Chapter 42 Our Iris
our iris
HAYDEN
I’ve never been the biggest fan of hospitals. The smell, the constant beeping of machines, the fact that no one ever really goes there for a good reason. It’s always about something being wrong. Honestly, the whole place makes my discomfort shoot through the roof.
But I don’t want to feel that way right now.
Today is special. Today is the day.
I pull my shoulders back and head toward Riley’s room, breathing in and out, trying to ease the tension in my muscles. I had time to prepare for this. Riley and I signed up for childbirth classes at the hospital, and by the end of it, I was sure I’d be ready.
Judging by how my extremities are trembling, I’m starting to doubt they did me any good.
With a slow exhale, I push the door open and step inside. My heart is somewhere in my throat, making me feel slightly nauseous.
Riley’s face lights up the moment our eyes meet. Her shoulders visibly relax as I walk over to her.
“I’m glad you’re back,” she says.
“I’m sorry, babe. Pip called, and somehow she managed to make me even more nervous with all her questions.” I take her hand in mine. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” She laces our fingers together.
I lean down and press a soft kiss to her lips. “Pip said your mom is already on her way to the airport. Mine too. Apparently I should be expecting a lecture from both of them. At least that’s what your sister said.”
“Why?” Her brows knit together.
“Because I didn’t call them the second I brought you to the hospital. Or better yet, we should’ve called yesterday when your contractions started.”
“Oh my God, they’re impossible.” She laughs, but the sound fades almost instantly as she grimaces. “The pain is getting stronger with every minute.”
A sharp pang pierces my chest. I fucking hate seeing her in pain...especially when there’s nothing I can do.
“What did Dr. Bell say?”
“I’m almost seven centimeters dilated, and my water already broke.
She said that should make things move faster.
” She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes.
“I heard her heartbeat, Hade. It’s so steady and so familiar.
” She meets my gaze, a soft smile spreading across her lips.
“I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long, but I think I’m going to miss being pregnant. And her kicks.”
“Oh yeah, I’ll miss those kicks too.” I grin. “Remember last weekend? We woke up and stayed in bed forever, and I was rubbing your belly. She kicked you every time I moved my hand away.”
“Well, what can I say?” She smiles softly. “She just loves her daddy.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, smiling at each other. The understanding between us feels almost unreal. Soulmate-level. I honestly don’t have better words to describe what I feel when she’s around. I cherish every second I get to spend with her.
“Hade, are you sure about all this?” she asks quietly. “I know you said you’d be there for me, but…the view might not be very pleasant. I’m afraid you’ll be disgusted with me.”
“Riley, stop.” My voice comes out firm but gentle. “I’m here with you, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. You and our little girl are the most important people in the world to me.”
I cup her cheek, and she leans into my palm while I brush my thumb over her skin. Her eyes sparkle with that familiar warmth. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters to me.
My heart pounds in my chest as I bend down and capture her lips in a slow, gentle kiss.
Someone clears their throat behind me, and I reluctantly pull away.
“Sorry to interrupt, but I really need to check on my patient.” Dr. Bell’s familiar, cheerful voice fills the room.
I straighten and glance over my shoulder. She’s standing in the doorway with a knowing smile.
“It’s good that Ms. Evans has you, Mr. Hale,” she says. “Though considering you never missed a single appointment, I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Of course,” I reply. “My girls are my everything.”
She nods and walks closer to the bed.
“Riley, how are you feeling?”
“In pain,” Riley breathes, still trying to smile.
Dr. Bell chuckles softly. “Well, that’s not very helpful.” Then she glances between us. “I need to check how dilated you are,” she says. “Mr. Hale, you can wait in the hallway if you’d like.”
I clear my throat. “I’m staying.”
“Alright.” She nods easily and moves into position beside the bed.
I take Riley’s hand again, studying her face. She’s paler than usual, and her bottom lip looks a little bruised as she’s clearly been chewing on it. A crease deepens between her brows and she squeezes my hand harder as Dr. Bell checks her.
Dr. Bell straightens. “Well,” she says, pulling off her gloves, “it’s time.”
“Wh-what?” Riley’s eyes fly open, wide with fear, darting straight to me. The monitor beside the bed starts beeping faster as her heart rate spikes.
“Riley, everything’s okay,” Dr. Bell says calmly. “You’re ready. No reason to panic. I’m going to get the delivery team and we’ll start getting you set up, alright? I’ll be back in about five minutes.”
Riley nods weakly.
Dr. Bell leaves the room, the door clicking softly behind her.
I brush Riley’s damp hair off her forehead.
“You still don’t want me to call Nastya?” I ask.
Her lips start trembling. “You aren’t going to leave me, are you?” she whispers. “I don’t want to be alone… I don't want to be without you.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Ry baby.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “I’m right here. I’m not leaving your side. Not for a second.”
Her tear-filled eyes lock on mine. “Thank you.” She swallows thickly, then nods. “Can you call Nastya? Just tell her we’re here…and that we’ll call later.”
“Of course.”
I pull my phone from my pocket and dial.
She picks up on the third ring. “Hey.”
“Hi. How are you? How’s Grant?”
“I’m good… Grant’s good too.” She pauses. “Wait. Is Riley okay?”
“Yeah. She’s okay. We’re at the hospital.”
Her voice jumps an octave. “What? Why?”
“Today’s the day.” I glance at Riley. Her eyes are closed as she focuses on her breathing the way they taught us in class.
“Oh God. I can’t believe it… I think—I think I need to sit down.”
A shaky sob comes through the phone, sending a warm wave through my chest. The love Riley and Nastya have for each other never stops amazing me. They’re basically like sisters. They’d do anything for each other.
“Is she really okay?”
“She is,” I reassure her. “We’ll call you later when our baby girl is here.”
“Thank you, Hade. Tell Ry I love her.”
“I will.”
I end the call and slip my phone back into my pocket. “I think your best friend is on the verge of a nervous breakdown after hearing the news. And she asked me to tell you she loves you.”
“I love her too.”
“I think she knows that.”
My relationship with Nastya wasn’t exactly great in the beginning, but I can’t blame her for being overprotective of Riley.
She’s always put her best friend first, and honestly, I respect the hell out of that.
Besides, I think I eventually won her over by continuing to show up for Riley—never giving up on her and proving, again and again, that she’s the one for me.
“I’m sorry I panicked… I don’t even know what came over me,” Riley murmurs.
“Hmmm.” I pretend to think. “Maybe the fact that you’re about to give birth to our daughter.”
“Maybe.” She lets out a small laugh. “Thank you so, so much for being here with me.”
“As I said there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” I squeeze her hand. “I love you, Ry baby.”
“I love you too.”
When Dr. Bell returns, everything suddenly moves fast.
A nurse follows her in, and the room shifts into organized chaos. Equipment is adjusted, the bed is raised, gloves snap into place.
I stay right by Riley’s side every second, helping her breathe the way we practiced in class, encouraging her to listen to the doctor. Inside, my heart feels like it’s about to explode out of my chest. But on the outside, I keep myself calm.
I need to be strong for my girls.
Less than twenty minutes later, the room fills with the sharp, beautiful cry of a newborn.
Riley and I are parents now.
Our baby girl is here.
“Well,” Dr. Bell says a few minutes later, after the nurses finish their quick measurements, “your daughter is a very healthy girl. Nineteen inches and seven pounds.”
Riley looks exhausted, and I’m pretty sure I’m soaked in sweat from head to toe.
“You did amazing, Riley,” Dr. Bell adds warmly. “You’re a great listener. Even under pressure.”
“It’s all thanks to Hayden,” Riley whispers, her voice barely audible. “Can I hold her?”
Dr. Bell nods and gently places the baby in Riley’s arms.
Riley cradles her carefully against her chest. Her gaze is full of wonder and love as she studies our daughter’s tiny face.
My heart feels like it might burst. The rush of emotion flooding my veins is overwhelming, almost intoxicating. I’m drunk on happiness.
I am a dad.
A nurse steps into the room and leans toward Dr. Bell. They exchange a few quiet words before both of them glance in our direction.
“Well,” Dr. Bell says gently, “we’re going to take her for a quick check and bring her right back. It won’t take more than fifteen minutes, okay?”
“Yes.” Riley swallows and carefully hands our daughter to the nurse.
“Riley, sweetheart, you need to rest,” Dr. Bell says kindly. “You just delivered a baby. Try to relax and maybe get a little sleep. We’ll bring your daughter right back as soon as we’re done.”
Ry nods weakly. “Okay.”
A few moments later, the room grows quiet again. It’s just the two of us.
“Thank you, Hade,” Riley murmurs. “Thank you for being here with me.”
“Hey.” I brush her hair away from her face. “You need to stop thanking me. I didn’t do anything. You were incredible. I’m so damn proud of you.” I pause, studying her soft smile. “So…what about the name? We went through so many options.”
The moment I ask, her eyes light up. “As soon as I saw her, I knew,” she says softly. “She’s Iris.” She smiles at me dreamily. “Do you like it?”
“Do I like it?” Tears are streaming down my face, and I don’t fucking care. “I love it. And Iris Hale sounds pretty damn cool.”
She smiles slowly. “It does.” Her eyes grow heavy, and she yawns.
“Get some rest. I’ll be right here with you and our baby girl.” I kiss her forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you”—she yawns again—“too.”
It takes her less than two minutes to fall asleep.
I settle into the chair by the window and send a few quick texts to our families, then to our friends. Happiness burns inside my chest, making me feel almost weightless, like I’m some kind of hot-air balloon filled with too much warmth to stay on the ground.
When the nurse returns with our baby girl, she walks over and gently places my daughter into my arms. With a soft smile, she nods and quietly leaves the room.
I cradle my baby against my chest, my eyes never leaving her face. She looks so peaceful. So perfect. My chest tightens with so much joy and love it almost hurts.
“Hi, Iris,” I whisper. “It’s your dad.” I trace her chubby cheek with the tip of my finger.
“Ever since I heard your heartbeat for the first time, I’ve loved you.
And now that I finally get to see you…” My voice cracks.
“I love you even more.” I swallow hard, tears are leaking down my face.
“You’re my world, baby girl. You and your mommy are my everything.
I’ll do anything for the two of you.” I brush my lips softly against her tiny forehead. “Because you’re my love songs.”
As I sit there with my daughter in my arms, I realize I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
I don’t even know what to do with all these feelings.
I want to scream at the top of my lungs.
I want to sing. I want the whole world to know that I’m a dad.
That the love of my life gave me the most precious gift in the world—our daughter.
Our Iris.