Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Maggie
Strong arms wrap around me from behind, and I know it’s him.
“A little birdie told me you helped plan this.” I wave my hands around our living room. Amanda was tasked with getting me out of the house while everyone else set up for my baby shower.
“Maybe,” Lachlan says, dropping a kiss on my neck. “I just wanted today to be perfect. I wanted it to be here, so you didn’t have to worry about lugging your gifts home, and it’s a memory for us.”
“So many memories,” I say, leaning into him.
“Our little man got spoiled today, huh?” he says, looking at all the opened boxes and gift bags. Among them are the pink and blue blankets that Grandma knitted for us. Lachlan made sure they were on display with a card that read Made with love by Doris on them.
“He really did. I don’t know that there is a single thing we’re going to have to buy. Our friends went above and beyond.”
“You mean, other than all the stuff we’ve already bought,” he teases.
“Hey!” I turn to look at him over my shoulder. “You’re the one who kept ordering online.”
“It’s the ads. You scroll through social media and something cool pops up, and your kid needs it. It’s a crisis among dads,” he tells me, trying like hell to hold in his laughter.
“True story,” Forrest says, coming to stand next to us with baby Willow in his arms. She’s two weeks old today, and the most precious baby.
“What’s a true story?” Briar asks. She looks amazing for just having a baby. She settles onto the couch, props her feet up, and smirks at Forrest. She knew he was going to tell her to rest.
“That the ads on social media and the late-night purchases are a crisis among dads.”
Briar’s body shakes with her laughter. She winces, but it doesn’t stop her from laughing still. “Shall we tell them, my dear husband, about your latest purchase?” she asks Forrest.
“Babe, it had to happen,” Forrest defends himself.
“This I’ve got to hear,” I say, moving out of Lachlan’s arms and going to sit on the couch next to Briar. I also prop my feet up because they’re swelling, and I know Lachlan is going to remind me to do it. “Let’s hear it,” I say, once I’m settled.
“So, this guy orders a robot vacuum. You know the little circle vacuums that do it all on their own?”
“That’s not so bad. It actually sounds kind of helpful,” I tell Briar.
“Oh, I agree. However, that’s not why he bought it.”
“It was the baby riding the sweeper, wasn’t it?” Lachlan asks. “I almost did the same thing, but I knew it would be months before Sean can take a ride on his own.”
Briar turns to look at me, and she’s grinning like crazy. “See what I live with.”
“Babe, it’s like her own personal amusement park ride, right in the house,” Forrest tells his wife.
“I’m doing it,” Lachlan says, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
I watch them with a smile on my face. “It could be worse,” I tell Briar.
“For sure,” she agrees. “He’s the best man I know, aside from the other four. They’re all amazing men, and if this is what they want to do for fun, something that whole-heartedly involves our children, who are we to stop them?”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Time for cake!” Monroe calls out.
“This can wait,” Lachlan says, shoving his phone back into his jeans pocket. “Mags, cake.” He steps in front of where I’m sitting on the couch and offers me his hand to help me up. Together, we make our way into the kitchen to start passing our cake to our guests.
“Save me that corner piece,” Lachlan tells me. “It has more icing.”
“Why not take the bear and the blocks?”
“That’s the center.”
“Yeah, but it will have more icing on top.”
“Not as much as two sides, and the piping around the bottom.” He licks his lips, and I can’t help it, I crack up laughing.
“You’re too much,” I tell him as he leans down and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
“I’m yours.”
“And I’m yours.”
“Hey, now, none of that,” Legend says. “That’s what got you that.” He points to my belly.
“And you this,” Monroe says, pointing to her belly. I’m sure she has a tiny bump hiding under there.
“We’re really good at it,” Legend tells his wife.
“So are we,” Roman says, pulling Emerson into his arms.
“Don’t let Forrest hear you say that,” Maddox jokes.
“Hear him say what?” Forrest asks, as he joins us to get a piece of cake for the girls, himself, and Briar.
“Rome and Emerson are good at making babies,” Lachlan tells him.
“Really, man? Really? You had to go there? Today is special,” he says, before he bursts out laughing. “I tried. I couldn’t pull it off,” he says, pointing to his own face. “My niece is adorable, and I’m sure this next one will be as well. Outside of acknowledging that you are, in fact, the father, I don’t want to hear how he or she got here, K ?” he says, grabbing three plates of cake and ice cream before heading back toward the living room.
That’s my family. The ones who have chosen to love me and be there for me through all of life’s ups and downs. It’s always like this when we get together. I miss Grandma Doris so much, but these people, my people, they make it easier. They’re here for me. They love me, and I love them too.
I’ve been aching all day. Braxton hicks are no joke. I was just at the doctor’s yesterday for a checkup and baby boy isn’t ready to make his arrival just yet, but my body, on the other hand, is getting ready.
That basically means I can’t get comfortable. I’m not sleeping well at night, and today, I’ve been up and down from the recliner to the bed, to pacing the floor. I’m miserable, but all of this will be worth it.
“Mommy loves you,” I tell my baby bump. Well, it’s way larger than a bump. I’m due any day now, and the waddle is in full effect. Everyone tells me that I’m still “all belly” and it’s out there. It’s a good thing I’m due soon because Sean is definitely out of room in there.
The dryer buzzes, letting me know that it’s finished its cycle. I know Lachlan will give me a hard time about doing laundry, but I’m not lifting anything heavy. I’m folding the clothes as they come out of the dryer and placing them in stacks for him to carry when he gets home. Besides, keeping active is good for me, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll be lucky, and it will trigger labor.
I’m excited to meet my son.
It takes me a few moments to lift from the couch and make my way to the laundry room. I’m slow moving, but at least I’m moving. I bend over to grab the last item out of the dryer and feel wetness rush between my legs. I look down to see my light gray maternity leggings are soaked. It takes me a solid minute to realize that I didn’t just pee my pants.
My water just broke.
Staying calm, I grab a towel from an earlier load of laundry and toss it to the floor. Then I grab another for myself and make my way to the bedroom. I change my clothes through the contraction that hits and then waddle back to the living room. I don’t want to call the ambulance, and I know Maddox is off today because Lachlan told me fifteen times before he left for work, to call Maddox if I needed anything.
Apparently, he knows he’s on baby watch. The perks of being best friends, neighbors, and scheduled to be off the same day Lachlan is working. I’m pretty sure they planned it this way, but I’ll never ask them. I love how he takes care of us. His heart is larger than life.
Grabbing my phone, I call Maddox.
“Hey, Maggie. Everything okay?”
“Yes, but could you come over here and see me?”
“Sure, what’s up?” he asks. I can hear him moving around.
“I’m pretty sure my water just broke.”
“What? Holy shit, woman, you should have started with that. Stay there. I’m on my way.”
“Not going anywhere.” I chuckle.
“Did you call Lachlan?”
“No. Not yet. I want to be on my way to the hospital before I do.”
“Okay. I’m walking out the door.”
Taking my towel and my phone, knowing my bags and the baby’s are already in my SUV that we bought last week, I open the garage door, and pull my car out. I’m walking around the SUV to get into the passenger side when Maddox comes roaring into the driveway.
“What are you doing, Maggie?”
“We need to take my car. It has the car seat and all the bags. I was pulling it out of the garage for you. Besides, I don’t want to mess up your truck.” I wrinkle my nose.
“The truck can be cleaned, but come on.” He places his hand on the small of my back, while holding my arm with the other, and helps me to the passenger side.
“I need to put this down, just in case.”
“On it.” He quickly places the towel over the seat, helps me inside, and fastens my seat belt before rushing around the front of my SUV and sliding behind the wheel.
Once we’re out of the driveway, I call Lachlan.
“Hey, Mags. How ya feeling?”
“Well, Maddox and I are on our way to the hospital. My water broke,” I rush to say before he freaks out. Who am I kidding? He’s going to freak out. Briar, Emerson, and Monroe already warned me about the full-on daddy-to-be panic mode that would set in.
“Are you okay? How are the contractions? Sorry, bro, my wife just went into labor. I can have one of the guys finish you up, or we can schedule again. I hate to run, but it’s my wife. My son,” Lachlan rambles.
I hear his client tell him to go, and they can finish up in a couple of weeks once he’s healed and to take care of his wife and baby. Technically, we’re not married yet, but I don’t think this is the time to correct either one of them.
“I’m fine, Lachlan. Just breathe.”
“I should be telling you that. Let me talk to Maddox.”
“You’re on speaker,” I tell him.
“Maddox, brother, you have my entire world in that truck right now.”
“I got this,” Maddox replies. “Drive safely. We’re in Maggie’s SUV, so we have everything we need but you. Don’t drive like a maniac. Her contractions are not close together. In fact, she’s not had one since I’ve been with her.”
“How far apart?” Lachlan asks.
“The last one was about ten minutes ago. We have plenty of time. Drive safe. We’ll see you there.”
“Maggie, I love you. We’re having a baby.”
“I love you too.”
“Maddox.” Lachlan’s voice cracks.
“I’ve got them, brother. See you soon.” He reaches out and ends the call on the dash.
“This is good practice for me anyway,” Maddox says, making me laugh.
By the time we reach the hospital, I’ve yet to have another contraction. I get checked in and go straight up to the maternity ward. A nurse offers to help me change, and Maddox steps out in the hallway to call Brogan.
I’m barely in my gown when Lachlan comes racing through the door. “I’m here. Is he here? Did I miss it?”
The nurse laughs. “You must be dad?”
I swear his chest puffs out. “Yes. Me. I’m the dad.” He slaps at his chest, and my heart melts as I laugh.
“Come here.” I hold my hand out for him, and he comes to me, kissing my forehead, and holding my hand while the nurse gets me hooked up to an IV, and the baby monitor on.
“The doctor will be in soon. Can I get you anything?” the nurse asks.
“No, thank you.”
The nurse nods and steps outside.
Maddox knocks. “I’m going to go to the waiting room and start calling everyone. Lach, did you call your parents?”
“Shit. No. Can you do that?”
“I’m all over it, brother.” Maddox smiles and leaves the room.
“How are you?”
“I’m fine.” I rest my hand over his heart. “Calm down. It could be hours before he gets here. We’re both okay.”
“We’re having a baby, Mags.” He kisses me softly as another contraction hits.
Lachlan holds my hand and tells me how great I’m doing and how much he loves me. He’s my rock and fills my heart with so much joy.
“You know you’re going to spoil him,” I tell Lachlan.
“That’s my job.”
“Your job is to teach, love, and protect him.”
“And spoil. I’m certain I read that somewhere,” he says, smiling down at our baby boy sleeping in his arms.
“Sure you did.” I laugh.
“How are you feeling? You didn’t sleep long,” he tells me.
“I’m perfect.” I smile up at him. “What time is it?”
“Just after eight.”
“A few hours.”
“The waiting room is full, everyone is here, and they’re excited to meet him. I told them they had to stay put until you were awake.”
“You made them wait?”
“Yeah, you needed rest.”
“Well, go get them.” I sit up in the bed, wincing a little, before I hold my arms up for Sean. My heart is so full of love for our son and his daddy, it feels as if it could burst wide open.
Lachlan brings him to me and kisses us both on our heads. “He’s perfect, Mags.”
“He is. He looks just like his daddy.” I pull off his little hat, and run my fingers over his soft hair, the same dark shade as his daddy’s.
“I don’t know… I think he has your eyes.”
“We’ll see, won’t we, sweet boy?”
Lachlan moves to the opposite side of the bed and snuggles close. “I can’t leave yet. I don’t want to take my eyes off either one of you.”
“What’s going on?”
“My heart feels like it’s going to explode. I’ve never loved someone more than I do the two of you. I didn’t know it could be like this. I didn’t know,” he says again.
“Didn’t know what?” I ask, smiling down at our son.
“That having a wife and a son would change my life so much.”
“We’re not married, yet,” I remind him.
“Can we try?” he asks.
“Can we try what?”
“To get married? I’m sure I can make it happen. Have them come here to sign the marriage license and all that stuff.”
“You mean that, don’t you? You’d marry me today, right here in this hospital room?”
“Anytime. Anywhere. I need you to be my wife. I need the three of us to have the same last name.”
“I already said yes,” I remind him.
“Soon?”
“Soon,” I promise.
“Best day ever,” he says, closing his eyes.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Best day ever.” Reaching for the blue knitted blanket, I place it over Sean, even though he’s wrapped up like a burrito in the provided hospital blanket and close my eyes. She’s here with us, my family.