CHAPTER ELEVEN #3
“Our daughter was born about forty-five minutes ago. Seven pounds two ounces and nineteen inches long. She’s healthy and gorgeous.
Her name is Hope Ada Grant Wood. We thought Hope was a good first name given…
” I don’t finish the sentence. I continue to give the crowd the rest of the news I have.
“I was just told that they are finishing the surgery and Kinsley should be in recovery shortly.”
Mom comes up and gives me a hug. She steps back, tears in her eyes. “You two are too sweet to give her my name. That girl of ours is something special, and my grandbaby already is.” Dad cuts in and gives me a hug. He doesn’t say anything, but his hug tells me all I need to know.
Grant stands in front of me with shiny eyes.
I hold out my hand to shake his, but I’m surprised when I’m engulfed in a hug.
“Thank you for the honor and thank you for caring for my princess as much as you do. You’re a good man and I’m proud to call you family.
” Well shit. I sure as hell didn’t expect that reaction from him.
Guess my father-in-law has accepted me after all.
Cash and Way come up and each gives me a one-armed hug.
Willie comes up, gives me a bear hug, and whispers, “Your woman is fucking amazing, and that little girl is gonna rule the world.” Willie has become a big fan of Kinsley’s since he got home.
In fact, I think he’s been over multiple times every week since then, and I know it’s not all been to see me.
Both Saxon and Samson give me their congratulations.
I look at Mom, Dad, and Grant, and I ask, “You want to come see your granddaughter? I was told you can come see her through the nursery window.” Grant looks back at Erik, and it clicks in my head—hey, I’m not always fast with shit, especially when my wife isn’t here to clue me in—but I got this one.
“I meant all four of her grandparents. Come on.” Erik stands and takes Grant’s hand.
I know this is what Kinsley would want, and frankly, I want our little girl to be surrounded by this kind of love.
Time to show off my princess for the first time.
Kinsley
It’s been a long forty-eight hours, and today we are going home.
I’m ready to be in our own place with Hope and my own bed.
I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to sleep in the hospital when someone is coming to check on you way too often.
I know I have been a challenge for Emmett, too.
Doctor Schultz warned that my emotions would likely be all over, even more so than most women who just gave birth, because I am also going through a medically induced menopause.
I know I’ve cried a lot since the surgery.
They ended up taking both ovaries as my other ovary had a very tiny mass, but they felt it was better to get it all than leave it and possibly have to go back in later.
We did get confirmation that the mass was cancerous.
That means as soon as I’m recovered enough for Doctor Schultz’s liking, I’ll be starting on the planned chemo and then possibly radiation.
Until then, I’m going to spend all my time with my Hope.
From the moment they put her in my arms, I knew that the gods had blessed me by letting me be her mom.
She’s already such a good baby and doesn’t cry a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, she’s got a strong set of lungs, she just doesn’t use them all the time.
She’s like her mama and likes her sleep.
I might have lost my shit this morning when Dad brought Emmett a coffee.
He brought me my mint tea, but I have been dreaming about having coffee for months.
My dad might have run out of the room and all the way back to Sooner or Later, because I swear, maybe ten minutes later, he came back with a coffee for me.
Then I cried because he was so thoughtful.
Have I mentioned I have absolutely no control over my emotions right now?
I’m also not able to move around very much since my insides have had some taken out.
I swear they moved them around while they were in there.
It’s taken me like eleventy minutes to get dressed, and I’m only wearing pajama pants and a t-shirt.
Emmett started helping me, but Hope made her hunger known, so he’s feeding her.
We decided that since I’ll be going through chemotherapy shortly, nursing Hope was not going to be the best idea.
She’s already taken to the bottle like a champ.
Nurse Margarita knocks on the door and gets me out of my head.
She gives me a smile. “I see you’re ready to blow this joint.
I got your discharge paperwork, and your dad is coming up with the baby car seat.
Let’s get you out of here.” She pushes a wheelchair into the room, and I’m thankful I don’t have to try to walk all the way to the truck just yet.
Dad comes in just a minute later with Erik behind him.
Just as they walk in, Hope lets out a loud burp, and Dad smiles.
“I see Hope is just like her mama. You were always the easiest and best burper. Samson was like pulling teeth every time to get him to burp.” Dad surveys the room.
I know Emmett brought extra stuff, but everything seems to have doubled.
We have generous family and friends. “This is why I brought my truck and Erik with me. There’s enough stuff here to take at least two trips each, and that’s not including carrying my granddaughter down.
” I hear Emmett make a noise, and Dad rolls his eyes.
“Don’t worry, Columbo, I’ll let ya carry her out.
” Erik snorts and looks at Dad. “Babe, you just totally aged yourself.” Dad glares at him.
Erik, being the observant one, must see my expression because he gets this group back on track.
“Okay, people, what do I need to take out of here?” Erik loads up his arms with stuff, including a stuffed bear that is almost as big as Murphy.
Saxon, of course, brought that in when he and Samson visited yesterday with Shandy. One of these days, I’m gonna ask them what the hell is going on with that whole thing.
Emmett comes over and hands over our girl.
He leans down and kisses my temple. “I’m gonna take a load down and move the truck around.
You and Hope gonna be alright for a few minutes?
” I nod. “Yep. I think I can manage watching our daughter for a few minutes. I’m not completely helpless.
” Shit. That sounded snippy. My chin hits my chest. “I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to be bitchy. You’ve been amazing.
Hope and I will be fine here waiting for you to come back. ”
Emmett doesn’t say anything but gives my temple another kiss and takes out our bags.
The man is a saint, and as soon as I’m feeling halfway human, I’m going to show him just how much I love and appreciate him.
He’s given me the three greatest gifts I could ever have in life—his love, our Hope, and bringing Booker into my life.
I look down at Hope in my arms, and I know any pain I’m feeling is worth it. She’s perfect.
I must get lost looking at Hope as she sleeps in my arms because I don’t hear Emmett come back in the room.
He surprises me when he kneels in front of me and kisses Hope gently on her forehead.
He looks up at me. “You ready to take her home? Ready to have her meet Murph and start our life as a family of four? Booker is dying to come over as soon as we get home. Meg texted that he’s been driving her crazy, asking when he can meet his Hope.
” I nod and smile. “Let’s go home and start making family memories. ”
Emmett
It takes a bit to get Hope and Kinsley loaded up in my truck. Luckily, Hope slept the whole time. We make the short drive to the house with her dad following us in his truck, carrying the rest of the stuff we were given.
Willie had taken care of Murph while we were at the hospital.
He texted to let me know he dropped him off at the house a few minutes ago, so he would be there to meet Hope as soon as she came home.
Willie also let me know that Mom and Linnea filled the freezer and fridge with meals so we won’t have to cook for a good while.
I pull into our driveway, park, and look in the back seat to see my world. Kinsley is looking at Hope with such love that it renders me unable to find my voice for a moment.
She looks up and smiles at me. “Should we bring Hope in so she can see our home and meet Murph? You and I both know that Booker will be here as quickly as he can. He’s so excited to be a big brother. Let’s go. I’m ready to melt into our comfy couch.”
I hop out of the truck and walk around to first help Kinsley out, then grab Hope in her car seat.
I open the door and I’m greeted with the most beautiful smile.
Kinsley is smiling but has tears in her eyes.
“What is it, sweetheart?” She smiles even bigger.
“We’re home. We’re a family of four and we’re home.
Hope gets to sleep in her own room and meet Murph and her brother, and it all just finally feels real.
” I lean in and kiss her, then help her get down from the truck.
Once I know she’s safe and steady, standing next to the truck, I reach in and unbuckle Hope’s car seat and pull it out of the truck.
I see she woke up and is just looking around.
“You ready to go meet your buddy Murph? Your big brother should be here soon.” I move to put an arm around Kinsley, but see her dad has come up to help her.
“You get my grandbaby inside. I’ve got Kinsley. Erik’s unloading the trucks.”