Chapter 16
Lacey
Before I can really take in the scene before me, my phone chimes with a message.
Ted
Not gonna make it. This whole baby thing isn’t really my scene.
I stare at the message in my hand. Cole has noticed it too, crowding me as he reads what's on the screen. Cole doesn’t do confrontation; he’s always been the cool, calm, and collected type, while I have always been the ‘wildcat’, as he calls me.
Right now, though, his jaw ticks and his eyes storm, like he’d set the world on fire for us.
The rest of the Peterson clan reaches us, and May pulls me into a hug.
“I hope it’s okay that we’re here. We just want to support you.
Cole said you were nervous and…” She looks at me like she’s worried I’m going to be upset, but she doesn’t realise that they all being here heals a part of me that I didn’t realise was missing.
“I’m happy you’re here, May.” I squeeze her back.
“Okay, you’re all going to take up the waiting room, so if you all want to head on down that corridor, then through the door on the left, you’ll find one of our family rooms. Once Mum and Dad here have been through the scan, they can come get you…
that is, if you’re okay with that, Mum, Dad?
” Lu looks at me and Cole. He freezes for a moment before his eyes find me, and I give him a small smile and a subtle nod.
“Sure, that’s fine. Guys, we’ll see you in a bit.”
I squeeze his arm to give him the sign that he did well.
As we’re walking away, Arch tries to whisper, “Did she just call Cole Dad? Did anyone else hear that? Am I missing something?”
I snigger to myself as we walk into the dimly lit room. Lu gestures for me to lie down on the bed, and so I do, making myself comfortable.
“Cold gel incoming.” She squirts the gel onto my stomach and then presses the wand deep into my skin. The familiar whooshing sound of Peanut fills the air.
“Ouch…that hurts today.”
Cole snaps his eyes to mine. “You okay? Why does it hurt? Is it normal for it to hurt?” His questions rapidly fire out at Lu.
She chuckles in return. “Sorry, honey. Yes, it’s perfectly normal for it to hurt a little; obviously not if it’s unbearable. It isn’t, is it?” I shake my head, and she carries on, “Okay, I just have to take some measurements, and so I am going to be a bit quiet, but don’t worry.”
As she takes the measurements of Peanut, I close my eyes and listen to my baby’s heartbeat.
It’s such a beautiful sound; it soothes my soul.
I feel Cole’s hand on my head, stroking my hair away from my face softly.
I slowly open my eyes and meet his. The smile on his face is soft and beautiful.
What I would give to kiss him right now.
“Okay,” Lu says, startling me back to reality, “baby is perfectly healthy and growing like an absolute dream. Would you like to know the sex of the baby?”
I look at Cole. “Shall we?” His eyes soften, and he nods. I turn back to her. “Yes, please.”
She turns the monitor that she has been watching on so that we can see.
My hands fly to my mouth. “Oh my god, look how much our little Peanut has grown.” The tears start to spill over.
“I would like to introduce you both to your little girl.” Her smile is wide.
I swipe at my eyes and look at Cole; the same tears fall down his cheeks. Putting my hands on either side of his face, I gently wipe his tears away.
“I love you, Cole Peterson.”
“I love you too, both of you, so much already.”
“Would you like me to bring your family in now?”
I nod, and she leaves us.
Cole presses his lips gently to mine before moving back. “Later, I’ll show you just how much I love you.”
My entire body heats at his words.
The door opens, and in spills the rest of the Peterson clan, including Hayleigh. No one speaks as Lu takes up her seat, puts more gel on my stomach, and fills the room with that beautiful whooshing sound.
May and Daniel step forward and each hug me, telling me how proud they are of me. The dam splits, and I couldn’t stop the tears even if I tried. I look over at Emmy and Hayleigh, and Emmy bursts into tears and rushes over, with Hayleigh following suit. They both wrap their arms around me.
Hayleigh Mumbles into my hair, “You’re going to be an amazing mum.”
Cas is next. He places a soft kiss on my cheek. “So you’re going to be a sister to us after all, huh?” he whispers in my ear, then gives a slight nod towards Cole. I roll my eyes. I should have known nothing stays secret in this family.
Rafe and Ethan plant a sloppy kiss on both my hands before walking around the bed and pulling their big brother in for a hug.
Nate fists bumps Cole, much to Cole’s horror, and I snigger as he wraps me in a bear hug. “Really proud of you, Lace. This little Peanut is going to have enough love a million times over.” I smile and pat his hand.
“Do you all want to know if Peanut is a girl or a boy?” I look at each of them and notice Archie, in the corner of the room, all by himself.
“Hey, Archie, are you okay?” He’s usually the first one to say anything in the family, but he hasn’t peeped a word; worry courses through me.
He hums a noncommittal sound and nods, but he’s still turned away.
Cole stands up. “Arch, what is it?”
Archie's shoulders begin to shake, and then we hear it – the sob he has been trying to hold in. Cole crosses the room in a few strides and gathers him in his arms, squeezing him tight. Then one by one, each of his brothers joins in.
When they finally pull apart, Archie looks at me, a promise in his eyes. “I am going to be the best uncle that Peanut has. I love you all, I love my family…I love my second chance.” He wipes his nose on his sleeve. “Okay, what is our Peanut?”
I smile at Cole, unable to contain my excitement. “It’s a little girl!” I squeal, and Emmy and Hayleigh join in while the boys groan. “What?” I laugh at them.
Rafe looks to his brothers and nods sombrely. “We’re going to have to beat up a lot of boys when she’s older. We’re here with you, both of you.” He claps a hand on Cole’s shoulder, who smiles in return.
There isn’t a dry eye in the room, even the sonographer is sobbing, “What a beautiful family.”
Yes, we are.