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“Everything’s okay,” Kon said. “Wes told us when he came in a few hours ago that she’s just progressing slowly.”
“I have a friend whose first delivery took almost twenty-four hours,” Lucy said from beside him.
“The first one is usually the longest,” Sawyer said. “I’m here no matter how long it takes, so if anyone wants to go home and get some rest, I can text whenever there’s any news.”
No one said anything, and no one got up. After a few minutes, the door to the waiting room opened and Wes walked in. Everyone sat up straighter, waiting as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Not much to report,” he said, his voice weary. “She’s exhausted and trying to sleep between the contractions, but it’s hard.”
“Do you need anything?” Nash asked. “Coffee? Some food?”
Wes shook his head. “No, they’re taking good care of us. You think it’s going to be like in the movies, where a woman goes into labor and a few minutes later the baby is born, but…”
“Have they said anything about a C-section?” Lucy asked gently.
He nodded. “They said we’re not at that point yet, but it’s a close possibility. Hadley doesn’t want one unless the doctor says she has to have one, though.”
When his phone buzzed in his hand with a text, Wes looked at it. “Coach is canceling practice today.”
“Thank fuck,” I muttered.
“I’m not going on the road trip unless Hadley and the baby are here and doing well,” Wes said. “But you fuckers have to go, so go home and get some sleep.”
No one moved, and Wes put his hands on his hips, sighing heavily. “Guys”
“We’re not leaving,” Sawyer said. “Get back in there with your wife and come tell us when to break out the cigars.”
Wes nodded, looking at the floor. Two years ago, we had to find a new direction when our team captain, Ben Whitmer, and his wife died unexpectedly. The road was sometimes rocky, but we walked it together as a team.
“Okay.” Wes looked around at the faces in the room. “Thanks, guys.”
He left the room, and Nash stood up. “Who wants coffee?”
It was just after nine in the morning when Wes walked into the waiting room, grinning widely.
“Aiden Benjamin Kirby,” he said. “Eight pounds, two ounces.”
Everyone in the room cheered and got up, crowding around him to hug and congratulate him.
“How’s Hadley?” Sawyer asked.
“She’s doing great. Completely exhausted, but she was a champ.”
Sawyer picked up the box of Cuban cigars he’d brought with him last night. “Whenever you have a chance, let’s go outside and light these up.”
Wes nodded. “I have to go back down to the nursery where they’ve got Aiden and then make sure Hadley’s good.”
“Take your time,” Sawyer said.
“Wait, he’s in there right now?” Nash said. “We can see him through the window?”
“Yeah, come see him,” Wes said. “I don’t mean to be a dick, but we’re only having immediate family around him and Hadley for now.”
“We get it,” Eric said. “You guys don’t want your newborn around a bunch of germs.”
Nash hustled toward the door. “Aiden needs to meet his Uncle Nash first.”
Everyone hurried to follow, a crowd of us bursting into the hallway all at once. Jolie slipped her hand into mine and I gave hers a little squeeze as we made our way to the other end of the floor, where the nursery was.
“Oh, look at the babies,” Sariah said. “I swear I just felt a pang directly in my ovaries.”
“How can you not?” Jolie said, her tone dreamy.
“There he is,” Wes said proudly, pointing to a back corner of the room.
A nurse saw us and held Aiden up so we could get a look at him. He was wrapped up in a blue blanket, a little white cap on his head.
“Wes, he’s perfect,” Sawyer said.
I walked over and put my arm around Wes, emotion welling in my throat.
“He’d be so proud of you,” I said.
Wes put a hand over his eyes to cover his tears, his shoulders shaking as he cried. Sawyer came over and put an arm around him from the other side. There was no filling the hole Ben had left in our lives, but we’d never forget him. Wes and Hadley were raising Ben and Lauren’s kids as their own, which just showed how strong the bond between teammates could be.
The team was a second family to me, but being here reminded me that I missed these occasions when they happened in my actual family. Hockey had kept me from being there for the births of Andy’s kids.
Andy’s illness had been the catalyst for me to move back home. And even though he was in remission, I still needed to go. I didn’t want to miss every birthday and youth hockey game anymore.
Jolie smiled warmly at me and I felt a physical pain in my chest. It was so damn unfair how this was going down. She’d gotten a great job offer right here in St. Louis, and I knew she thought that since Andy was in remission, I wouldn’t be going to Nashville.
