Epilogue Macklin
Macklin
Sunday morning at four minutes after four in the morning, my life changed. That’s the moment my little girl took her first breath, and just three minutes later, her brother took his. That was over five hours ago, and I can’t stop staring at them.
My kids.
I’m holding a piece of me and a piece of my wife in my arms, and it’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt.
My heart is too big for my chest, because there’s an ache there, not a pain, but a happiness I never knew existed.
I love my wife—she’s my world—but as I stare down at two tiny people, a product of the love we have for one another, it’s all overwhelming.
My love for the three of them is so great that I don’t know how to contain it or even describe it.
My wife is sleeping after twelve long hours of labor.
The waiting room is filled with family, waiting to meet our babies, but Baylor needs her rest. I went out to see them, told them all that Momma and the babies were healthy and that they could all go, as Baylor was exhausted, but they’re still there.
Waiting patiently to hold two pieces of my heart that are beating on the outside of my chest.
“Cowboy daddy,” Baylor says, in a sleep-laced voice.
“You keep talking like that, Mommy, and we might have two more of these little cuties before you’re ready,” I tease her.
She gives me a tired, breathtaking smile as she moves to sit up in bed. I stand to help her, but I have a baby in each arm.
“I’m fine.” She waves me off. “You know if you keep holding them both like that, you’re going to spoil them.”
“They’re new to this world, Bay. They need to know that Mommy and Daddy love them more than anything, and that we’re glad they’re finally here.”
“How can I argue with that?” she says with a smile, tears welling in her eyes.
“You can’t.” I flash her a grin.
She chuckles, then grimaces at the pain.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No. But, I should call my sisters and tell them they can come meet them.”
“They’re still here. The guys, my parents, Sophia, even Kinzie, Kelly, and Lorna are here. Hank and Brad are heading this way. They’ll be here later tonight.”
“They’re here?”
“They are.”
“Give me those babies and go get them.”
“I think we’re only allowed two visitors at a time.”
“Well, we’re just going to have to break the rules.”
“You trying to get us kicked out before we’re ready?”
“No, but I want our family to meet our kids all at once. I can’t choose, and I don’t want to. Bring them all.”
“Fine, but don’t be surprised if the nurses kick up a fit about it.”
Baylor waves her hand in the air. “Let them. They’re not going to kick us out, just our guests, but at least they’ll all meet them at the same time.”
“Whatever my wife wants.” I wink at her before transferring both babies to her arms. I kiss all three of them before leaving for the waiting room.
As soon as I step into the room, several sets of tired eyes meet mine. “She’s awake, and she wants all of you to come back at once.”
“They’re never going to let that slide,” Ellison says.
I shrug. “I’m not going to tell my wife no. She wants everyone to meet the babies at the same time, and we can take turns after that.” I wave for them to follow me, and I don’t look back. I know that they will.
Back in the room, it’s a tight fit, but everyone squeezes in. I take our boy from his momma and sit on the bed next to them.
“Thank you all for being here for us. I know I need to talk fast before the nurses catch on.” She laughs. “This little angel was born first. Her name is Hadley.”
“And this little man, born three minutes later, is Waylon,” I tell them.
Everyone congratulates us, and before we can let the first person hold them, the nurse comes in. She’s smiling but trying to be stern. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t see this. Just keep it down so you don’t disrupt the other patients. Mom, you doing okay?”
“I’ve never been better,” Baylor tells her.
She nods. “I’ll be back to check on you in a bit. Press the Call button if you need me. Don’t stay too long, at least not this large a group,” she says, before backing out of the room and closing the door behind her.
“Well, I think the grandparents should have first dibs,” Leighton says, making my mom smile.
“Janie? Rick? Are you ready to hold your grandkids?” Baylor asks them.
“I was born ready,” my mom says, moving toward Baylor and taking Hadley from her arms.
“Hand him over, son,” Dad says, holding his arms out for Waylon.
That’s how the next hour passes. Everyone gets a chance to hold at least one baby before a new nurse comes back and kicks them all out.
“Thank you for coming,” I tell everyone, hugging each person before they leave.
“Take care of them,” Ellison tells me.
“Always, Ellie.”
“It’s time for them to eat,” Baylor says.
I jump into action, making bottles, which isn’t hard since the hospital provided us with premade ones. Baylor and I decided that she wouldn’t breastfeed so that I could help her, and so could our support system. Two babies are going to be extra hands, extra bottles, but we’re ready for it.
I hand one bottle to Baylor for Waylon and keep the other, taking Hadley into my arms and sitting on the edge of the bed, facing my wife as we feed them.
“You were incredible, Bay.”
“You were there every step of the way, Mac.”
“You did all the work, and we have proof of that in our arms.”
“Are you ready for this adventure?” she asks me, putting Waylon to her chest to burp him.
“Every adventure, baby. As long as I’m next to you, we can take on anything.”
“Sleepless nights, bottles, diapers, and more diapers.” She laughs.
“Together,” I remind her.
We’re ready. We have a shared nursery with two beds, two rocking chairs, two of everything basically.
My mom, her sisters, and her best friend already have a meal rotation ready for when we get home, and there’s even a night shift rotation for the first week we’re home so we can get some rest, and they’ll help take care of the babies at night.
I don’t know how I feel about that one. I want to be the one taking care of them, but they all tell me that we’ll need the help and to accept it with grace, because it takes a village, and damn, if our village isn’t the best around.
“Together.” Baylor nods.
The babies finish their bottles, get fresh diapers, and are re-swaddled, something I practiced on Lainey.
She loved it, although she was pretty squirmy and much older, but it was the same concept, and I needed the practice.
It was a game to her, but it worked. I hand Hadley to Baylor, and I keep Waylon as I slide into bed next to them.
This is a moment I’ll cherish forever. My family in my arms, my heart overflowing with love. This is what life is about, and I get to experience this and so much more with my best friend. With my wife, Baylor McBride.