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“Ah,” her mouth widened as Hadley and her shared a knowing smirk. “I see. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of your wife and baby.”
Thirty minutes later, I was sitting beside Hadley as she laid in bed. Her eyes were pinched shut in anguish. And fucking hell, there was no way I could stomach her sitting there for hours in discomfort. They had to do something.
“Hank!” I peered over my shoulder as Ma and Hank stepped in. Hank was smiling as he bent down and scooped Eli up.
“How are you feeling?” Ma came over to the bed and asked Hadley.
Hadley opened her eyes slightly. “Ah…”
“Do you guys want us to take Lucy and Eli to grab something to eat?” Ma asked.
“I want to go!” Eli screamed.
“I’m going to stay here with Mom,” Lucy said, and I looked over at her watching her mom. Even with the sass, she was every bit her mommy’s girl still. Worry tugged on her lips the longer she watched Hadley.
“We’ll be in the waiting room after we get back. Make sure you bring him out to the window where we can see him after he’s born.” Ma patted my back. I fished my keys from my front pocket and handed her the truck keys.
“Just drive the truck. It’s already got his car seat.”
“Come give me a kiss, Eli,” Hadley told him. He jumped down and ran to her. I helped him up on the bed where he placed a kiss on her cheek. “You ready for baby brother?” she asked him.
He nodded vigorously. “Feel better, Mommy.” He ran back to Hank.
Once they were gone, Hadley looked at Lucy. “Weren’t you hungry?”
“You know they’re going to bring me back something anyway.” Lucy shrugged casually with all the faith in the world. She was right. They definitely would bring food back for her, probably for Hadley’s parents too who weren’t there yet.
“Does it always take so long?” Lucy asked suddenly. “Why is nothing happening?”
I felt the same way she did. I hated that it was taking so long.
“You two need to stop worrying,” Hadley told us.
“Elijah’s the one on the verge of crying, not me.” Lucy pointed out.
“I bet I won’t be the only one crying,” I added.
She glared at me. “I bet you ten dollars!”
“I bet you’ll be washing my truck.”
“God bless America!” Hadley gripped her stomach. “Lucy, you’re acting just like him lately. I can’t handle two of you.”
Lucy and I shared a knowing smirk before she snickered. She placed her head next to her mom and sighed. “After today Mom, we’re going to be outnumbered.”
“I already feel outnumbered between the three of you ganging up on me as it is.”
_____
Six hours later, Jackson Parker was born.
I tried to stay strong as I held Hadley’s hand, sweat coating her forehead and dampening her hair. I already knew it, but now I was positive… She was the strongest person I’d met.
As soon as Jackson came out crying, I cried with him. The happiest, proudest moment of my life was in that room.
I was a husband. Step-dad. Dad.
How much my life had changed over the years since meeting Hadley. I kissed her on the lips, rubbing her wet hair as tears ran down her cheeks too.
