Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
GEORGIA
“Luke, can you grab the door?” Grant asks.
“Got it.”
I follow him inside, watching as Grant brings Eli in. We couldn’t stay at the hospital forever, no matter how much I wish we could extend our time.
“Are you hungry? Do you want anything to eat?” Luke asks.
“I’m okay, but thank you.”
Both Luke and Grant have been fawning over me since Eli arrived. I’ve barely had to lift a finger.
Luke is obsessed with his little brother, asking to hold him any chance he gets. Except he happily gives him to one of us when it’s time for a diaper change.
“The girls said they dropped off casseroles for us,” Grant says. “If you want, I can warm up one of those for dinner, or order us some pancakes.”
“I vote pancakes,” Luke says.
“I do too.”
“Good.” Grant drops a peck on my mouth as I sit on the couch. “I’ll call it in.”
Grant puts the car seat next to me and I carefully unbuckle Eli and lift him to my chest. He snuggles into me.
I don’t know how it’s possible to love someone so much that I only just met.
His smell. The way he curls into me. His tiny fingers.
I love everything about this kid and know I would do anything for him. Now that he’s here, I understand Grant’s decision more. It still hurt, but I get it.
But they’re back. All of us are together under one roof. Just how I wanted. This little family of mine that I will protect with every fiber of my being.
“Pancakes are ordered. Amy said she’d send someone to bring them over so we don’t have to leave,” Grant says.
“Really? That’s so sweet of her.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s her so she can meet this little guy.”
“I think he looks like me,” Luke says, sitting down next to me.
“He does look like you as a baby,” Grant confirms. “You were a cute little baby.”
“Were? I’m still cute,” Luke guffaws.
“We’re lucky to have two cute kids,” I say.
“Now, do you want to see the nursery?” Grant asks.
“You finished it?”
He nods. “Luke helped me.”
“You’re going to love it, Georgia,” Luke says. “Eli too.”
“Let’s see it then.”
Eli is sound asleep in my arms. At least my friends told me he’ll sleep well for the first few days.
I follow Luke and Grant down the hall to the room I haven’t stepped foot in since that day Grant told me he would take care of it. I didn’t want to see it. It would have made it too real that I would have been doing this on my own.
Thank God they came back. Because seeing the two of them love on Eli makes me happier than I ever thought possible.
Grant pushes open the door and the ever present tears start immediately.
“Oh, Grant.”
A chair rail border of wallpaper decorated with horses cuts the room. A small mobile of cowboy hats hangs over the crib. A soft fleece blanket is laid over the rocking chair with a plush rug on the hardwood floor. A tiny horse stuffed animal sits on the dresser next to the changing mat.
“I got him the horse,” Luke says. “A little Queenie for him.”
“You are going to be the best big brother,” I say. “It’s perfect. I love it.”
I sit down in the rocking chair, still sore from birth. “What do you think, Eli? Do you like it?”
He doesn’t stir.
Even the curtains behind me have little cowboys on them.
“There’s a bassinet in our room for him for the first few weeks,” Grant says. “Then we can transition him to his room.”
“Good.” I stare down at Eli. “I have a feeling I’m going to have a hard time letting this little guy go.”
“Oh, we also brought him this,” Luke says, fishing something out of the closet.
“Oh my God.” I burst out laughing, causing Eli to startle in my arms before settling.
It’s one of the plastic cowboy hats from the ranch with “number one cowboy” scrawled across the brim.
“Really?” Grant shakes his head.
“Eli needs to know what kind of family he’s getting,” Luke states. “I have a feeling he’ll be better than you, Dad.”
“That’s because you and I are going to teach him to ride, right?” I ask Luke.
“Yes. He’s going to love you teaching him.”
“I’m going to go change, but can we watch a movie?” Luke asks.
“Sure,” I say.
“Can I hold Eli when I come back up?”
I nod. “Let me feed him then he’s all yours.”
Luke darts out of the room and Grant shakes his head.
“We’re not going to have to do much with Eli.”
I smile up at him. “I love it.”
I stir Eli awake so I can feed him. It’s the one thing I’m still getting used to. Breastfeeding isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but I’ll deal with it.
“Do you need anything?” Grant asks, dropping to his knees in front of me.
His face is soft with emotion. The two of us are running on very little sleep, but I don’t care. Right now, it’s the best feeling in the world.
“What else could I possibly need right now? I have my three favorite guys with me.”
Grant cups my cheek, brushing his thumb over my lips. “I love you so damn much, it hurts somedays.”
“I love you too.”
“Are you guys done being all lovey in there?” Luke calls from the living room. “Pancakes are here.”
“That didn’t take long,” Grant comments.
“Considering we’re probably their top customers, I’m sure they put a rush on it.”
Adjusting my shirt, I burp Eli before heading into the living room. Luke has dinner spread out on the coffee table and is almost done with his meal.
“I can take Eli,” Luke says, brushing his hands off.
“Scoot back and I’ll give him to you,” I say.
Luke moves two pillows around him before I pass Eli over. He doesn’t pay attention to the movie that Grant turns on.
Luke is taking to the role of big brother so quickly—he is in love with Eli and it makes me so happy to see it.
Grant and I eat, and when we’re finished, Grant offers to take Eli, but Luke doesn’t give him up.
Eli is sound asleep on Luke. Grant drags his fingers up and down my arm as the fire crackles and the movie drones on in the background. A light snow starts to fall outside.
I burrow closer to Grant, savoring this moment. Our first night home as a family.
Growing up, this is everything I always wanted. A safe place filled with people who loved me. I never thought that the guy I slept with all those months ago would turn out to be the man of my dreams.
What more could I possibly want when I have it all?
A family.
It’s all I’ll ever need.
Want more small town romance? Read on for a sneak peek of my next book, Stuck With You…