AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The Spencers had arrived soon after their sons. Cammie didn’t need an introduction to recognize the matriarch of the family. Susan hugged Theresa Collins tightly. “We can’t thank you enough for being there.”
Theresa glowed with pride. “I was only glad I could help. Paige didn’t even tell me at first. She thought it was just a false start.”
“And that’s why she needed you.” Susan smiled, her cap of silver hair slightly mussed, as if she’d rushed out without time to brush it. Misty-eyed, the two moms talked as if Susan were Evan’s birth mother. Though Evan and Theresa had reunited, Susan was Evan’s mother in all respects but blood, just as she was mother to all the Mavericks. The odd thing was that Theresa didn’t seem to resent it.
Despite the tumult, Susan turned to Cammie, who was, naturally, seated next to Dane. Smiling, she headed across the waiting room. Dane was already rising to his feet, and Cammie stood with him.
“You must be Cammie Chandler.” Susan took Cammie’s hand in both of hers. “We’re so sorry about your uncle.” Her kind eyes brimmed with sympathy as Bob Spencer echoed her.
“I really appreciate that. Thank you.” Cammie gave the older woman’s hand a squeeze, with an added smile for Bob.
“We’ve heard so much about you from Dane.” Susan smiled up at Dane. “Thank you both for being here today to celebrate our newest arrivals.”
“We wouldn’t miss it.” Dane leaned down to give her a hug. All the Mavericks were prone to hugging.
Kelsey rushed in then, throwing herself at her mom, Theresa. Soon after, her twin brother, Tony, arrived—an Evan replica with the same maple-brown hair and hazel eyes, even the same smile, though he was ten years younger. Despite Evan having discovered his long-lost family only a year ago, they seemed amazingly tight-knit and completely welcomed into the Maverick fold.
Cammie and Dane took their seats again, out of the melee. Cammie leaned in to say softly, “They both seem very nice. The Spencers, I mean.”
Dane nodded. “They’re incredible. I wish…” He trailed off. He wished he’d had parents like them? Cammie suspected that was part of his attraction to the Mavericks—not just their business prowess, but the family as a whole.
Though individually everyone seemed to talk in hushed voices, the room felt loud. The disinfectant scent reminded Cammie of all the hours, days, and months she’d sat in her uncle’s room. Yet this was so different. This was life and love and happiness.
Dane, as if sensing her thoughts, took her hand in his. “You okay?”
She didn’t deny her feelings. “It’s nothing like Uncle Lochlan’s last days. This is—” She sighed. “It’s just plain beautiful.”
The sudden smile on his face would light up a stadium. “Yeah. It’s a beautiful thing.”
She shot him a cheeky smile. “I’d have thought you’d be squirming in your seat,” she said softly so no one overheard. “I mean, it’s babies, after all.”
He looked down his nose with feigned affront. “I like babies.”
She snorted. “You’ve never even been around one.”
“I like them.” He shrugged. “In theory.”
She laughed at him.
During the wait, Cammie went out twice to a nearby café to get food for the conclave. Dane had been about to order in, but she wanted to stretch her legs. Everyone thanked her, grateful for the sandwiches and wraps, sodas, and chips she passed out.
“Too bad we don’t have Fernsby as well. Or, more specifically, his tarts,” Cal said.
Lyssa, leaning against him, turned dreamy. “Fernsby’s tarts. The best ever. And they can lead to so many other wonderful things.” She tipped her face up to kiss him.
Cammie felt a little dreamy just looking at them. She whispered into Dane’s ear, “We’d better not let Gabby hear that.”
Dane snickered. “Who will win their competition is one of life’s greatest mysteries.”
It was just after ten in the evening when the doctor came through the double doors. The whole gang, including Dane and Cammie, had stayed the entire time.
The doctor smiled widely, her dark eyes bright as she announced, “We have two additions to your family—a boy and a girl. Mom and babies are doing well. We’re just cleaning everyone up, then you can see them.”
“Oh my,” Theresa exclaimed, hands flying to her mouth. “That was fast. I was in labor with the twins for almost twenty-four hours.”
The doctor beamed with pride. “It all went like clockwork.”
Susan hugged her husband, Bob, tears streaming down her face. Kelsey and Tony hugged their mom. And the Mavericks clapped one another on the back in congratulations as if they’d all had something to do with the birthing.
Leaning into Dane, Cammie murmured, “Now the wait is over, we should take off. We all can’t fit in the birthing room.”
Dane held her in her seat with a look. “Not yet. I want a glimpse.”
Chapter Ten
Well, well, well. The man was full of surprises.
