Chapter 55 Patience
Chapter Fifty-Five
PATIENCE
It had been a busy month.
August had been filled with healing since Sloane had put the car crash and Griffin’s abduction into play—one she was paying for in jail, along with her hired help. Although I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen to her yet since she didn’t seem to be mentally stable.
As for Chaz, he didn’t give a shit, but he also couldn’t be held accountable for Sloane’s actions. A little piece of me was disappointed about that. But they were out of our lives, and we were safe, that’s what mattered. We were concentrating on moving forward.
My baby boy wasn’t doing too badly, but sometimes that day crept in, and he would have a bad dream. Jett, having had experience with that himself, had been amazing with Griffin when those moments of fear reared their ugly heads.
He’d do anything for his son. And while I didn’t need official documents to say Griffin was his, I knew Jett was over the moon to have the paperwork finalized. The joy on my husband’s face at being named on our son’s birth certificate, and for Griffin to have his last name, made my heart happy.
I might have been biased, but Jett was pretty phenomenal when it came to a lot of things. He was attentive, protective, fun, loyal, and sexy as heck. He had also been by my side planning every aspect of our small ceremony that was just a little over a week away.
We’d even added more wonderful memories to our growing list. Our whole group had gone to the fair to watch Lyric’s parents’ group, Nights of Lyric’s perform.
I’d been shocked when they summoned Jett and me up to the stage to sing.
I was so nervous, but Jett was again my strength, and it felt incredible afterward.
I was about to add to that list once again. After everything that had happened, and having been a little jealous of River and Gemma, who already knew the sex of their babies, I had a blood test to find out the sex of our little bean.
What Jett didn’t know was that I’d gotten the results back, and with the help of one of our friends, I was going to surprise him along with everyone else—all but the baker anyway.
I snickered to myself, excitement running through me as I looked at the three cakes Capri had made for our co-ed, triple baby shower.
Some may find it odd that the guys were at the shower, but us ladies didn’t bat an eye. Even the kids were there for the party. The group did a lot of things together—except, the sleepover. That was girls only.
“What are you laughing about?” Jett asked as he came up behind me, encircling his arms around me, his fingers splayed across my stomach.
That protective, loving gesture melted my insides.
I turned in his arms and fluttered my lashes at him playfully. “Can’t tell you.”
He leaned in and nipped my lower lip, sending a tingle straight to my girly bits. My husband had been treating me like a fragile piece of glass that could break if he had his way with me since the accident.
“You are going to follow through with that later, you tease.”
Jett opened his mouth to say something, but if he was going to try and make excuses again, I wasn’t hearing it. I cut off any words by laying my mouth over his.
“Hey now, no hanky-panky until after the cake is cut,” Capri said, interrupting us.
We broke apart as everyone filed in, the kids clearly excited that it was cake time. I think I was even more excited than they were, and maybe a bit nervous too. That was silly; Jett would be happy no matter what he found out next.
“You ready?” Capri asked me.
“Sure am,” I told her.
My husband studied me for a second. “You really looking forward to the cake or something?”
I noticed the others watching our interaction and held back the smile attempting to break free. We were all at Gemma’s for the shower and Capri had made three beautiful cakes. Each one was designed especially for that couple.
River and Huntley’s cake was immersed in a pink baby theme that said, “Baby Meadow, coming soon.” And Gemma and Bodie’s cake was decked out in blue with the words, “Baby Tucker & Tate, coming soon.”
Jett and I both laughed as we took in the cake Capri made for us. It was plain white, with tiny clothespins, and baby feet around the edge, plus a peanut in the middle. She’d made a peanut out of frosting and arched across the top, it said, “Baby Peanut, coming soon.”
But it was the middle I was dying for my husband to see.
“Okay you guys, get over here and cut your cakes,” Capri told us.
I noticed Paxton watching his wife, his brows furrowed. He didn’t seem to know what was happening, and I was shocked Capri had kept the secret from him. But he did seem to think something was up with his wife.
Each couple made their way around the table, Capri directing River and Huntley to go, then Gemma and Bodie, and suddenly it was our turn.
When they made their cuts, the cakes were both chocolate with white filling.
It was the outside that indicated if they were having a girl or boy—well, in Gemma’s case, that would be plural: boys.
Capri and I had talked about this, and I knew the inside of ours was different. The anticipation had been killing me. Jett grabbed the knife, and I placed my hand over his. Griffin was standing right in front, excitement rolling off him in waves. Anything to do with the baby, he was game for.
This is it.
In one fluid motion, my husband brought his hand down—mine following his—the knife slicing into the cake seamlessly. He stared at the cut, and I removed my hand from his. Then he made another slice before taking the first piece out and laying it on a plate.
“A little girl?”
He turned to me, his blue eyes sparkling with tears and wonder. I glanced at the piece of white cake, bursting with pink frosting in the middle, then back at him.
“It’s a girl,” I announced, my own eyes swimming with tears of happiness.
Cheers went up throughout the group, but it was Griffin who was the loudest, yelling, “Oh yeah, oh yeah, I’m having a baby sister!”
My husband dropped to his knees and laid a kiss on my belly. “Hey, pretty girl,” he said softly, loud enough for me to hear him.
There was a murmur of awe as they witnessed the moment. Then Jett got to his feet and took my face in the palm of his hands.
“I love you so much, Roo.” He gave me a sweet, quick kiss on the lips. “You have made me the happiest man alive.”
“Not possible!” Kace yelled. “I’m the happiest man alive.”
His wife, Teal, gave him a sweet but suggestive look, which only caused an uproar. Soon all the guys were arguing about who was the happiest. While they had it out, I looked at my husband.
“Do you want to tell them her name?”
We had talked about names for both a girl or a boy and had been set on one either way. I thought he should make the announcement. He nodded, then gave a whistle, grabbing everyone’s attention. Griffin had made his way over to us and Jett scooped him up in his arms, placing him on one hip.
With all eyes on us, Jett said, “Baby Amelia Blu Adams, coming soon.”
I wasn’t sure where to look first. I’d asked Capri to dial Dusty in at this part and I knew she’d follow through. I wanted to see Gramps’s and her face both. Amelia was Gram’s name, and I knew it would touch Gramps that we were naming our baby girl after her.
My gaze went to him, and his eyes were brimming with tears, his hand over his mouth as emotions washed over his face. “Thank you,” he choked out.
Capri was then beside me, her phone in hand, and I looked at the screen to see Dusty with tears streaming down her cheeks. We’d given our baby girl the same middle name as our friend.
“I can’t believe you,” she managed to get out through her tears.
“You saved me once, and you’re our friend. We wanted to,” I told her.
We’d talk about it later with both Gramps and her, but right then, my husband pulled me into him for a hug. With Griffin still in his arms, I soaked in my amazing life.
I may not have started out with the best family, but family was what you made it sometimes.
And my family was perfect.