AllFreeNovel
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Ava and Amelia talk non-stop about birth and babies. The two of them are a fountain of knowledge given the number of kids between them. Addison is traveling in Asia with Masen, and we haven’t been able to get a hold of them just yet. I’m certain where they’re staying in Vietnam has minimum to no coverage.
Charlotte gazes at me with a downcast expression, then tilts her head to the right to motion we step outside. We excuse ourselves and leave the girls chatting.
As soon we’re in the corridor, Charlotte wraps her arms around me. Inside her embrace, I allow myself to relax, knowing today was hard for both of us. We’ve gone through so much together, and anytime something happens with the girls, it’s emotionally draining for us both.
“You saved our little girl,” she whispers in my chest, clutching my shirt as if her life depended on it. “And you saved our grandson.”
“Charlotte, I didn’t save them. Someone is watching over us.”
She pulls back with a soft smile as we stare at each other with a knowing gaze. We’ve narrowly avoided many tragedies in our lifetime, so it’s fair to say we have a guardian angel watching over us.
“Elijah.” She breathes his name. “You think?”
“I dreamed about him last night,” I admit, trying to remember the details, but I begin to struggle. “I don’t remember it, but he was talking to me as if he had never left. Just like old times.”
“Maybe, he visited you. It’s not uncommon.”
“Maybe…”
As we stand here holding each other in the corridor, it’s not long before the rest of our family shows up, all eager to see the new baby.
Charlotte joins Kate inside as I wait with Adriana on the plastic chair. I’m surprised my sister hasn’t already smothered the baby inside given she’s baby crazy. Thank God she has her own grandkids now.
“Charlotte says you dreamed of him.”
I nod quietly.
“You know, he’s visited everyone in dreams but not me. Even Julian, he’s visited.”
A small smile graces my lips. “Elijah was never a jealous man. Funny how things change.”
Adriana knocks into my side. “Do you think it's a sign?”
“I don’t know how to feel about it all. I just know someone was looking over my daughter and grandson.”
“Speaking of grandsons, I’m excited to meet him. I’m just waiting for Andy because Alexa wanted to see us together.”
Not long after, Andy and Jessa arrive with Bentley and their daughter, Scarlett. Bentley takes a seat on my lap, scared to go inside since, apparently, he fears hospitals after he broke his arm and needed a cast.
Andy bends down to Bentley’s eye level. “Are you going to be okay with Grandpa Lex?”
Bentley nods, only managing a smile. Thankfully, he keeps me company with his talk about dinosaurs and monster trucks. The kid is intelligent for his age, able to explain statistics and facts on both topics like he’s being questioned for a test.
When everyone finally leaves, Charlotte and I join an exhausted Alexandra while the baby sleeps in the crib beside her. The baby checked out perfectly, given he was born early, but the doctor insisted they both stay for a week so they could be monitored for any complications.
“Mom, Dad,” Alexandra begins, lowering her eyes to her hands where she fidgets with them nervously. “I want to tell Hunter about his son.”
I knew this would happen. It was inevitable. Cash isn’t my favorite human being, mainly since he used Alexandra to get back at me. Not that I’ve done anything to the man. Business is business.
This time, I remain tight-lipped, keeping my opinion to myself.
“Honey, I think it’s a good idea. The sooner, the better,” Charlotte adds. “You’ll never get this time back with your son, and he’ll never experience it.”
Alexandra lowers her eyes, then shifts her gaze onto the baby.
“Once I’m settled at home, I will tell him. For now, I just need to sleep for a thousand years.”
Charlotte insists on sleeping in the room with Alexandra, prompting Ava to pack some clothes for her and bring them with the hospital bag.
