Page 55 of Penn

Stepping off the bed, Bernie holds Jolene’s hand, and Zep steps up. Tears fill his eyes as he gently kisses Misty before pressing his forehead against hers. It’s a silent gesture of devotion. “You scared the hell out of me, baby.”

“Scared me, too,” Misty admits. “The baby?”

“She’s right here,” a nurse says, carrying in the little girl wrapped up in pink. “She’s been released from the NICU and can go home when Mom does.”

She sets the baby in Misty’s arms, and Misty’s lip quivers as she looks down at her newest daughter. “You’re here. And you’re okay.”

“I didn’t want to name her until you were awake,” Zep whispers, “but she looks like a Lucy to me.”

“Lucy Molloy,” she says. “Is that your name? Are you Lucy Molloy?”

“I like Lucy!” Bernie says.

A soft pressure against my side makes me turn to find Dixie turning her head into my arm, tears filling her eyes. My arms wrap around her instinctively, pulling her close to my chest as I kiss the top of her head. Her vanilla bodywash calms my racing heart, and I’m so glad everything is okay.

Finally.

“We should give them some time,” Dixie says, her voice quiet. “They need some family time together.”

“I agree,” I say. “We’ll get out of your way.”

“Wait,” Misty calls. “Dixie, why don’t you stop by the house when we get settled at home. I’d like to talk with you.”

Smiling, Dixie nods. “Sounds like a plan.”

We walk out, hand in hand, and it really does feel like a weight has been lifted. As we reach the parking lot, Dixie stops beside the pickup and faces me, her eyes searching mine.

“Dixie?”

“I was wondering…” She bites her lower lip, stopping herself.

“Wondering what?”

Her cheeks puff out as she holds her breath and lets it out. “I have an ultrasound appointment tomorrow at two. Would you want to come with me?”

My chest swells with a sudden, powerful wave of emotion. Gratitude. Love. Excitement. Many others I can’t identify or probably even know. “Are you kidding me?” I ask, cupping her face and kissing her chastely. “Of course I want to be there.”

A small, relieved breath comes out. “If you have something going on already, that’s okay. I just wanted to—”

“If I do, it can fucking wait. That is where I want to be. Where I need to be,” I say. “With you.”

“Okay.”

She climbs into the pickup, and I swear I’ve grown wings and can fly. Today honestly couldn’t get any better. And I know just how to show Dixie how completely and utterly devoted to her and this baby I am.

Chapter 21

Dixie

Waking up with Penn’s mouth between my thighs is one of the best ways to wake up. Honestly. Truly.

I pant, resting against the pillows beneath my back to help relieve some of the pressure from lying flat as he kisses my inner thigh. “Good morning, baby.”

“Yes, it is,” I say with a smile. “Two orgasms is a wonderful alarm clock.”

“Oh, I’m not finished.”

Thinking he’s going to climb up and enter me, I close my eyes and bite my lower lip, ready and waiting. My eyes pop open when his warm mouth presses against my sensitive skin again.