Chapter 21 #3
“Victoria, let us out of here. The door handle jammed. Knight and I are stuck in here,” he demanded.
“Oh, what a pity,” she tsked. “Just when your wife’s labor pains jumped only a few minutes apart. They might deliver any minute.”
“Open the damn door, Victoria,” Patch ordered.
“How far along is Gabby?” Knight asked. “I can’t miss this.”
“It’s too bad Patch considers women a weak link in the chain. I hardly believe I have the strength to tug on the poor handle.”
“This isn’t funny, Victoria. We’re freezing our asses off, and our wives need us.”
“Much like Sparky felt when she went back for her team. Do you know the reason why I left, Patch?” she asked.
“No. And I don’t give a damn. Open the door,” he yelled.
“Our little Tori’s mom went missing. I returned to gather men and meet the Texas team to search for her while I searched for Leo,” she said loud enough for him to hear.
“I’m sorry, Victoria. I didn’t know,” Patch replied. “Will you please open the door?”
“Yes. As soon as you admit you’re wrong,” she said heatedly. “You say you treat women equally, but you want to remove them at the first opportunity. I want to hear you say, ‘Girls rule, and boys are fools.’”
“It’s not how the saying goes,” Knight said. “Come on, Victoria. I haven’t done anything to you. You’re supposed to say, ‘Girls rule, and boys drool.’”
“Why do you have to correct her? Seriously, we’re freezing in here,” Patch grumbled.
“I don’t know. My poor weak self might not be able to let you out,” she said and waited. “I don’t hear you,” she sing-songed.
She covered her mouth to keep from giggling when she heard Patch’s long, disgusted sigh. “Girls rule, boys drool. There. Are you happy?”
Opening the door, she smiled smugly and stopped the two men as they rushed out. “Your wives are fine. They’re only worried. I’d never let you miss such an important event. Maybe not judge Sparky harshly before you know the reason.”
“I won’t,” Patch said as he and Knight took off running toward the elevator.
Victoria took the stairs, stopped long enough to collect some warm blankets, and brought them to the rooms. Entering Knight and Gabby’s room, she saw him kiss Gabby, and his teeth chattered.
She wrapped the blankets straight from the warmer and kissed his cheek.
Next, she entered Claire and Patch’s room and put the warm blanket around his shoulders.
He glanced up and narrowed one eye at her before saying, “Thanks.”
She kissed his cheek and walked out, hoping he learned sometimes the weakest link can save them all.
* * *
Three hours later, Gabby held their newborn son in her arms. Knight cried tears of joy, thankful his wife suffered no complications. Their child seemed perfect in every way. An hour later, after giving mom and baby time to bond, the nurse took the baby into the nursery for a pediatric evaluation.
Forty-five minutes later, Patch coached Claire through her last few contractions. “We’re almost there, Claire Bear. We only need a couple of big pushes, and we’ll get to meet our baby.”
Claire raised and gave it everything before slumping back against the pillows. “I’ve changed my mind. This will be an only child.”
“We’re almost there,” he coached. “One more big push.”
When the next contraction hit, she bore down with all her strength. Patch’s breath caught in his throat as he heard the first cry.
“Congratulations, you two, come meet your little girl,” Dr. Greene said, smiling. “Do you want to cut the cord?” she asked Patch.
He glanced at Claire, who nodded and smiled tiredly. He cut the cord, and the nurse handed him his perfect little girl to introduce her to her mama.
“She’s beautiful,” he choked out. “Those blue eyes will bring a man to his knees one day.”
Claire held the baby, cooing softly and talking sweetly to her new daughter.
After giving them time to bond, the nurses took the baby to the nursery for Michael to examine her.
Patch met Knight in the hall and clasped him on the shoulder.
“I have a son,” Knight said proudly. “Two strong boys to watch each other’s backs. We decided on a name a few minutes ago.”
Patch watched every move the nurse made as she held his little girl. “Oh, yeah? Congratulations. What did you name him?”
“Ryder Leo Hutchins,” Knight said proudly. “We named him after two great men.”
Patch’s mouth opened and shut as tears gathered in his eyes. “Thank you, brother. I’ll watch over him and Marcus like my own.”
“We have a little girl, a little princess,” he gushed.
“We named her after Claire’s mom. Ella Leonie Hawkins. Gabby shared the name with Claire, and it seemed fitting to honor the man who saved us both.”
Knight grinned as they wheeled the babies, side by side, close to the small window.
“You see how close they are with the plastic between them?” Patch asked.
“Yeah?” Knight said, thinking Patch saw something wrong.
“That’s how far your son had better stay away from my daughter. We’re teaching them no funny stuff early,” Patch said protectively.
Knight laughed and murmured, “And so it’s begun.” Maybe Leo was right after all.