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Shelly:Aunt Shelly is on the way! Can’t wait to meet him or her.
Then, I flip to my text history with Devlyn and type a quick message.
Shelly:Autumn’s in labor. Headed to the hospital.
The small gray bubble dances at the bottom left of the screen a moment before Devlyn’s response appears.
Devlyn:Just left the park. Be there in a few and we can go together.
Since the incident with his mother, Devlyn spends most of his days at the park and evenings in the studio. Not sure if he draws or paints while at the park, but he appears calmer on the days he visits. As if he needs to sit on our bench while working. As if he needs the energy and serenity of the trees and air and wildlife. As if he needs to be in the same space we shared so many times before.
I fear the reason he leaves the house is on the off chance his mother will stop by unannounced, attempting to stir up more toxic drama. The thought rakes my nerves. No one should fear being home, in their personal space.
On the days a shadow glints Devlyn’s gaze, he chauffeurs me to the shop. I don’t question his heart or motives. Small as it may seem, I grant him this minute assurance, this form of armor. A way he can shield me from hurt, from his mother.
Shelly: Yeah, that’s perfect.
Devlyn: Shouldn’t be long.
I fill a few more bins before ditching my shop apron and shouldering my purse. Elizabeth gives me a hug and tells me to send tons of pictures. I bolt out the back door with a small bouquet and hop in Devlyn’s SUV, then we are off.
We arrive at the hospital and park in the visitor’s lot. After weaving through the main lobby, we step inside the elevator and ascend to labor and delivery. The car comes to a stop and the doors whoosh open. The air hits my face as we step out and my stomach rolls a little at the scent of lemon-scented bleach. I take a deep breath, hold it to the count of ten then release it.
“Hey.” Devlyn gives my hand a squeeze. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “Never been a fan of bleach and it smelled especially strong when the elevator opened.”
“Huh.”
We steer into the waiting area for the floor, and I look to Devlyn. “What?”
He shrugs. “I barely smelled it is all. Maybe it’s because of the cleaning agents I use for my brushes. My nose is desensitized to the strong stuff.”
The subject gets dropped when Penny, Cora, and Gavin approach. Cora wraps her arms around me and squeals a little too loudly in my ear. Gavin smiles brightly and says hello to Devlyn.
“How is everyone? Do we know if she’s delivered yet?” I ask Cora, wanting to hold my next niece or nephew sooner rather than later.
“Jonas’s mom came out just before you got here. They were going to have Autumn start pushing any minute.”
I clap my fingers excitedly and smile so hard my cheeks sting. We settle into the chairs and place bets on if it is a boy or girl. It’s three to two for a boy when Erin strolls in and evens the score. Before we get into a face-off about why each of our opinions is fact, Jonas’s mom, Irene, walks out with a megawatt smile. The room goes quiet as we all rise and step closer.
“It’s a boy!”
The room erupts in cheers. Irene tells us she will come get us once we are allowed to see Autumn, Jonas, and the baby. She disappears down the hall and it isn’t long before she returns and invites us back to meet our newest family member.
One by one, we file into the hospital suite. The first thing I notice is how radiant Jonas is. Without question, he will be the best father. That man has the biggest heart and I have never seen it so full.
Like our last trip to the hospital when Cora had Clara, baby Ryker gets passed around for everyone to hold and coo. When I sit with him in the rocking chair, I tell him how lucky he is to have such wonderful parents and the best big sister in the world. And also the world’s best aunt.
Baby Ryker has Autumn’s dark hair and Jonas’s hazel eyes. One thing is certain, this boy will break hearts over the years. Jonas and Autumn may have their hands full with Clementine, but Ryker will be right behind her.
I pass Ryker to Penny and squeeze between Devlyn and Cora.
“Guess you’re next,” Cora says with a laugh.
It’s a joke. I know it is a joke. But I freeze. Not because I fear pregnancy or motherhood or permanency. I freeze because my romantic relationship with Devlyn is little more than a month old. Cora said the words in the moment because she recently had a baby. She’d probably say the same to Peyton if she and Micah hadn’t openly told everyone they have no plans to have kids.
But there is another reason I freeze. Another reason my mind tailspins.
