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Graham, GiGi, and Brooklynn’s friend, Journee, come rushing into the waiting area. I don’t know who called them. I made one phone call and one phone call only. Graham is my emergency contact person. He’s been there with me this entire time. I didn’t think to call anyone else. Hell, I didn’t even call my ...
“Mom?”
She walks in with Ryder close on her heels. I didn’t expect this. I know all of them care but I didn’t expect all of them to be here just because I made one call.
“You naughty boy. Why didn’t you tell me?” Tears spring to her eyes as she looks at me then to my daughter. Her granddaughter. “I’m so mad at you.”
She can barely get it out before she’s wrapping me up in her arms. I didn’t know what I needed until all of this happened. I didn’t know I needed her to be here until she was. Just like I didn’t know I wanted this little girl until she was here, in my life.
“How ...?” I ask but I already know.
Graham made a phone call. It’s what he does.
“Not now, my darling boy. It’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay.”
As I hold tight to my mother and my little girl, I take in the faces surrounding us and somehow, I know. I know we’re going to be all right. I don’t know what’s coming but I know we’re going to figure it out.
Someone clears their throat. A male. We all turn to face an older male in scrubs with a stethoscope around his neck. My hand immediately goes to J.B.’s back. The doctor looks around.
“Is a Jackson Shaw here?” he asks.
I guess I’m being blocked by the people in the room. Everyone turns so the doctor can see me. It’s then that I realize he’s about half a foot shorter than I am and that’s the reason he probably couldn’t see me. He looks up at me and scrutinizes my face for a moment.
“Hey Doc. I’m Jackson Shaw.”
He gives me a onceover once more before he snaps his fingers.
“You’re Daire Deville. Boy, have I missed you on the track?”
I will not punch this guy. I will not lose my shit on the doctor man. I cannot hit a fan. He has news about Brooklynn. Plus, they will probably fine me.
“Apologies. She ... Miss ... Dr. Shaw ... no, Dr. Emory is awake. She asked for you. Is this ...,” he fumbles around in his pocket and it’s taking everything in me not to hit this guy. “Jayla Shaw? If so, she was asking for her as well.”
I don’t know why, but I look at my mother. I’m suddenly unsure of my next move. I don’t know if I want to take the chance of this going “ass over elbows” as Jeremy would’ve said. My mother nods her head but it’s Hope’s voice I hear.
“I dare you to go in there and have everything you’ve ever truly wanted happen.”
Facing my sister-in-law, I pull her into a hug then kiss her cheek. I follow the doctor around the corner then through a corridor. The doctor immediately goes in, but I stop. Adjusting my precious cargo, I kiss the top of her head before taking a deep breath.
“Here goes nothing.”
Opening the door to Brooklynn’s tear-streaked face is not what I was expecting. The instant she sees me everything changes.
“It was real. I was right. It was real. This is real, right? Please don’t let me get my hopes up and this is some horrible nightmare. It would be a nightmare ...”
As quickly as I can, I move to the bed and grab her hand. She reaches out with her other hand and pinches me.
“Ouch. You’ve got that wrong, Doc. You’re supposed to pinch yourself.”
She laughs then covers her mouth.
“Is this, okay? I mean, are you alright? I feel weird asking you. The doctor said you asked for us.”
She nods her head then winces. I move to check it but she waves me off.
“I did. I needed to see both of you. Seeing you with her makes this real. All this time, I didn’t want to believe it was. I didn’t think I had any right to ... this.”
I understand that feeling. I know it well. It’s what I’ve felt all this time.
