Chapter 39
Liv
Two weeks later . . .
When Loch walks into the coffee shop, I stand. I’m not sure why. Nerves? Yes, anxiety has kicked in today. I rub my hands down the front of my jeans, and ask, “How’d it go?”
“Uneventful.” He finally cracks a smile resembling Noah’s when caught up in the day’s business. “Uneventful is good news. All three men pleaded not guilty. We didn’t expect otherwise, so the cases are moving forward.”
I sit down, unsure how to feel. “What does this mean?”
Loch sits, setting his briefcase on the floor beside the chair. “I ran into one of the DA’s at the ballet last night. We got to talking, and they have no intention of charging you. They also have enough evidence to see how this was set up. Noah,” he says, looking away and shaking his head.
Clasping my hands on my legs, I lean forward. “What is it?”
His eyes return to mine. “I’m glad he never signed that contract. It would have led to an indictment, and we’d be fighting this out in court. The Torres’s are being extradited from the UK because of their signatures and the terms of the contract.”
“Were they in on it?”
“I have no idea. It’s hard to say. They’ll need good attorneys since there’s enough evidence to charge them.”
“I’m glad Noah’s in the clear.”
“Me too.” There’s a pause that causes a lump to form in my throat. “I need you to be prepared to testify against your father.”
“Is that a done deal?”
“It is. We have people to help you prepare for court, but I need to know where your head’s at with this.”
Taking the paper coffee cup, I spin it around with my hands.
Although I barely drank any since I was too nervous to stomach it earlier, it’s too cold to consider drinking now.
Memories populate my thoughts as I stare at the cup.
I can still see my father’s anger when he saw me getting out of the car and the disappointment when he heard about the sailing accident.
I never riddled through if he was upset that I’d survived or disappointed in me for it happening in the first place.
Are either of those acceptable responses?
No. But his lack of emotion when he laid eyes on Maxwell was the final line to cross for me.
He stepped right over it as if he could come back from it any time.
I look at Loch, and reply, “I want justice served. I want to be free from them, and my name kept clear of any wrongdoing.”
“Okay.” His eyes are steady on mine. “Let’s do this.”
When we stand to leave, I ask, “Did you really run into the DA at the ballet or was that coincidentally on purpose?”
“Let’s just say . . .” We start for the door. He holds it open for me, and when I pass him, he says, “I have my ways, and Tuesday got a surprise night out at the ballet. Double win, wouldn’t you say?”
“I would indeed.”
No one would ever doubt Noah and Loch are brothers. Or Harbor, for that matter. But now Harbor and Loch are mine as well in all the ways that count. I’m a very lucky woman to have this family in my corner.
One week later . . .
“Babe?” I gently shake him. “Wake up, Noah.”
He looks at me over his shoulder and then rolls suddenly, tugging the sheet off me. “What is it?”
“Your phone has been going off—buzzing with calls and texts.”
Mine vibrates on the nightstand. We reach for them at the same time.
“Lark’s having the baby!” I turn so fast that our phones crash into each other.
He jumps out of bed and starts toward the closet. “We need to get to the hospital.”
There’s never an inkling of hesitation for him to include me. It’s always “we” together. God, I love this man.
I get dressed and then slip into the guest room where my mom’s been staying to let her know we’re going.
We wanted to be able to dash at a moment’s notice, and she volunteered to stay this week just in case the baby came.
Since it’s only three o’clock, Max can sleep in and join us after breakfast. I tell her, “Thank you for being here.”
“Of course, any chance I get.”
Noah and I make our way to the elevator just as the adrenaline starts to wane.
I look at him, and he looks at me. We exchange smiles, but we don’t need a bunch of talking to know how we feel about each other.
I tuck myself against him. His arm comes around my back, and after we step on the elevator, he says, “I’m excited. ”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be an uncle.”
I smile to myself. “A new baby in the family is so special.”
He kisses my head and says, “They’re really something special. We’re so fortunate that Max is healthy and happy. He’s going to love his new baby cousin.”
“I’m so surprised she didn’t find out the sex. I had to know all the details so I could plan.”
The doors open, and we cut through the lobby. “Have you ever done anything spontaneously, or is everything in your life always perfectly planned?”
I start laughing. “Yes. I was spontaneous once in my life.” Glancing over at him, I add, “I ended up pregnant. You and that super sperm of yours weren’t going to let my birth control stop your plan.”
He chuckles, taking my hand as we head outside. “My plan, huh?” He hails a cab.
“Your plan to tie us together forever.”
“You’re giving me ideas.” My knees get a little weak just from the innuendo alone.
It’s not the time . . .
Standing beside him, I say, “For the record, you were never a rebound, Westcott. I truly believe we came into each other’s lives when we needed each other most.”
He turns to me and runs his palms over my shoulders and the sides of my neck. “If you’re trying to romance me, Ms. Bancroft, it’s working wholeheartedly.”
“Good.” I lift on my toes and kiss him just as a cab pulls to the curb. Figures. It’s the only time in history of the city that a taxi volunteers to pick us up.
We share our disappointment in our mutual sighs but get in the back seat and go to the hospital.
With her arm around the back of Harbor, Delta is in tears, taking in the sight of the baby in her mother’s arms. “She’s so beautiful.”
Harbor clears his throat. “Like her mom.”
Delta smiles. “Beautiful like her mom.”
On the other side of the hospital bed, Lark’s father says, “She looks just like you did when you were born.”
Although she looks tired, Lark can’t stop smiling while staring at her baby. “Really?”
“Yes,” he replies. “You had that same tuft of hair on top but were bald for months everywhere else.”
Lark’s laughter sounds like a melody whistling through the air.
Delta touches that little tuft, and adds, “Her name is so beautiful, too. Mavie. Mavie Westcott. So pretty.”
Harbor comes around, and Lark hands her to him. Tucked in his big arms, this baby couldn’t be smaller or more perfect. “You aren’t upset that it’s not water-based?”
“No, not at all,” Delta replies. “I love that you’re starting your own traditions. Mavie follows in the tradition of Lark.”
Harbor places a kiss on her little head, and adds, “And it means my life in French.”
I say, “It’s so pretty.”
“Thanks, Liv,” Lark says, smiling from the bed.
We’ve all been in rotation for quick visits, but it’s our turn to hold her. I can’t wait, but I’m more excited to see Noah and his niece together. I get my phone ready to take photos.
“I’m kind of nervous.”
“Why?” I ask, watching his brother place baby Mavie into Noah’s arms. My heart soars seeing him hold such a sweet little thing. “Other than my sister when I was two years old, I’ve never held a baby before.”
My soul shatters.
I move to the nearest wall, needing the support. If I could run out of here, though, I would. I can’t leave without being noticed. Holding my phone up, Noah catches my eyes. I see how the light dances with joy inside his irises and the way he holds the baby with so much care in his cradling arms.
Flashes of Maxwell in my arms or my mom’s return. That was it. The two of us. It was enough . . . I always thought it was until now. A tear escapes the threshold of my lower lid as I stare at him, wishing Maxwell had had the same opportunity, feeling gutted that Noah should have been there for him.
So much was stolen from us.
I excuse myself quietly, slipping out of the room. I need fresh air after being cooped up in the hospital for several hours. After walking outside, I go a few feet away from the door. Resting against the brick, I text my mom:
Checking in.
My mom texts back:
Having coffee and then waking Maxwell up shortly. All good. Did the baby arrive?
I love that she makes it sound like a stork delivery. I reply:
Yes, a little girl named Mavie.
Her next text comes quickly:
That’s sweet. Congratulations to them.
“Liv?” Noah.
I wipe away the traitorous tears ruining this special day and then control my voice when I look up to say, “Hey.”
He comes to my side, leaning against the red bricks next to me. Staring ahead, he says, “It’s okay.”
“It’s not, though. You know it’s not.”
He turns to look at me at the same time I face him.
“We can’t change it. We can’t turn back time.
We can wish we could, but that won’t fix it.
We’re doing our best by making up for lost time and filling his life with so many good memories that he’ll never know my absence existed.
That’s my plan.” He kisses the apple of my cheek, and says, “Pictures will show his mind, but his heart will never know I wasn’t there all along. ”
“Promise?”
“I’ll make sure of it. Swear on my life.”
I throw myself in his arms and breathe him in. Although I’m still not sure what I did right in another life, I’m so glad I get to share this one with him. I look up at him and smile. “Mavie, she’s beautiful.”
“She is.” Kissing along my cheekbone, he lands just shy of my ear, and whispers, “I can’t wait to have more kids with you.”
I lean back to see his eyes, which are already steady on mine. “We’ve never talked about having more.”
“We should. What do you think, babe?”
The old me would have been spinning, thinking this is too soon to talk about that.
But that was before I met Noah, prior to falling head over heels in love with him, and preceding the three of us becoming a family.
Now, I don’t fear the future we’re creating together.
I run toward it. “I think we should have that conversation as well. I never thought more kids was a possibility, but I’d love to have more babies with you. ”
Our future.
Our love.
Our family.
When we kiss this time, it’s forever.