Chapter 48
CLEO
My phone rang just before three in the morning. I knew before I answered. Melody had been having contractions on and off for the last week, but this time was different. I could feel it.
“He’s coming,” Austin said when I picked up. “We’re heading to the hospital now. Melody wants you there.”
“I’m coming. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Thirty tops. Don’t let her have the baby without me.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I hung up and sprang into action.
“This is not a drill!” I slapped Cash’s chest.
He sat up, showing off those gorgeous abs. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“We have to go! It’s baby time!”
I was already out of bed. I had a full outfit ready to go right down to my comfy shoes. Cash teased me about being prepared like a fireman. I was. And I was so glad I was because I honestly didn’t know if I would have put on matching shoes. I was calm and freaking out at the same time.
Cash got dressed while I brushed my teeth. Melody was the one having the baby, but I had packed a bag and left it by the door. Water. Snacks. Lip balm. Massage oil. I was ready. I was prepared to stick by her side for the long haul.
Cash grabbed the gift bag we had put together two weeks ago. Bag was probably not the correct word. It was a huge basket filled with all of Melody’s favorite snacks, face masks, a cozy blanket, magazines, and yes, the T-shirt for Austin.
It said World’s Okayest Dad, which Cash personally chose. I thought it was perfect and it would make him laugh.
“Ready?” he asked.
“So ready. Let’s go.”
The drive to the hospital was a blur. Cash drove calmly while I fidgeted in the passenger seat, checking my phone every thirty seconds for updates.
“She’s going to be fine,” Cash said.
“I know.”
“The baby is going to be fine.”
“I know.”
“So why do you look like you’re about to jump out of a moving vehicle?”
“Because this is huge.” I pressed my hands to my face. “My best friend is having a baby. A whole human is about to enter the world. What if something goes wrong? Her blood pressure has been up.”
“Nothing is going to go wrong.” He reached over and took my hand. “Melody is strong. She’s healthy. She has the best doctors. And Austin is probably driving them all insane right now, which means they’re focused on getting this baby out as quickly as possible.”
I laughed despite my nerves. “You’re probably right.”
“I’m definitely right.”
We pulled up to the hospital and Cash let me out at the entrance while he parked. I ran inside and headed straight to the maternity ward. I gave Melody’s name to the nurse.
“Room 412,” she said. “But fair warning, she’s in active labor. Might want to wait in the waiting room. I’m not sure Mr. Bancroft is allowing visitors.”
I was already on the move. Room 412 was easy to find. I could hear Melody before I saw her.
“I swear to god, Austin, if you tell me to breathe one more time.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
“You’ve helped enough! This is your fault!”
I knocked gently and pushed the door open. Austin looked up with relief. “Thank god. She’s terrifying.”
“I can hear you,” Melody said through gritted teeth.
She was in the hospital bed, hair pulled back, face flushed, looking simultaneously exhausted and more alive than I’d ever seen her.
“Hi,” I said, going to her side. “How are we doing?”
“We are doing terrible,” Melody said. “I am in labor and it hurts. Nobody told me it would hurt this much.”
“Everyone told you it would hurt this much,” Austin said. “You’re delivering a baby. We did the classes.”
“Not helpful, Austin.”
I set down the gift bag and took Melody’s hand. “What can I do?”
“Tell me I’m not dying.”
“You’re not dying. You’re bringing life into the world. You’re a warrior goddess.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
A contraction hit and Melody squeezed my hand so hard I saw stars. I didn’t complain. Just held on and let her crush my fingers while she breathed through it.
When it passed, she collapsed back against the pillows.
“How much longer?” she asked the nurse who’d just walked in.
“You’re at eight centimeters. Shouldn’t be too much longer now.”
“That’s what you said an hour ago.”
The nurse smiled. “Babies come on their own schedule.”
Cash appeared in the doorway. Austin immediately went to him.
They talked in low voices while I stayed with Melody. Helped her through contractions. Wiped her forehead with a cool cloth. Told her she was doing amazing even though she insisted she was dying.
An hour later, the doctor came in and declared it was time to push.
“Oh god,” Melody said.
I kissed her forehead. “This is you and Austin. I’ll be right down the hall. I love you.”
We left the room just as Melody let the world know it hurt.
“You okay?” Cash asked quietly.
“Yes.”
I paced the hall, listening to my best friend shout. I wished I could take the pain for her. But she was strong. And she was hurt now, but it would all be forgotten very soon.
Forty minutes later, Austin opened the door. The man had red eyes and looked like he had just been through hell, but he was grinning.
“He’s here,” he said, his voice cracking. “Seven pounds, three ounces. Ten fingers. Ten toes.” He ran his hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “She was amazing. Absolutely amazing.”
Cash hugged his brother. A real, proper hug that said everything words couldn’t. I watched them, these two powerful men reduced to their most vulnerable selves by the miracle of birth.
“Can we see them?” I asked, already moving toward the door.
Austin nodded. “She’s asking for you.”
Nothing could have prepared me for what I felt when I stepped into that room. Melody was propped up against pillows, her hair plastered to her forehead with sweat, her face flushed and triumphant. And in her arms was the tiniest bundle I’d ever seen.
“Hi,” she said softly. “Come meet your godson.”
I moved closer, almost afraid to breathe. The baby was so small, so perfect. His face was scrunched and red, his tiny fists clenched against his chest. A wisp of dark hair peeked out from under the hospital cap.
“Oh my god,” I whispered. “Look at him.”
Tears streamed down my face as Melody shifted him in her arms so I could see better. I’d never felt anything like this before, this overwhelming rush of love and protectiveness for a person I’d just met. This tiny human who was part Melody, part Austin, and somehow already his own complete self.
“Do you want to hold him?” Melody asked.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. She carefully transferred him into my arms, showing me how to support his head. He was so light. So fragile. I looked down at his perfect little face and completely lost my heart.
“Hello,” I whispered. “I’m your Auntie Cleo. I’ve been waiting so long to meet you.”
His eyes flickered open—dark blue, unfocused—and I swore he looked right at me. A sob caught in my throat.
“Congratulations,” Cash said, walking over. “He’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Austin looked down at his son. “I can’t believe he’s here. I can’t believe he’s mine.”
“Ours,” Melody corrected.
“Ours,” Austin agreed.
Cash peered over my shoulder and stared at his newest nephew.
“Want to hold him?” Austin offered.
“I’m good.”
“Come on. You’re his uncle.”
“I’ll hold him in a couple months. When he’s less fragile.”
“He’s not going to break.”
“I might break him.”
I laughed. “Cash Bancroft, afraid of a seven-pound baby.”
“I’m not afraid. I’m being cautious.”
“I’m going to spoil you rotten,” I told the little bundle. “I’m going to be the fun aunt. The one you call when you’re in trouble.”
I looked up and found everyone watching me. Melody was eating crackers from my care package. Austin had his arm around her. Cash was staring at me like I’d just solved world peace.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” Melody said, smiling. “It’s just that you’re already amazing at this.”
“I’m just holding him.”
“You’re already in love with him. We can tell.”
She was right. I was completely in love with this tiny human who couldn’t even hold up his own head yet.
“How was it?” I asked. “I mean once you got through the pain.”
“Honestly, I don’t think it was that bad.” She started talking about the birth.
Cash’s face went white. “Maybe we don’t need all the details.”
“Oh, this is nothing,” Melody said. “Wait until I tell you about the placenta.”
“Please don’t.”
But she did. In great detail. Cash looked like he might faint.
Finally, Melody yawned.
“We should go,” I said reluctantly.
I handed the baby back to Melody.
“Take the T-shirt out of the bag,” I told Austin. “Put it on.”
He pulled out the World’s Okayest Dad shirt and laughed. “You’re the worst.”
“You love me.”
“I really do.”
Cash and I said our goodbyes and headed down to the parking lot. The sun was coming up. We’d been at the hospital for almost four hours.
“That was intense,” Cash said.
“That was beautiful.”
“Melody described things I never wanted to know about.”
“She’s proud. She should be. And if we’re going to have a baby, you should probably know what you’re getting into.”
We got in the car and Cash started driving.
“You know,” he said. “Now that the baby’s here, we have more freedom. We can travel. Do that trip to France we’ve been talking about.”
“As long as I can still be here for Melody.”
“Of course.”
“The first two weeks are going to be hard. She’s going to need help. Dishes. Laundry. So much laundry.”
“Cleo.” He glanced at me. “They’re Bancrofts. They can hire people to do that.”
“I know. But I want to do it. I want to show up for her. It fills my cup.”
He groaned. “Not the cup thing again.”
“My cup is very full right now.”
“I walked into that.”
We got home and I saw the penthouse with fresh eyes. “I think we need to make some changes. I’ve been busy trying to settle, but this space feels not me.”
“What kind of changes?”
“Get rid of all the gray. Add color. Make it feel like a home instead of a showroom.”
He sighed. “I like the gray.”
“The gray is depressing.”
“It’s sophisticated.”
“It’s boring.” I looked at him. “Trust me on this. A pop of color here, some art there. It’ll be amazing.”
“Fine. But I’m drawing the line at purple walls.”
“What about an accent wall?”
“Cleo, purple is not a wall color.”
“One accent wall. In the guest room. You’ll barely see it.”
“Why do I feel like I’m going to lose this argument?”
“Because you are.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “But you love me anyway.”
“I really do.”
This was it. This was my life now. Living with the man I loved. Being Auntie Cleo to the most perfect baby in the world. Building a business I was proud of. Making a home that felt like us.
“Happy?” Cash asked, pulling me close.
“So happy.”
“Good.” He kissed me. “Because this is just the beginning.”
“I know.”
And I couldn’t wait for the rest of it.