31. Lachlan
Lachlan
This was stupid. She didn’t need me here. She didn’t need me showing up with the small bouquet of wildflowers I’d picked from next to my house this morning. Lainey said she was doing well…that the baby was doing well, too.
I looked down at my phone. Was I about to interrupt her resting? She’d been right there, responding to me before I hopped into the truck, even if it had killed me to wait until the sun was high in the sky to message her.
Sure, she’d messaged me as soon as she got settled in her room, but that had been quick. I knew she was exhausted, but I spent the last few hours wired so hard I couldn’t do anything except worry about how she was.
Hey. You and the newest little Earthling doing okay?
Three dots popped up almost immediately after I hit send.
He’s pissed because they pricked the bottom of his foot for blood work.
Blood work? They think something’s wrong?
Routine for after birth. He’s really okay.
And you?
Jury’s still out. I mean, I’m good according to the doctor, but I’m not sure what normal is supposed to feel like.
How’s your room?
Good. I got put in room 220…maybe it’s a sign from the universe?
220?
That’s my birthday. February 20th.
Definitely feels like a sign from the universe. And it’s telling you what I’ve known all along: you’re gonna be just fine.
Thanks. For the pep talk…and everything else. I feel like I owe you some Earthling tax. Here he is.
*Picture of the baby in her arms, with Lainey smiling*
I immediately hit the download button and saved it to my favorites. She looked exhausted, but she had that new-mom glow. I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
He’s perfect, Lain. Thanks for sending that. I’ll let you rest now. When is the doc saying you can come home?
Three dots had appeared for a long time with that message.
I’d paced back and forth around the kitchen waiting for her damn response, lost in every terrified thought that she might not want to come back here, even though I’d made it clear this was where she was meant to be.
How the hell would I know she was safe if she didn’t?
Finally, my phone dinged, and as fast as I could get back to where it was laying on the counter, I saw her message come through.
Tomorrow.
Good. I’ll see you then.
That’s where we’d left it. I’d meant to sit down at the table, open my laptop and wait for my appointment to talk to Sloane.
About the storm. About Lainey’s labor. About holding her son right after he was born.
About how she’d pulled me from a loop of compulsions I thought I might be stuck in forever.
My eyes drifted out the window over my sink to the tree line.
Just last night, I would have sworn the storm could have flattened them.
But there the trees were, providing their shelter to a patch of wildflowers.
Wildflowers that, too, had survived the night.
Just like Lainey and I had.
So, instead of sitting down for my session with Sloane, I pulled up her contact information and shot off a text, canceling before I tugged on my boots, grabbed my keys, and headed out the door.
And that’s how I found myself sitting in the parking lot of St. Clare’s, waiting for visiting hours to begin in ten minutes. I looked behind me, at the car seat I’d installed before telling myself it was okay to drive here. What was I—
My phone buzzed on the console. I flipped it over, already reaching to shut the engine off as soon as my eyes landed on the new message from Lainey.
Greg’s dad is here! What do I do?
What the fuck?! I got out of the truck, slamming the door shut as I moved toward the entrance. I didn’t even have time to stop and think about walking back in to a place I’d been terrified of for the last three years. I just needed to get to them.
A security officer standing next to the registration desk immediately caught my eye.
“Sir, are you here to see a patient? Visiting hours aren’t for—”
“You!” I growled as I pointed to the security guard, ignoring the check in clerk. “I need you to come with me. My…”
Christ. How should I phrase this? Ah, fuck it. I was going to lie, and lie big to protect her. “My wife has a restraining order against her ex. His father is here on the maternity floor harassing her. I need your help.”
Luckily for me, the guy listened, and took off straight for the stairwell.
Why maternity had to be on the third floor of the hospital was beyond my comprehension, but adrenaline was running so strongly through my veins, I barely noticed the pain crawling up my leg with each rushed step I was taking.
I just needed the damn leg to get me to her. I could rest once I knew she was okay.
Fighting for my life against the stitch in my side as we reached the third floor, I watched as the security guard swiped his card and rushed into the maternity wing. I tried to keep up, leaning more and more desperately on my cane.
“What room is your wife in?”
“220!” I shouted, pointing to the sign showing the direction we needed to go down the long hallway.
By the time I made it into the room, my vision was red with fury. That prick was in a business suit, standing in front of Lainey’s bed while she held onto the baby, tears streaming down her face.
“What’s all this commotion for?” I recognized Greg’s dad immediately, crossing his arms like he couldn’t see that Lainey looked to be about ten seconds away from passing out.
“Ma’am, is this man bothering you?” the security guard asked.
“Bothering her? Are you kidding me?” He scoffed. “Let me see that ID badge so I can take down your name. I sit on the board of this hospital!”
“Yes,” Lainey whispered, clearing her throat as she squared her shoulders. “He’s bothering me. He needs to leave. Please.”
“Lainey. You need to be reasonable. I’m not asking for much. And our family is willing to give so much more than you deserve.”
“Leave, Joseph. I want nothing from you. The baby isn’t for sale. Just leave me alone.”
What the fuck?! When he didn’t move away from her, I snapped.
“Get out,” I growled, my grasp on my cane so strong my joints ached. I moved quickly, putting myself at the foot of her bed so Lainey and the baby were tucked safely behind me.
“Sir, please come with me.” The security guard now had his hand on Joseph’s arm.
Greg’s asshole of a dad narrowed his eyes at me, lingering a little too long on my cane for my liking. I had half a mind to beat him with it, but I knew that wouldn’t solve anything. Lainey needed him gone, and the security guard was seeing to it.
“Remember, Lainey. It’s an offer. But the offer is only good for so long.”
A young nurse rushed into the room as soon as Joseph was escorted out. “I’m so sorry that happened. Someone should have asked on arrival if there was anyone who needed to be excluded from entry,” she said, checking over the machine Lainey’s IV was hooked into.
“They did,” Lainey whispered, her eyes still on the baby. “I just put Greg’s name down. I didn’t think about his father…They always get what they want.”
“Lain?”
She shook her head. “I’d like to be discharged now.”
“Ms. Calloway, we really do recommend that you stay for at least twenty-four hours of observation following the birth of your child.”
“I understand. But I’m not safe here. And neither is this baby. Please tell Dr. Witten that I’d like him to work on the discharge paperwork.”
The nurse nodded. “You’ll be leaving against medical advice, hon. This may affect how much of your hospital bill your insurance will cover.”
“Are you kidding me?” I snarled. “She said she wants to leave, her sister is a midwife who used to work at this hospital, and she’s going home to a place where she’ll have constant support and care. If she wants to leave here, she’s going to leave, and I’ll pay for whatever costs there are.”
She nodded, and I didn’t miss how the nurse patted Lainey’s shoulder before heading out into the hall.
“You didn’t have to stand up for me like that,” Lainey whispered.
“I wanted to. Thought about beating his face in with my cane, but figured that wouldn’t be too good to do.”
“Probably not.” Lainey shifted her hold on the baby.
“Lain, what did he want?”
I watched as a shudder rolled through her body. “He wanted to give me money…”
“To help take care of the baby?”
She shook her head. “To sign over full custody of the baby. To Greg.”
My jaw popped open. “You can’t be serious?”
“Greg told him I’m financially unstable. That I’d see the money and probably throw the baby at them. That asshole took everything from me, and he’s telling people I’m so desperate for money I’d sell them my baby.”
“God, Lainey. I…He better never come around you. I’m going to call Colt and tell him we need to push harder about the restraining order. This is out of control.”
“Don’t bother him right now. I’m sure there are bigger things to deal with after that storm.”
“Yeah, well, you’re the only thing I care about,” I admitted as I scrubbed my hand over my face.
“How did you get here so fast after I told you Joseph was here?” she asked quietly as I shot off the text to my brother.
Greg’s dad was at the hospital, harassing Lainey. Wanted to give her money to have her sign over custody of the baby to Greg. Please tell me you’ve heard something about the restraining order.
“I was sitting in the parking lot,” I admitted as I slipped my phone into my back pocket, wanting so fucking badly to wrap my arms around her and the baby.
“What?”
“Yup.” I laughed, but every ounce of humor was removed from it. “Was waiting for visiting hours to come up and see you both. Seems I can’t go more than a few minutes without missing the way you sass me. And now that the little guy is here…well…I didn’t want to miss out on anything with him.”
“But I’m in the hospital.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Lainey shifted in the bed, her face pulling tight as she moved to the side farthest away from me. Shit. Had I scared her? Did she not feel safe with me?
“Will you…”