Chapter 37
Claire
The last seventy-two hours have been wild. I feel like I’ve been in a haze for all of it.
I gave birth in a fucking car, for God’s sake.
Things I did not have on my bingo card, I’ll say that much.
Adam’s been incredible, though. If there was any doubt that he was the man for me, that he would go above and beyond for me and baby Charlie, there definitely isn’t now. He’s been incredible.
He wakes up and changes the baby before I feed her. He has breakfast and coffee ready for me when I wake up. I still haven’t figured out how he times it so perfectly every time.
Today, that peace will be taking a backseat. Adam’s sisters will be here today, and while I’m so looking forward to it, I’m still so overwhelmed by everything.
We’ve taken up at Adam’s apartment. It’s bigger and gives us more space to spread out. It’s incredible how many things this tiny little baby already has.
“You ready for the sisters?” Adam asks, Charlie curled up against his chest.
I swear I’ve never seen anything so attractive in all my life. If I didn’t already have a baby with him, I’d one hundred perfect want one after seeing him like this.
“I’m excited for them to meet Charlie,” I say, sipping my coffee.
“They’re going to hog her,” he grumps, making me smile.
“Boy are you in trouble when that little girl grows up.”
“Don’t I know it. I can’t wait.” He grins.
“How are things at work?” I ask.
“Good. Lex is keeping me updated because Woodcroft wants me to actually enjoy paternity leave. They got Hunter Page, and his plane was full of shit, so it’s going to take a while to go through. Hopefully he talks too, although I’m not hopeful for that.”
“I still can’t believe Nico survived.” I shake my head.
“Me neither.”
We’re interrupted by a knock at the door. Adam opens the door, Charlie in hand, to the squealing of four women.
“Shh, Jesus. You guys are going to hurt her ears,” Adam scolds.
“Oh, she’s beautiful, Claire.” Daisy comes over, side-hugging me.
“She is.” I smile.
It’s incredible just how much your priorities change when you have a baby. All the stress about the blog, about Cano—none of it matters as long as Charlie is happy and healthy.
The four of them fight over who gets to hold Charlie first, and all I can do is smile.
“We got you these,” Heather says, putting a gorgeous bouquet of tulips on the dining room table.
“Oh my gosh, those are gorgeous.”
“We’re also cooking dinner!” Ruby calls over Daisy, who is currently holding Charlie.
“Please tell me Autumn isn’t actually cooking,” Adam says as he sits next to me, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Oh, absolutely not. I’d like to keep Claire alive long term. She’s obviously my new favorite.” Autumn smirks at Adam.
This family dynamic is something I’m so glad that Charlie was born into.
The day is long and more fulfilling than I could ever imagine. I don’t have to move a finger. They clean the house, take over watching Claire while I take a nap, and make all the meals. By the time dinner rolls around, I actually feel some form of myself again.
They dish out the most delicious lasagna I’ve ever tasted while they never stop talking.
“So, is this home base now?” Daisy asks Adam.
“I mean, yeah.” Adam shrugs.
“What she means is are you living together?” Heather asks pointedly.
I haven’t thought about the long term. I just pushed out a seven-pound baby with no drugs; my mind has been elsewhere.
“Uh, for now, I guess,” I say at the same time Adam says, “I’d like to keep the living arrangements.”
I look over at him in shock. “You do?”
“I mean, yeah. If you want to move back to your apartment, I’m coming with you. I’m not leaving my family.” He says it like it’s a no-brainer, but I had no clue this is how he felt. Maybe it’s the huge trauma I just experienced, but I didn’t exactly think he’d want to live together.
“You need a bigger place,” Ruby says before shoving a bite of lasagna into her mouth.
“That’s what I told Adam. I’ve been looking at places for them,” Daisy adds.
My eyes are so wide it feels like someone is holding them open.
“Guys …” Adam runs his hand behind his neck.
“Oh shit, you haven’t talked about it?” Daisy asks.
“No.” Adam reaches for Charlie, but I know it’s just a means of pushing off the topic.
“What exactly are we talking about here?” I ask.
“Nothing. I overstepped,” Daisy concedes, but I’m staring at Adam, who is actively avoiding me.
“I think I need help putting dessert together,” Ruby says, her chair scooting back, followed by the other sisters.
“What was Daisy talking about?” I ask once they’re all in the kitchen.
“Nothing is set in stone,” Adam says, not answering my question at all.
“Adam …”
“I was just thinking that getting a house or a brownstone would be smart. Charlie’s only going to get bigger. I was going to talk to you about it in a few weeks.”
There are so many thoughts racing through my mind. I know making huge decisions right now probably isn’t smart, but I’m also so desperate to keep my family together that maybe I’ll just throw caution to the wind.
“You want to get a bigger place together?” I ask, stunned.
He turns to face me, Charlie snuggled against his chest. It’s unfair using the baby against me.
“Honestly, I want everything together. We can stay here until we find the perfect place, but eventually I would like a bigger, more permanent place with you.”
His sincerity stuns me. Tears fall before I can get a grip on the emotions that are having a free-for-all in my body.
“I’d really like that,” I croak through the tears.
“Yeah?”
“Oh my God, yes. I just didn’t want to pressure you into anything. I mean, she’s three days old. Making decisions right now is probably so stupid.” I gesture to the bundle of love he’s holding.
“I don’t care. We’ve got time to look and make the best call for us. But getting a yes right now is more than I could ever hope for.” He leans into me. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Aww,” the Morrison sisters say from the kitchen.
“God, you four just know how to ruin a moment, don’t you?” Adam grumbles.
“You invited us over,” Autumn accuses.
“A mistake, surely.” Adam rolls his eyes, making me smile even more.
“God, I love your family.” I sigh, leaning back onto the couch. Right as I do, Charlie starts to fuss. Adam hands her to me so I can feed her while he feeds me delicious tiramisu.
Once the sisters leave, promising to be back tomorrow, we make our way to bed.
“I love them, but my God, they never stop talking.” Adam sighs.
“In five to seven years, you’ll have a daughter that does the same thing.” I chuckle.
“At least I have practice.” Adam grins over at me.
Charlie is lying on my chest, passed out after eating. Adam runs his fingertips over her back as I watch.
“I was serious about us moving in together for real. I know her coming early was a shock, but I can’t imagine you going back to your place,” he whispers.
“And I was serious when I said making life-changing decisions right now was stupid.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change what I want.”
“Me too. Once we have some stability in our schedule with this one, we can get all my stuff over here,” I tell him. I can’t imagine living without him now.
“And finding a bigger place? Eventually, I’d like to give Charlie some siblings.” His salacious grin makes me laugh, bouncing poor Charlie on my chest.
“I just pushed her out, jeez. Give me a few months.” I laugh. “Although, finding a bigger place sounds like a good idea.”
His laughter devolves into a sigh. “I love you both so much. I know our relationship has been a whirlwind, but I can’t imagine my life without you two.”
“Same.” These damn hormones make my eyes leak every hour, I swear.
My heart hasn’t been this full since Charlie died. Hell, I’m not sure it’s ever been this full. Adam gave me something I wasn’t sure I would ever want or get, and now I can’t imagine our life any other way.
I fall asleep that night to the sound of Adam singing a lullaby to Charlie in the rocking chair we have in our room.
Three days later, his co-workers empty out my apartment and move all of my stuff into Adam’s apartment.