Chapter 45
COOPER
Stephanie Jumps from the car before I can even put it in park and rushes into the hospital.
After only a few minutes, we enter the hospital room where Sam and Steph share a long, tight embrace.
“Little person,” Steph leans down and speaks to Sam’s belly, “you made me worry so much today. I thought I was going to miss your big entrance into the world. Since I’m going to be your favorite aunt, I needed to be here.
Thanks for waiting.” She rests her forehead on Sam’s belly, and Sam puts her hand on Steph’s head.
For a moment, we all stay like we are—me standing by the door, Deke sitting on the couch, and the ladies embracing on the hospital bed—until the nurse pops in.
“Hello, Sam. It’s time to see if there’s been any progress. Can I ask you two,” she gestures to Stephanie and me, “to wait out in the hall for a few minutes?” We step into the hallway, and Stephanie starts pacing back and forth.
“Nervous, scared, or excited?” She stares at me blankly. “You’re pacing.” I nod to her feet. “Is it because you are nervous, scared, or excited?”
“A combination of nervous and excited. Now that we’re here, I’m not scared anymore.” She chews her lip while her cheeks color. “I hate how my nerves are so obvious.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I think it’s cute.”
She fixes me with a disbelieving stare. “You think this is cute? Nice try.”
“No? Maybe ‘cute’ isn’t the right word. What about ‘endearing,’ or maybe ‘refreshing’?” My word choice stops her pacing, and I can tell she doesn’t know what to say. “I’ve always liked it—it’s one of the ways you’re transparent. There’s a genuineness to it that I find refreshing.”
Her head tilts in contemplation. “Why?”
“Why do I find it so refreshing?” I take a small step closer to her, and her eyes widen a little. She scans the hallway, like she’s worried someone might see us. “What are you worried about? We’re standing in the hallway. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Mallory, you shouldn’t stand that close.” She’s whispering under her breath.
“Back to Mallory now? Can’t say I’m happy about that.” I furrow my brows and pretend a small frown.
“I’m in a Mallory mood,” she tries to give me the stink eye, but it does the opposite of what she intends, “because you’re standing too close for a hospital hallway.”
“Is there another location where you wouldn’t consider this to be too close?” My attention drops to her lips.
“Stop looking at me like that. It’s distracting.” She fiddles with her fingers.
I shift closer. “And what if I like being distracting?”
Her eyes flick up to mine just as the nurse opens the door and walks out. “Looks like it’s almost time to have a baby. I’m going to call the doctor now.”
We lock eyes for a second before quickly knocking on the door.
“Come in.” We hear Sam’s voice through the door.
As we enter, we see Sam leaning back in her bed, Deke sitting next to her.
“Deke,” Sam reaches up and grasps his hand, “before the doctor gets here, can you go get two caffeine-free Dr Peppers from the vending machine? I want them ready to go once I get this baby out.” Sam’s love for Dr Pepper is fierce, but it’s given her heartburn during her pregnancy, so she hasn’t had one in seven months.
“Sure thing, Pepper.” Deke’s nickname for her is based on her love for the drink. He kisses her, then I follow him out.
I drape my arm around Deke’s shoulders as we walk. “How are you doing?”
“I’m losing my mind in there.” He stops and leans back against the wall, hands on his head.
“She’s doing all the work, and I have to sit there and watch.
It’s brutal!” He stands back up, and we keep moving.
“And I knew my wife was tough, but I had no idea she was this tough. I’d be dead on the floor if I had to have this baby. ”
“But it’s the best day of your life, right?”
“You have no idea.” The smile on Deke’s face is golden. “I’ve never loved her more than I do right now. I can’t even describe it. I can’t wait for you to experience this.”
“I told you a couple of years ago—I’ve given up on that dream. What makes you think I’ve changed my mind?” I’m trying to play it cool.
“Because I’m not blind. You practically floated in here with Stephanie.”
“You’re right,” I’ve never been able to fool Deke, “I’m so gone, buddy.” My smile doesn’t hold anything back.
“I knew it! I couldn’t be happier for you!”
“I still need to get her alone so that we can talk without getting interrupted. I’m not saying that I’m ready to buy her a ring—but I’m saying that I’d like to some day.”
“Did you bring her here in the jet?”
“Yep.”
“And?”
“I told her about the money, and she acted all mad about it at first.”
“I told you. There was no way she was going to be obsessed with your money.” Deke puts money in the vending machine, and the first Dr Pepper tumbles down.
“Then, she realized she wasn’t mad—she was worried for me. Worried her dad would infiltrate my life, and she doesn’t want him anywhere near me.”
Deke pauses as he’s sliding in the coins for the second drink. “She told you about her dad?”
“Yeah. She’s mentioned him a couple of times today. He seems like a real piece of work.”
“Wow. She doesn’t bring him up to very many people.” He lets the last coin fall, and the second drink drops. “She’s brought you into her trust circle pretty fast then. That’s a really big deal for Stephanie. Has she discussed her mom too?”
“Yeah. How did she turn out so well with those two idiots as parents?”
“Because she’s an amazing woman.”
“She’s even more amazing than I realized.” We head back to the room, Deke with two caffeine-free Dr Peppers in hand, and my mind snaps back to why we’re even here. “You think the ladies are in there talking about baby names?”
“If I know my wife, they’re talking about you.”