Chapter 62
Chapter Sixty-Two
Ryan
Knox
Toddlers are scary
Ryan
Clowns are frightening
“ B etween you and Owen, are there any balloons left in Central Oregon?”
I can’t even see him through the enormous bouquet of mylar taking up the elevator.
“Uh, if you don’t think the first granddaughter in this family isn’t going to be spoiled rotten, then you are sorely mistaken.”
“You know they have to get all of that home when they leave. Like they aren’t going to be stressed enough driving her home? You drove ten miles under the speed limit when you had Sawyer in the car. Cal will have his baby and fifty balloons to deal with.”
“Five under.”
“It was sweet.”
“I was scared shitless, if I’m being honest.”
The heart on this bad ass rocker melts mine daily.
“You did great.”
He parts the balloons, finding me on the other side. “Thank you.” His lips caress mine as the elevator doors open. “Here we go.”
Knox’s excitement to meet baby Grace has been in full effect since we woke from our nap this afternoon. The entire family was up all night and needed some rest—especially the new parents—making Knox wait until six this evening. He’s been bouncing off the walls all afternoon.
He charms the nurse who gives us our name tags and we’re knocking on Charlotte’s room in a flash.
When Cal calls for us to enter, I go in first, heading right to mama and baby, attempting to smother my smile as Gracie’s mom and dad stare open-mouthed at the monstrosity of pink that follows Knox through the door. He sets his gift on the floor at the foot of Charlotte’s bed.
“What in the...” Cal doesn’t get to finish his sentence because his big brother plows into him, engulfing him in a giant bear hug.
“Congratulations! I’m so damn happy for you both.”
Releasing Cal, he steps back, his hands on his brother’s shoulders, both of them beaming at the other.
“Thanks, man. You’ve wasted no time with the spoiling, I see.” He nods his head toward the balloons attached to a big stuffed unicorn with a pink and purple horn.
“I’m just getting started, little brother.” Knox slips past Cal to hug his wife, kissing her on the top of the head. “Hey, Mama. How you feelin?”
“Tired, but good.” She’s holding a tiny bundle, a pink cap peeping out of the top. She gently pulls the blanket back. “Knox, meet your niece, Grace Adeline McKinnon.”
“Aw, Charlie. You did good. She’s beautiful.”
Cal walks up behind Knox, clasping his shoulder and peeping over him to look at his daughter. “Wanna hold her?”
“Really?”
“Of course. Here.” Charlie gingerly scoots up in the bed and holds Grace out to his uncle.
Knox sets his stance in preparation, shaking out his hands before reaching toward the baby that Charlotte gently places in his arms.
“Well, hello, beautiful. It sure is nice to meet you.”
Cal continues to watch over his brother’s shoulder, both men in awe of the little girl swaddled before them.
Knox lifts her little cap and marvels at her abundance of dark hair.
He kisses her head before slipping her hat back on like a natural.
His ease with her is likely because of his time spent with the Hollow Knocks kids.
When he pulls one of her hands out, slipping his forefinger into her tiny fist, his first tear falls. “I can’t believe I missed this.”
Cal wraps his arm around his shoulders, stepping even closer to him. Charlotte rubs his arm, and I drop into the seat next to Charlotte, my own tears falling.
For him .
For Sawyer.
“I’m sorry. Today isn’t about me. It’s about the three of you. It’s just that holding her reminds me of everything I didn’t get with Sawyer.”
Cal takes Grace and hands her back to Charlotte so he can pull his brother into an embrace. “Don’t be sorry. I get it.”
“I should hate her, Cal. But I get it. I wouldn’t choose me to be his father, either.”
“Fuck, man. Don’t say that. Never. What she did was fucked up.
” He pulls back to look Knox in the face, but he hangs his head, hiding behind his hair.
Cal keeps a firm grip on him. “I’m glad you don’t hate her, but you have every right to be angry or sad.
I’m not sure I would have handled it so well.
We all know she did what she thought was right, even if we disagree.
Hey...” Cal bends his knees to get Knox’s attention. “Look at me.”
Knox lifts his tear-soaked face until he’s eye to eye with his brother, but he’s silent.
“You are going to be the best damn dad. Sawyer is a lucky kid. You hear me?”
Knox nods, and Callen pulls him into another hug. “I’m good. Really. It was just a moment.”
“You’re allowed as many moments as you need. Now come here,” Charlotte says, reaching for him.
He wipes his face with his T-shirt before bending down so she can give him a one-armed hug.
When he releases her, he takes another look at his niece cradled in her other arm.
“It’s a bummer she looks so much like her daddy.
” He winks at Charlotte, lightening the mood.
Then his gaze swings up to meet mine. His face softens when he sees I’m drenched in tears. “Oh, baby. No. None of that. ”
I press my hands to my cheeks, but it’s futile. The tears keep coming.
He snags two tissues from the box next to Charlotte’s bed, then rushes to the other side of the bed and squats in front of me. “Hey, you okay?”
“I’m so sorry. It’s just hard to see you hurt like this.”
“I’m fine.” His knees hit the floor, and he uses the tissues to dry my face. “At least, I will be. I’ve got you and it may be late, but I’ve got Sawyer too. We’ll figure it all out.”
“Mia is one of my oldest friends, and I love her. I forgive her. But at times like this, I am so freaking mad at her.”
It’s Callen who speaks next. “She’s family. I love her like a sister. And I really wish she had made a different decision.”
Knox stands, keeping one of my hands in his. “What’s done is done. No more tears on this beautiful day. We’re all together, and now we’ve got our sweet little Gracie.”