. It was nice seeing both of you. Zoey, did you do something different with your hair?”
“I got highlights.”
“It’s very becoming on you. Have a good day.” She walked away.
“What just happened?” Zoey looked at me.
“I’m not sure.” I frowned.