Chapter 39
Sirena was worth the wait.
March
Nolan
“And this is the library.” I motion to the building.
Someone snickers. “Not spending my time there.”
I glare at the kid. He’s a junior in high school and checking out potential colleges. He’s got a good arm, but Knox and I are both worried about his attitude.
“You don’t need to spend time in the library, but you do need to keep your grades up.”
He rolls his eyes. “A C average. Big deal. I can do a C plus average in my sleep.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Let me guess. Your future plan is the NFL.”
He puffs out his chest. “I’m good enough.”
“And what happens when you get injured? What’s your back-up plan?”
“I’ll be careful.”
“A careful quarterback is a crappy quarterback. You need to—” My phone rings and cuts me off. “Excuse me,” I say before walking away to answer the call in private.
“Hey, Charlie. What’s up?”
“Terri’s in labor.”
“In labor? She’s not due for another two weeks.”
“I’m driving her to the hospital. She’s been having contractions for hours.”
I scowl. “For hours? I was home this morning.”
“She was worried she was experiencing those fake contractions.”
And she didn’t tell me. She doesn’t want to ruin my coaching career. She needs to stop worrying and lean on me. I have strong shoulders for a reason.
“Did you phone the doctor?”
“Jasmine said to get to the hospital.”
Dr. Reynolds said to go to the hospital? Shit. This is it. The moment we’ve been waiting for. “I’m on my way.”
I hang up and sprint across campus. I had to be on the other side of the stadium when the call came? Doesn’t matter. I keep in shape.
“Coach Allen!” a student shouts and I wave. No time to stop.
I reach my SUV and jump inside. I’m driving away before I close the door. I push down on the pedal and drive as fast as I can and still be safe. I’m not missing the birth of our daughter.
Terri was on to something when she nicknamed our baby the little mermaid. We found out she’s having a girl a while ago. I hope the baby looks just like my sprite.
I approach the bridge and exhale a breath of relief. It’s not busy. This bridge is the bane of my existence when the tourists descend on Smuggler’s Hideaway.
The second I’m on the island, I notice a police car behind me. I ignore it. They can trail me all the way to the hospital.
But the police car’s light switches on as it passes me. The police officer waves for me to follow her once she’s in front. I don’t have time for this, but she doesn’t drive to the police station. She leads me to the hospital. We pull into the parking lot and she waves before driving off.
She probably knew Terri was in labor before I did. Small town life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I hurry inside and the receptionist immediately points to the elevator. “Fourth floor. Room 402.”
I nod my thanks as I sprint down the hallway. A few people are waiting for the elevator. I ignore it and rush up the stairs.
I’m panting by the time I enter room 402.
“Sprite!”
Terri smiles over at me. “You made it.” Her brow wrinkles. “Why are you sweating? And gasping for air?”
“Ran here.”
“You ran here from the college?”
I wave my hand in dismissal. “Ran to my SUV. Ran up the stairs.”
She smiles. “Got your workout in for the day.”
She teases me about working out all the time. You wake up at four a.m. one Sunday to get a run in.
Dr. Reynolds sweeps into the room. “Daddy made it just in time.”
“Thank god,” Charlie mutters. I hadn’t noticed him standing in the corner. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”
“Thanks, Charlie.”
He smiles at me. “Anytime, kiddo.”
Dr. Reynolds sits on a stool and rolls her way in between Terri’s legs. “Very good. You’re fully dilated. Are you ready to push?”
Terri grasps my hands and squeezes. “What if I can’t do this?”
I kiss her forehead. “You can do this. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip. “I don’t know.”
“I do know. You’re the woman who tricked the entire offensive line into wearing pregnancy weight simulators for an entire day.”
“I didn’t trick them. Tanner claimed being pregnant wasn’t a big deal. I was teaching him.”
I snort. “You taught him all right. He’s now terrified of Alaia getting pregnant.”
“It’s his—” She cuts off with a scream.
“Okay, mamma,” Dr. Reynolds says. “Time to push.”
“You got this, sprite.”
“What if I’m a horrible mother?” she asks between pants.
“Impossible.”
“But my mom.”
“Isn’t here. I am. Believe me.”
She glances up at me. “Okay,” she whispers before grunting as she pushes.
“Good job, mamma. Keep it going.”
Terri glares at the doctor. “Call me mamma one more time, Jasmine.”
Jasmine doesn’t bother looking up from her task. “And you’ll what? Walk away? Don’t think so.”
The chatter dies after their exchange. Terri’s too busy trying to bring our baby into the world to yell at her friend. Although she does tell me I’m a flying pirate who should walk his own plank a few times. I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing.
“This is it,” Dr. Reynolds says an hour later. “One more push.”
Terri is drenched in sweat. Her hair is matted to her head. Her face is red. And her eyes are full of pain. I wish I could take her pain away.
“Come on, Sprite. I can’t wait to meet our little mermaid.”
Her nostrils flare. “Then… you…can…push…her…out.”
“She’s coming!” the doctor shouts.
Terri screams and her hand squashes mine as she pushes one last time.
“Here she is,” the doctor mutters. She stands with the baby in her arms. Our baby. Tears well in my eyes.
And then the baby cries. It’s the most beautiful sound in the world. My knees wobble, and the tears are no longer in my eyes. They’re running down my cheeks, and I don’t care.
“Welcome to the world, baby Sirena,” Jasmine mutters before placing the baby on Terri’s chest. I draw my finger down her perfect little nose.
“She’s perfect.”
Terri smiles at her. “She is.” She glances up at me. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you stayed.”
I brush the hair from her face and kiss her forehead. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. You’re worth staying for.” I glance down at our little girl. “And with Sirena here now, we’re a family.”
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