Page 97 of Fighting for Family

Kassie walked over to him and placed the sweet bundle in his arms. “Congratulations, Leo. You and Catherine have another son,” she whispered. “Michael says he’s in perfect health, even coming early.”

Leo glanced down at the tiny bundle in his arms. “Welcome to the family, little one. Thank you for waiting until I got here. Your mother will never let me live this one down,” he whispered. “I cut it close with your birth. She’s not feeling good at the moment, but she can’t wait to meet you.”

He glanced up, watching the machines showing her vitals.

“Will she be all right?” he asked Kassie. “Did I shock her?”

“Sometimes this happens in pregnant women. She complained of headaches with this one, and her health has taken a toll. You didn’t cause it,” she assured him. “If anything, you gave her a reason to fight.”

Leo nodded and glanced down at his son. He’d wait to name him until she woke up.

“I’ll take him to the nursery and get him settled,” Addyson said, taking him.

Doc removed Leo’s scrubs and tossed them in the can. “I’m bringing in a second bed. You can rest beside her.”

“I’m not leaving her side. I left her once and almost died. I’m not moving,” he stubbornly refused.

Doc nodded, understanding how he felt.

The hours ticked away as nurses came in to take her vitals. Carol and Jake sat across from him, holding her hand. Carol nodded off, and Jake leaned her against his shoulder.

“She’s gonna make it, son,” he whispered.

“I heard you and Jake came to get me. Were you afraid to get outnumbered with Carol and Kit Kat alone?” he teased.

Jake shook his head. “Bonnie and I never had children. When I married Carol, I happily accepted Catherine as my daughter. I raised Chase with his parents and will never replace them. He’s my godson. You’re my only son.”

Leo couldn’t hold back the tears. His parents never wanted him. Kit Kat’s parents took him in as their own because he loved their daughter and Eric was his best friend. Jake loved him as a father. He flew across the world to bring him home. How lucky could a man be? Propping Carol against a pillow, Jake wrapped his arms around Leo and let him unburden the months of worry if he’d make it, if Catherine gave birth without him, and if he lost his team.

“It’s all right to cry, son. When your family is at stake, you’ll do whatever it takes. Sometimes there will be tears of joy. Sometimes life gives us tears of sadness. It’s about learning to stay grateful for both. Tears of sorrow make the tears of joy even more special,” he whispered.

Leo let the advice sink in and nodded. “I know I’m a bit too old to ask this,” he said slowly. “May I call you, Dad?”

Jake puffed up with pride, and his eyes glistened. “I’ll be honored.”

Maddie and Edie entered, hugged him, and sent Jake and Carol across the hall, where they prepared a bed for them.

Leo recalled the conversation he and Catherine fought about before he left.

“We agreed on three children because if something happens to you, I’ll be raising them alone,” she argued. “By neglecting me, you’ve put me in the position to raise another child. It’s not about loving it. It’s about what’s good for our family if something happened to you.”

“Come on, Kit Kat. You’ll have enough money to care for them. I’ve ensured you a secure future,” he insisted.

“Do you honestly think this is about money?” she asked, appearing hurt.

He thought he did. Now the message hit him stronger than ever. He lost count of how many times he promised her he’d change. Now faced with raising his children alone, he finally understood how she must have felt.

Leo took a notepad and pen from the hospital table. He listed his new priorities. When he finished, he took Catherine’s hand and held it to his lips. “I know you can hear me. When I died, I came back to Serenity. I saw when they told you about me. You crumbled and cried out with your mom and Kassie at your side. You said you’d never be able to tell me you loved me again. It’s when I realized I needed to fight my way back to you. I’m asking you to do this for me. Fight your way back to the family we created and to me. We need you. You have a son who wants to meet you. I can already tell he’s trouble. He has a head full of red curls, like his mama.”

Kit Kat’s breathing seemed to ease, and he watched her blood pressure lower by a little. He refused to believe she wasn’t fighting. He knew their family meant everything to her.

At four in the morning, Kit Kat opened her eyes to find Leo staring back at her.

“Did I die?” she whispered.

“No. You’re very much alive. My team brought me home. And for the record, I made it in time for the birth of our new son,” he added, brushing her cheek.

“I won’t even yell at you about it. I thought I lost you forever,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”