Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

Elijah

Four years later…

“Lucy, go find a nurse!” I panicked as I slammed the brakes and threw the truck into park.

“Will you chill?” The eight-year-old was ninety-nine percent sass, I was positive of this. That was the only language she seemed to speak. “Mom’s fine.”

“She’s right,” Hadley groaned, face pinching in pain as she clutched her round belly. “My water hasn’t even broken yet. No need to freak out.”

“Are you okay, Mommy?” Eli’s lips were close to trembling. He was probably on the verge of freaking out like I was.

“I’ll go grab a wheelchair,” said Lucy, jumping out of the truck and running inside.

“No, I’m fine. I can walk.” It was too late for Lucy to hear her mom.

“You’re not walking. How far apart are the contractions now?” I asked, placing my palm against her belly. She was so full of shit. Her stomach was tightening up into a giant ball as she pinched her eyes closed. It scared me. Seeing her in pain drove me fucking crazy.

“Every two minutes?” She winced.

I hopped out of the truck, rushed over to her side, and opened her door.

“Here!” Lucy yelled across the parking lot. She placed the wheelchair next to me while I helped Hadley out.

“Can you help me with my buckles, Sissy?” Eli asked.

“You little turd, I have to do everything,” Lucy complained, helping him anyway.

“Is it time for baby bruther to come?” Eli asked.

“Yep.” Lucy shut the back door after Eli hopped out.

“Mamaw and Papaw should be here soon,” Hadley told him as I eased her into the wheelchair. “Lucy hold his hand.” She hunched over again, and my heart pounded terribly in worry as I saw her belly drawing up.

I wheeled her inside, stopping at the first nurses station I came to. “She’s in labor!”

“Has her water broken?” one of the nurses asked.

“No, but it will at any time.”

The nurse simply smiled at me, and it grated on my nerves. “Let’s check you guys in.”

I was about to say something not so nice when a warm palm slid into mine. I glanced down at Hadley who was beaming up at me while squeezing my hand reassuringly. “Me and Jackson are fine. I think we’re going to be here a while before my water breaks.”

I bent over a little and kissed the knuckles that gripped mine before I sighed. “Kick my ass if I start getting on your nerves too much. I just can’t stand seeing you in pain.”

“I know,” she murmured softly.

“Here, we’ll get you to sign her in, and we’ll set her up in a room.” The nurse gave me a paper. “You are her husband…?”

“I knew you guys would be here sometime this week,” I exhaled in relief when Hadley’s doctor strode up to us. “How are you feeling, Momma?” She touched Hadley’s belly.

“Like I’m ready to have this baby,” Hadley responded.

“What about you, Dad?” She placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Can we get Hadley to a bed? I know she’s not—”

“Ah,” her mouth widened as Hadley and her shared a knowing smirk. “I see. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of your wife and baby.”

Thirty minutes later, I was sitting beside Hadley as she laid in bed. Her eyes were pinched shut in anguish. And fucking hell, there was no way I could stomach her sitting there for hours in discomfort. They had to do something.

“Hank!” I peered over my shoulder as Ma and Hank stepped in. Hank was smiling as he bent down and scooped Eli up.

“How are you feeling?” Ma came over to the bed and asked Hadley.

Hadley opened her eyes slightly. “Ah…”

“Do you guys want us to take Lucy and Eli to grab something to eat?” Ma asked.

“I want to go!” Eli screamed.

“I’m going to stay here with Mom,” Lucy said, and I looked over at her watching her mom. Even with the sass, she was every bit her mommy’s girl still. Worry tugged on her lips the longer she watched Hadley.

“We’ll be in the waiting room after we get back. Make sure you bring him out to the window where we can see him after he’s born.” Ma patted my back. I fished my keys from my front pocket and handed her the truck keys.

“Just drive the truck. It’s already got his car seat.”

“Come give me a kiss, Eli,” Hadley told him. He jumped down and ran to her. I helped him up on the bed where he placed a kiss on her cheek. “You ready for baby brother?” she asked him.

He nodded vigorously. “Feel better, Mommy.” He ran back to Hank.

Once they were gone, Hadley looked at Lucy. “Weren’t you hungry?”

“You know they’re going to bring me back something anyway.” Lucy shrugged casually with all the faith in the world. She was right. They definitely would bring food back for her, probably for Hadley’s parents too who weren’t there yet.

“Does it always take so long?” Lucy asked suddenly. “Why is nothing happening?”

I felt the same way she did. I hated that it was taking so long.

“You two need to stop worrying,” Hadley told us.

“Elijah’s the one on the verge of crying, not me.” Lucy pointed out.

“I bet I won’t be the only one crying,” I added.

She glared at me. “I bet you ten dollars!”

“I bet you’ll be washing my truck.”

“God bless America!” Hadley gripped her stomach. “Lucy, you’re acting just like him lately. I can’t handle two of you.”

Lucy and I shared a knowing smirk before she snickered. She placed her head next to her mom and sighed. “After today Mom, we’re going to be outnumbered.”

“I already feel outnumbered between the three of you ganging up on me as it is.”

_____

Six hours later, Jackson Parker was born.

I tried to stay strong as I held Hadley’s hand, sweat coating her forehead and dampening her hair. I already knew it, but now I was positive… She was the strongest person I’d met.

As soon as Jackson came out crying, I cried with him. The happiest, proudest moment of my life was in that room.

I was a husband. Step-dad. Dad.

How much my life had changed over the years since meeting Hadley. I kissed her on the lips, rubbing her wet hair as tears ran down her cheeks too.

They placed Jackson in my arms, and I held him so that Hadley could see him too. “He’s so perfect,” she whispered to me. I nodded in agreement, unable to look away from him.

I didn’t forget my promise.

Bring him to the window as soon as he’s born. I don’t want to wait to see him.

Lucy was worse than the grandparents about wanting to see him.

Wiping my face, I glanced down at Hadley who was already nodding like she knew what I was thinking. “Go show him off then bring him back to his mommy.”

The doctors held the door open for me. Several feet across the room were six faces. They all jumped up and down and pointed except one. Lucy held Eli even though he was almost as big as her as he pointed at Jackson, and she completely broke down. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she covered her mouth and still tried to hold her brother on her hip. Her reaction only made my tears worse.

Because I knew she felt it too. That insane love that tackled my very being the second I saw Jackson the first time.

Seeing his sister cry, only made Eli start too. Now every smiling face was crying as I held him up toward the window.

I stared at the two kids that made me into this person I was, and I swore my heart quadrupled in size. Some days I couldn’t believe I had all these people in my life to love. And I couldn’t believe they loved me.

Bonds came from more than just blood.

Sometimes it was just there, and you didn’t question it.

I loved my family.

Life was…

Amazing.