I freeze.
My heart leaps. My breath catches.
"Wait, Mia had the baby!?”
There's a pause.
Then: “Nora? Why are you answering Nate's ph—wait." Another pause. Understanding dawning. "Oh my god, are you two?—"
“Ollie, did Mia have the baby?" I repeat, sitting up straight now, all thoughts of what we were about to do forgotten.
"Yes! Yeah, a baby girl. I'm a girl dad!" His voice cracks with emotion. "She's perfect, Nora. She's so perfect I can't even?—"
Tears spring to my eyes immediately.
"Ollie, I’m so happy for you guys.”
"Can you guys come to the hospital? I want you both to meet her."
I look at Nate, who's already moving, grabbing clothes, understanding without me having to explain.
"We'll be there as soon as we can," I promise.
When I hang up, Nate's already dressed, holding out a pair of jeans and a sweater for me.
"Come on," he says, wiping away a tear from my cheek with his thumb. "Let's go meet our niece."
The hospital corridorsfeel like they’re never ending. We're walking toward Mia's room, and I'm nervous and excited and happy. So fucking happy.
I grab Nate's hand just outside the room.
He looks at me, concerned.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I just—" I squeeze his fingers. "This is real, right? We're really doing this? Together?"
He brings my hand to his lips, kisses my knuckles gently.
"We're really doing this. Together. I'm not going anywhere, Len."
Then he kisses my forehead, and somehow that gesture—so familiar, so tender—settles all my nerves.
My breathing evens and shoulders relax as we walk in together.
The room is already full. Mom sits in the chair beside the bed, cradling a tiny bundle wrapped in pink blankets. Nick standsbeside her, one finger being gripped by a hand so small it doesn't seem real.
Ollie hovers near Mia, who looks exhausted and radiant and more peaceful than I've ever seen her.
All eyes drift from the baby to us—specifically to our joined hands and the room goes quiet.
Then Ollie's face breaks into the biggest smile I've ever seen. He gets up from Mia's bedside and crosses to us, pulling me into a tight hug first.
“About time you came home,” he whispers into my hair.
“Sorry it took so long,” I say.
He pulls back, looks at Nate, and something passes between them. Understanding. Forgiveness. Brotherhood.
