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“How you doing?” I question, and he raises his eyebrows.
“I don’t know how people do this more than once. I’m exhausted, and I didn’t do anything. It was Jeni who did all the work. She was amazing, and I’m totally in awe of her.”
I smile because I know that exact feeling. “It’s a crazy experience, don’t you think?”
I can’t help but notice Mike’s face. He has a saddened look plastered all over it, and tears are brimming in his eyes.
I wonder what that’s about?
“It’s the scariest, most beautiful thing I’ve ever been a part of. But it’s all worth it for that little man right there. I never knew I could love so unconditionally the instant I met him. But with Brody… I don’t know, I think I’m going soft.” Aiden chuckles.
“Nah, man, you’ve always been soft,” I joke.
Aiden rolls his eyes and laughs as a nurse walks in and checks on Jeni and Brody. She looks up to Ethan and smiles. “Hey, little man, how are you doing today?”
“Shit, shit, shit,” Ethan calls out loudly.
“Oh my God, Ethan, no. I’m so sorry he’s repeating everything we say—”
“It’s okay, I know how it is. I have a three-year-old at home who won’t stop saying ‘for Christ sake.’ It’s very embarrassing when your partner’s parents are devout Catholics.” She chuckles, and Ethan luckily doesn’t repeat that one.
We laugh, and the nurse walks back out as Sarah steps over to me holding Brody. She sits in my lap, and I can’t help but get giddy. I know I’ve agreed to wanting another baby, but sitting here with Sarah and Brody has cemented it for me. I can’t wait to have another child with the love of my life.
“He looks so much like Aiden,” Sarah coos as she strokes Brody’s cheek.
“Did you just call your best friend’s child ugly?” I tease, looking directly at Aiden.
He punches me in the arm. Hard. “F’off, dude, my son is smoking hot,” Aiden retorts.
“I think it’s illegal for anyone to call a newborn ‘smoking hot,’ Aiden,” Sarah jokes.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. Point taken, but you have to admit in all seriousness, we’ve made a damn cute kid, right?” Aiden asks.
“Yeah, he’s adorable. Great job, dude. You did good.” I pat him on the arm.
I can tell how proud he is of his son and Jeni. The way Aiden keeps looking at Jeni with nothing but adoration in his eyes, well, I guess that’s what their relationship is all about. You can tell they complete each other. I know because it’s exactly the same with Sarah and me.
We stay at the hospital with our best friends for as long as possible before Jeni’s mother arrives to take over baby snuggling duties. Ethan gets far too worked up with all the commotion and people and unfortunately, we have to leave. So we let Jeni and Aiden get some much needed rest.
Callie and Mike join us as we all head to the parking lot. “I can’t believe they named their firstborn after us. Mike, you must be so happy?” I ask.
Mike’s face lights up with a smile so bright I think his cheeks could possibly burst. “You have no idea what it means to me, Chris… to Callie and me. I honestly had no idea they were going to. We knew his name was going to be Brody, but they never said anything about his name until we came in this morning. I’m the proudest dad in the world… um, stepdad, I mean. Obviously,” he says, suddenly sounding like he’s just said something out of place, so I nod and smile. I look at Callie who’s staring at Mike with scrunched eyebrows.
What the hell is that all about?
“All right, guys. We’re just over here.” I point. “We’ll catch you later,” I announce.
Ethan runs up to Callie for a hug. She picks him up and holds onto him tightly. “Bye, bye, darling,” she coos and gives him a kiss on his cheek and then puts him down.
“Bye, bye, darwing,” he replies.
“C’mon, little guy. Let’s get you some dinner.”
Callie and Mike walk away, and I’m surprised we got out of Jeni’s room without having to take the balloon with us. I think Ethan was too distracted by Brody, which is a good thing.
Sarah places Ethan into his car seat, gets into the passenger side of the car, and we head home. Ethan falls asleep in the back of the car with ease.
“I think Aiden was doing well… considering, don’t you?” I ask Sarah as we walk up to our front door.
