Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Evan sat in the waiting room with Annette and Bobby, the three of them staring at each other.
Finally, he burst out with, “Okay, that was wild.”
Annette nodded. “Bobby just scooped her right on up, didn’t he?”
Evan had been impressed with that. Looked like the guy was fully recovered.
“Yeah, I think I panicked. I just wanted to get her in here with the nurses.” Bobby shook his head. “I don’t fucking believe this. Max is on his way.”
Evan didn’t know what to say. Was that even a good idea? Max was the dad, though. He guessed it had to happen.
“That little girl, Brett, went to her family. I’m not sure that they’re still together. Apparently, Max downplayed the situation with Hillary a tad.”
Evan held his hands out in confusion and tried to remember being a teenager and at the stage where Max was now.
The fact was, it was easy to forget there was a baby on the way. Hillary didn’t talk to Max much, and his parents had dealt with most of the complications. Hillary and this baby were honestly something Max only had to think of vaguely every now and again.
Evan went with, “Is he excited about seeing the baby?”
“I don’t know. He’s young.” Bobby shrugged. “His world is hockey. Annette and I have talked about it a lot, and he’s more than willing to give up his parental rights, but that’s not fair to the baby. It’s not fair to Hillary, and to be honest, it’s not fair to Max.”
“Well, it still can’t be a bad idea to have papers drawn up that say you have the right to medical and school decisions and all, just in case he flakes.” God knew he loved that kid, but Evan didn’t like him much right now.
“I think when the baby’s old enough to come and stay for a couple of weeks during the summer or spring break, or some such, we’ll talk about that. But right now, I don’t foresee a thing where Hillary doesn’t take with the baby wherever she goes. We’ll let Hillary have that for now.”
Annette nodded, “Honestly, it would probably be best for Maxie if he did give up his parental rights. He wouldn’t have to pay child support, he wouldn’t have to support the baby, but I didn’t raise him to shirk his responsibilities, and he deserves a chance to be a good dad.”
Okay, Evan got that. He did. Everyone deserved a chance to be a decent human being, and Max, at his heart, was a decent human being. But he’d meant papers between Max and his folks…
“Well, make sure you get your cameras out for the first time you get to see your son hold his daughter, because that’ll be special.” He saw both Bobby and Annette relax, Annette teared up, and he knew he’d said the right thing.
“Yes. It’s always the most amazing thing in my goddamn life, that’s for sure.” Bobby grabbed Annette and pulled her up, dancing her around the room. God, they were cute that way.
“Should I stroll by the room and check on Hils?” He could text Sam, but he knew the man was busy making sure Hillary was comfortable.
“Just make sure that you’re not in there when that baby’s head is popping out. That might wig you out, man.”
He stared at Bobby. “Wig me out? It would scar me for life, no question.”
He didn’t want to think about that; in fact, it made him want to barf. He headed out of the waiting room and down the hallway.
As he walked by the room, he didn’t hear Hillary screaming, which was probably good.
Then he heard it—the wail of a baby.
Oh wow.
He turned around and ran back to the waiting room, beating feet. “I think the baby was just born. I think the baby’s here.”
Annette and Bobby stopped dancing, staring at him. “Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” He knew he didn’t. “Okay, I don’t know what to do next,” Evan admitted. “Do we wait for someone to come out?”
Annette’s lips twisted. “She doesn’t want you in there right now.”
“What about me?” Max was standing at the door, and his voice was very small.
Annette shook her head. “I love you, sweetheart. You’re my oldest son and my biggest treasure, but I guarantee you she does not want to see your ass right now. Sit in here with us.”
“I kind of wanted to be the first guy to hold the baby.”
Evan didn’t snort, but it was a close thing, because there was no way.
He would bet his bottom dollar Sam had that baby in his hands right now, in fact.
He grinned at Max. “Congratulations, kiddo. You’re a dad.”
They could celebrate right here. He would pump Max up for this. He grabbed Max and hugged him hard.
“Thanks.” God, the kid was shaking like a leaf. “So, what do we do?”
Bobby smiled at his son. “We wait until they say it’s okay.
I imagine, since Sam is the one that’s in there, Sam will bring the baby up and let us see her, assuming everything is fine.
If it’s not—and she’s very early, so she may not be okay—she may go straight into an incubator.
One way or the other, Sam will come and tell us. ”
“Is it my fault?” Max looked at Evan. “Is this all my fault?”
Evan snorted. “If you’re asking if her being pregnant is your fault, absolutely, but if you’re asking about the preterm labor thing, probably not.
I mean, she got upset and her blood pressure probably had a jump, but no, not your fault.
I would imagine that it’s more the airplane ride and the stress of everything. ”
“I really feel bad about what I said. I didn’t mean she was fat or ugly or anything.”
“Just don’t bring up anything about how she looks when you see her. That’s none of yours.”
“It’s none of yours with any girl,” Annette brought up. “But it sure as shit is not any of yours to tell her, especially not now. Fair?”
“Yeah, fair. I swear it.”
“Good man.” Jesus what a clusterfuck. He could tell Max felt totally off-the-rails, but really for him this was about Hils and about supporting Sam.
It took Sam a bit to get to the waiting room and when he did, Evan could see that he’d been crying.
Everyone stood, and the questions started flying.
“Is everyone okay?”
“Is the baby here?”
“How did it go?”
Sam nodded. “She’s little. They’ve taken her to the NICU just to make sure, to do some tests, and the nurse says it looks like she’ll be back in with Hillary in a little while, so she’ll be able to nurse and stuff, but I got to hold her. She’s beautiful; she looks like her mama.”
Max stared at Sam. “I want to see her.”
“She’s in the NICU right now.”
Max looked at Sam, all red-faced and testosterone filled. “I’m her father.”
Sam’s eyes flashed, and Evan could hear the man’s hands creak as they balled into fists, and when he spoke, Sam’s voice was deadly calm.
“Yes, and Hillary is her mother, who just gave birth to her, and she is not able to see her right now because she is in the NICU. If you want to go wait there, I’m sure there’s a waiting room. ”
“Come on, Sam. Bobby, can you?” Evan touched his lover’s arm and got Sam walking before something terrible happened. “Is she beautiful?”
“She is, and little—a touch under five pounds. She’s tiny. She was breathing—she… she has a voice on her. They say this is just a precaution because she’s so early, and she’ll be back in with Hillary soon. Hillary’s doing great. My baby is so brave.”
“I know you’re mad at—”
“Don’t.” Sam shook his head. “Don’t talk about Max right now, Evan. I don’t want to hear his name.”
Evan nodded. “Okay, baby. That I can do.” He would zip his goddamn lips and support Sam. He stopped them in a broad hallway to take a hug. “What can I do?”
“I don’t know. I need to nap, but Hil might need me in there. I hate to admit it, but God, I’m tired in my bones.”
“Do you think she would let me sit with her for a while? You could go lie down someplace, or you could even sack out on the little couch in her room, and I’ll wake you up if she needs anything.”
“Yeah, oh, that would be great, querido.”
“Then let’s do that. If she kicks me out, then we’ll try Annette.”
“Let’s give her another five minutes to get cleaned up, maybe get me a Coke?”
“How about a root beer or a Sprite, something without caffeine so you can actually sleep.” He thought Sam looked like he was going to fall over.
“You are a prince among men, guapo.”
He squeezed Sam tight. “I am, and it’s about time you realized that.”
“Yeah, don’t make me beat you, man.” Sam knocked shoulders with him. “She did so good. I’m so proud of her. God, I hope that that baby’s okay. She’s so tiny.”
Evan nodded. “You said she was breathing, right?”
“Breathing? Shit, she was like screaming. She was all pissed.” Sam chuckled, the sound husky as fuck. “But she was beautiful, this beautiful thing, looks just like her mama.”
“Do you want to head over into the NICU?” He’d do that if Sam needed to.
“No, no, they said they were going to bring her back.” Sam grinned at him.
“That’s how you have faith. They say she’s gonna be okay.
You pray she’s gonna be okay, and then you have faith.
” Sam shrugged, eyes a bit wet. “Until you get proof that something else is the truth, and then you work like hell. I believe, but I’m not dumb. ”
Evan cracked up. “Yeah, you’re tired. Come on, let’s get you a Sprite, and then you can lay down. I’ll sit with Miss Hillary.”
By the time that they got back, Hillary was hanging out there in her room, and there she was, holding that baby in her arms, eyes about the size of saucers.
“I thought you weren’t coming back, Papa.”
“You’re tired, mi’ja. Of course I was coming back. I went to talk to your Uncle Evan and the Biyaliks and to get me a Coke. How’s she doing?”
Hillary shrugged. “The doctor said she did great. That Apgar score thing was great. She’s just little.”
Hillary looked at Natasha as if she couldn’t believe she was there, and Evan got it. There was this infant, dark hair, fingers curled tight around the soft pink blanket. “They’re going to bring in a lactation person to help me learn how to do the boob thing.”
“Nurse.” Sam rolled his eyes. “I know it seems weird now. In a week or so, you’re going to be a queen at it, and if you’re not, she can bottle-feed. No stress, eh?”
“Yeah.” Hillary smiled, nodded, then went to staring at the baby again.
He guided Sam to the couch thing that he could stretch out on. “Your dad needs a nap, honey.” He covered Sam with a blanket, and Hillary laughed.
“I can tell. His eyes are all swimmy.”
Evan chuckled. “Well, mine are too. That baby is so damn beautiful.”
Hillary beamed. “She is. I want everyone to see her, but can we sit just a minute?”
“Of course we can, sweetie. How about I sit right here with you and wait for you to be ready?” He’d read to her on his phone or watch TV or something so Sam could rest.
Then, when she was set, he’d get Bobby and Annette and, yes, Max. Shit, he should text them. Evan sat, starting a group text.
She’s good. She’s back with Hils. I’ll call you in soon
“You should take a picture of her and send it. They’ll want to have it.” Hillary grinned at him. “They said we’ll go home in the morning. I mean, to your house.”
“I totally should, huh. And we’ll stay at mine until we’re ready and then drive home.
” Evan whipped out his phone and took about a million pictures of Hillary and the baby.
That tiny face was so sweet and tiny, Natasha’s bowed lips moving already.
He texted several to the group text. “Oh honey, she’s so cute. ”
“She’s perfect. Papa was the first one to hold her. He cried.” Hil was a touch watery herself.
“I bet he did.” He glanced back at Sam, who was already sound asleep. “You did great, Hils. You really did.” Hell, he was in awe. She had produced a tiny human. Boom.
“I—” She took a deep breath. “Is Max here?”
“Yeah. Yeah, he’s out there with his folks.” He didn’t push and tell her how eager everyone was, though. This was up to her.
“Will you stay here, and they can come in, one at a time? Please, Vovo?”
Oh, God. Damn. “Of course, sweetheart.”
“Cool. First, though…you need to hold her.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’re going to be hers. We all know it.”
He blinked rapidly, his eyes stinging. “I’m all in.”
He’d held all of Bobby’s kids when they were tiny. He knew how. He just hadn’t expected to be asked. So he very carefully held out his hands, and they made the transfer. “Oh, hello, my little love. Look at you.”
Hillary took pictures, but he didn’t really pay attention. He got it—this was his granddaughter, he was family to both, and he was madly in love.
“Do you want me to text Annette?” Hillary asked.
“Mmmhmm. Phone’s— Well you have it.” He stared down at Natasha, mesmerized.
“Okay.” A flurry of texts happened, and Hil looked up. “Max wants to meet her first. What do I say?”
“That’s up to you, honey. He’s trying, but he’s been an ass, and I understand if you’re not ready.” He wasn’t going to make that decision for her, though letting Max in now would probably help the kid bond with the baby.
“It…” She closed her eyes for a second. “Papa would say, if you love someone, you do what’s best for them, and she needs to love her father as much as I love mine.”
Evan wasn’t sure that was possible, to be honest, but he was very proud of her. “All right, then. You have your answer.”
Hillary texted again, and in a few minutes Max and his folks came in together.
Annette gasped and Bobby stared, but it was Max who spoke, his eyes wide. “Hey.”
“Hey. Meet Natasha.” Hillary’s voice shook, and Max stared at the baby, cheeks bright red.
“She’s beautiful. She’s…perfect, Hil. Can I hold her?”
Hillary nodded. “You’re her dad. You should.”
Max’s hands were trembling hard. Bobby stepped up to offer dad support, and Evan handed the baby over, biting back his reluctance. This was necessary. He faded back to sit with Sam, hand on his lover’s hip. He was still out cold.
Or faking it.
Max stood there, still and strong. Staring down at his daughter. “She’s beautiful, Hil. You did amazing. For real. Amazing.”
Hillary stared at him, then she lifted her chin. “I expect you to be as good to her as my papa is to me. Better. A little girl needs to know her father adores her.”
“I promise.” Max never glanced away from Natasha. “I promise to God.”
“Good. Then I won’t have to have Papa kill you.”
Everyone chuckled, but Evan was watching Hillary.
She wasn’t joking. Looked like she had that mama bear thing down pat already.