Epilogue
SKYLAR
Sometimes I don’t know how to process the world. How to handle the meaning from moments that are meant to be meaningless. Maybe because nothing ever is. Every moment, whether we’re aware of it or not, has meaning. Has an impact.
Like right now.
Leaves crunch beneath my feet, and the crisp fall air tickles my cheeks.
It’s a gorgeous October day. The sort that reminds me why fall is my favorite season and that I’m happy to be done with summer.
Then again, being pregnant over the summer—a particularly hot summer—wasn’t my favorite.
Even if I’m more waddling than walking at this point.
I officially started my maternity leave three days ago when my nurse manager all but kicked me off the floor.
I’m five days overdue, and no one wanted to deal with my enormous, slightly grumpy ass.
But I’m not a sit-at-home-and-do-nothing person either.
The nursery, which is the old guest room that alternated as a bedroom between me and then Aston, is all set up.
My mother and Aston’s mother did the entire thing for us, just a little excited about being grandmothers.
The laundry is done. The bags are packed. Everything is in place.
But this little girl is taking her sweet time, and to hopefully help her along, I’m out here walking.
My phone rings in my purse, and I pull it out to see my attorney’s number.
My heart skips a beat as I answer. I haven’t heard from Josh again.
Not since he was literally dragged from the MSICU by security as he tried to come after me, and I subsequently had my attorney and the police serve him with the restraining order and notice that I wouldn’t press charges if he stayed away.
I’ve had one of Forest’s guys keep an eye on him just to make sure he really was done with me. But he also hasn’t filed the paperwork I sent him, which means he could decide he wants visitation with the baby. It’s had me on edge, and now with this call, my heart rate is through the roof.
“Hello?” I answer, picking up the pace a bit, my nerves hastening my steps.
“Skylar, good morning, it’s Danny Johnson. Is this a good time to talk?”
“Yes. This works.”
“Great. Well, I won’t keep you in suspense. I’ve heard from Josh Wesley’s attorney, and he sent us the signed paperwork relinquishing his parental rights.”
“Oh my god” slips past my trembling lips. My legs feel like they’re about to give out on me, and I press myself up against the wall of a nearby building.
“I take it this is a good reaction.”
“Yes.” I’m totally crying, and there is no hiding it. “I’m so relieved.” I never have to deal with Josh again. And with him signing the paperwork, my child never does either.
“We’re going to file the paperwork with the family courts, and then they’ll review it and make an official ruling on it, but it’s done. After the baby is born, Aston will be able to adopt her without any issues or holdups.”
I gasp and cover my face with my hand, shaking and silently sobbing into it. “Thank you,” I manage. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s my pleasure. Just happy we had this type of ending to this. He certainly took his time getting us this paperwork.”
Because he had to exert power over me in some way or another, because that’s him.
But last week I had my attorney reach out and remind him that if he didn’t relinquish his rights, then the moment the baby was born, we’d file paperwork with the courts demanding child support.
Clearly that was Josh’s tipping point, and he caved.
“But it’s done now?”
“It’s done. Once we have the court’s paperwork, we’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you. I’m so grateful.”
“Absolutely. Have a safe delivery, and we’ll talk soon. Take care.”
“You too.”
He disconnects the call, and I squeal, jumping up and down on the side of the street like a crazy lady. But I don’t care. I’m so freaking happy right now. It’s probably why I don’t realize my water broke until the front of my leggings is soaked through and it’s dripping in a puddle around my boots.
Shit. Oh shit.
I’m half a mile from the house, and Aston is in surgery.
He called me before I started my walk to tell me.
I could call him, and the circulating nurse would put me on speaker, but I don’t want to rattle him or make him nervous and rushed while he’s operating.
Dammit. And I can already feel that this isn’t fun as I’m getting a cramp—more likely a contraction—in my side.
I think through my people for a minute. My parents don’t live close and are likely both at work.
Hayes is back in Paris. Quinn and Crew are in Buffalo with the team because Crew plays Thursday Night Football tonight.
Braelyn is working, and Roman—oh shit. Roundhouse is right up the block, and Roman only lives another two over.
I call his phone, and he picks up on the third ring. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I snort. “Why would you think something’s wrong?”
“Because you never call me in the middle of the day. For that matter, you tend to text instead of call. What’s wrong?”
“My water broke in the middle of the sidewalk and I’m a half mile from home and Aston is in surgery and—”
He curses under his breath, cutting me off. “Where are you?”
I look around and spot a street sign. “Tremont and Clarendon.”
“Don’t move. I’ll be there in not even five minutes.”
“You’re the best.”
“Just promise me I don’t have to deliver the baby in my car.”
I laugh. “You won’t. I’ve only had one contraction so far.”
“I have no clue what that means, but I’m hoping that’s good. Okay. Share your location with me, and I’m on my way.”
He hangs up, and I blow out a breath, but I send him my location and hang tight against the wall. Despite being as nervous as I am, I’m also bubbling with uncontainable excitement. I rub my hand over my large belly.
“No more Josh,” I tell my little girl. “Only Daddy Aston.” I snicker at that, thinking about how I teased him by calling him Daddy. So much has happened, and yet everything now feels as it should. Like I was always going to get here with him.
A few minutes later, Roman’s G-Wagon pulls up. He double-parks and gets out, not giving a fuck about anyone as he rushes over to me.
“How are you doing, kid?”
I hug him. I’m so happy to see him and so overwhelmed, and I need a hug. “I’m happy and scared.”
“That goes for me too.”
I laugh and smack his shoulder. “I don’t want to call Aston until I’m at the hospital. He’s in surgery.”
“I’ve got you. Come on.” He wraps his arm around me and helps me up into his SUV.
Smart man has a thick towel on my seat, and I feel better knowing I won’t ruin his leather.
He hops back in and does a crazy U-turn in the middle of the road, and off we go.
“Do you want me to call anyone else? Your parents or Aston’s? ”
“I will once I’m checked in.”
“You’re very calm,” he tells me with a hint of teasing. “It’s very un-Skylar-like.”
“I know. It’s freaking me out too.”
He laughs and reaches over to take my hand. “You’re going to be just fine. More than that, you’re going to be an amazing mother.”
“Thank you.” I look over at my cousin. “I just have to get through the birth part first.”
Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up in front of the hospital, and the valet takes the car.
I called my OB’s office on the way over and told them I was in labor.
Thankfully, they have a wheelchair and a nurse here waiting for me.
I’m brought up to antepartum and admitted and then brought into a room and hooked up to monitors.
Roman has been on his phone, and I know he’s texting our group chat. I’ve heard my phone buzzing in my purse. Aston told me he’d call when he was out of surgery, and he hasn’t yet. It’s making me edgy. I want him here with me.
“Your parents and Aston’s are on their way.”
I sigh. “That was fast.”
He shrugs. “Braelyn was up in the ICU and saw your mom, and you know how she is. There was no holding her back once I texted that you’re in labor.”
“You should go,” I tell him. “This could take hours to all night.”
He gives me a dry look. “I’m not going anywhere, and you know it. Forest is on his way, Hayes is flying home tonight, and Quinn and Crew will be back tomorrow after the game that Crew already said he’s going to get a touchdown in for you and the baby.”
“You guys are—oh! Wow. Yeah, this hurts.” My eyes pinch up tight as my belly tenses with a contraction.
“Shit. Breathe or do whatever you’re supposed to do.”
“I am!”
“Fuck,” he hisses, but my phone rings in my purse.
“Can you get that?”
“I’m on it.”
He answers and tells the person on the other end, who must be Aston, that I’m in labor and that he needs to get over here.
“He wants to talk to you,” Roman tells me, and I shake my head because I’m focusing on making this hurt less, and I can’t talk right now.
It doesn’t matter, though. Aston’s on his way.
And thank God for that, because when the nurse comes in and checks me, I’m already six centimeters dilated, and they end up moving me down the hall to labor and delivery.
By the time that happens, Aston is here, still in his scrubs. He shakes Roman’s hand and thanks him for staying with me, and then he’s by my side. Roman sees himself out, but I make him hug me first.
“I don’t have my bag,” I tell Aston, who’s curled up next to me on the bed, his hand on my belly between the monitors.
“We’ll get it. Don’t worry. My parents are picking up Zoey, but she’s staying with Alden tonight. They have to pack her a bag anyway, so they’ll bring yours here.”
“Good. Okay.”
“How are you feeling?”
I give him an unimpressed look. “Like I’m in labor.”
He smiles and kisses the corner of my lips. “Still feisty, though. Good thing I love you.”
“I love you too.” I turn to look at him. “Josh filed the papers. My attorney called me right before my water broke. We’re done with him.”
Something intense flickers across his face, and his hand on my belly slides so he’s holding the side, and his arm is around me. “Then the moment she’s born, I’ll have my attorney file the adoption papers.”
I get choked up. I can’t help it. He’s so fierce and loving and tender and just everything in my world. This man is everything. He’s exactly who I want to be the father of my baby.
“I love you,” I tell him, cupping his face. “So much. Forever.”
He kisses me, but then a contraction takes over, and that’s that.
They have me walk the halls, and I labor in the tub for a bit, and hours later, when I hit eight centimeters and my contractions are eating through my body and my energy, I get an epidural with my mother watching because Aston couldn’t handle being in the room when they inserted a needle into my spine.
Men. This is why women have babies. Men can’t even handle a needle.
People, including Zoey, float in and out. Zoey is excited and made Alden promise to bring her back here first thing in the morning to see the baby. After that, it doesn’t take long. Within the hour I feel like I have to push, and forty minutes after, the doctor says, “Call it, Dad.”
“It’s a girl,” Aston whispers with such love and reverence I’m immediately crying.
My eyes open, and I take in the squirmy, crying little thing held in the doctor’s hands, and everything that I am centers in on her.
Aston cuts the cord, and they place her on my chest with a blanket over her and a cream hat on her head.
I glance up at him, tears streaming down my face. “She’s here.” I hold her against my chest, keeping her warm, keeping her safe. My heart has never been so full.
“She is. She’s perfect.” He kisses the top of her head and my lips. “My swan, you did so well. She’s incredible. Our little Valentine.”
She is. She’s ours, and she’s every bit as perfect as Aston said.
“Love you both,” he murmurs, holding us, shedding his own tears. None of this was what I planned, but I can’t imagine it any other way. What started with a Valentine’s Day kiss has become our happily ever after. We are forever undone. Together.
Want more of Aston and Skylar’s HEA? You can download the BONUS EPILOGUE now. Turn the page for an exclusive excerpt of Forever Fighting, Braelyn and Roman’s story.