Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
H arper
“I can’t believe I have to wait two more months before I get one of these,” Molly coos, stroking the cheek of our sleeping daughter. “They are just so adorable.”
“They are, aren’t they?” I say, gazing down at the baby snuggled in my arms.
She’s so teeny tiny and yet so perfect, from every single miniscule eyelash to every one of her dinky fingernails. It seems utterly unbelievable that we made such incredible human beings.
“You did so well, Harper,” Molly says, patting me on the shoulder.
“She was amazing,” Daxton says, standing by the end of the hospital bed with his dad.
We’d hoped we might get a little time on our own before the visitors started flooding in. Unfortunately, there was no chance of that. Especially as both my mom and Molly followed us from the gallery to the hospital and were camping out in the waiting room, the entire time I was giving birth. We could hardly turn them away without a cuddle. Besides, I wanted to show off my two little sweet-peas.
It does mean my hospital room is now jam-packed with people – all my alphas, my mom and step-dad plus Molly and her three alphas. All cooing over the new babies.
“Was it truly awful?” my mom asks, sitting in the chair beside the bed and holding our son in her arms. “Two babies. You poor thing.” She shakes her head.
“It was awful,” I confess, “really terrible.”
“How long were you in labor for exactly?” Molly says, arching an eyebrow.
“Four and a half hours.”
Molly snorts. “I will kiss the ground and weep if this labor ends up that short,” she says, pointing to her baby bump.
“Second babies are always quickest,” her alpha, Colten, says, kissing the crown of her head.
“It may have been quick, but it felt like forever,” I tell them, pouting, “and it hurt.”
“But all that’s over now,” my mom says, entranced by our little boy. “Now you get to enjoy these two little angels.”
“Angels are they?” Daxton says. “You should have seen what was inside your grandson’s diaper. It was like black tar.”
“That’s perfectly normal,” Molly says, “wait until it turns luminous yellow. Then you’ll be truly freaked out. And when they start eating meat …” She makes a face.
“Don’t listen to Auntie Molly,” Owen says, sitting on the end of the bed, “rainbows and fluffy clouds are the only things that will ever leave these babies’ bottoms.”
“Man,” one of Molly’s other alphas, Ford, says, laying his hand on Owen’s shoulder, “I know you’re good with kids, but you’re in for a rude awakening.”
“Fine by me,” he says, leaning over the bed to kiss our daughter.
“They’re so sweet,” my mom gushes, “I could cuddle them forever.” She looks across at Ethan. “Aren’t they cute?”
“The cutest babies I’ve ever seen,” Ethan says.
“Well go and have a hold then, Grandad,” Daxton says.
“Grandad,” Mom repeats, “that’s kind of sexy.”
“Mom!” I shriek.
“Well, it is.” She passes our baby boy over to Ethan who handles him like a pro. “And look at him holding that baby, if that isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is.”
“If that baby boy is half as good looking as Ethan,” Molly says, “or any of his dads, he’ll be one handsome heartbreaker.”
I smile up at Molly.
“I can’t wait for these kids to grow up together,” I say, resting my hand on her bump.
“Oh, they are going to cause us so much trouble,” Molly says.
“Yep,” Owen says, “and we’re going to have so much fun!”
“Oh,” Molly says, “we brought you some gifts.” She retrieves her purse from the floor and fishes out two gifts wrapped in colorful tissue paper. “Here, I’ll hold her while you unwrap.”
Carefully, I hand our daughter to Molly and fold back the layers of paper. Each parcel has a tiny woolen white cardigan inside.
“River made them,” Molly says, letting the baby curl her fist around her finger.
We all stare at her and then River.
River Caspian. The world famous racing car driver who has won more championships than anyone else in history. He made the tiny cardigans?
“You did?” Wyatt says, sliding his glasses further up his nose.
“Yeah,” River shrugs, “I like knitting. There’s a lot of sitting around before races – it helps me relax.”
“Wow,” Owen says, shaking his head. “Just, wow.”
“You should try it,” River says.
“He’ll knit you more if you like,” Molly offers. Then leans in to whisper in my ear. “There’s something very hot about watching an alpha like River knit.”
Really? I’ll have to take her word for it.
I run my hand over the soft material. It really is expertly made. No gaping holes or irregularities.
“You’re showing me up, River Caspian,” my mom says. “I’m the grandma and I haven’t even begun to knit for these babies. I wouldn’t know how.”
“I’ll teach you if you want,” River says with his easy, lazy smile causing my poor mom to blush.
After that Owen makes a big show of yawning lots and commenting on how tired I must be. Molly and her alphas get the hint pretty quickly and after more hugs and more kisses, they go, leaving Ethan to try and drag my mom away.
“Call me if you need me,” she says, as my step-dad tugs on her elbow. “Any time. It doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night. I’m happy to help.”
“Mom,” I say, “we’re going to be fine.”
“Of course you are.” She’s sniffling again, looking around at me and my pack. “You’re going to make really great parents.” She takes my hands in hers.
“We are,” Daxton agrees.
My mom squeezes my hands. “I’m so proud of you, Snuffles. So incredibly proud.”