Epilogue Merrick

EPILOGUE MERRICK

Merrick

I'm a father. I stare down at the tiny human in my arms and memorize every feature. "Daddy loves you so much," I whisper to my son. Glancing over at my wife, she's still sleeping. Good. She needs her rest. After fourteen hours of labor, she's earned it.

Fourteen hours of seeing the woman who is my entire world in pain. She assures me it was worth it, and I know that it was, but I wish I could have taken that from her.

"When Mommy wakes up, we'll decide what your name will be. We have a list," I tell him. "We wanted to meet you first, before we decided." My son sleeps peacefully in my arms, swaddled up like a little burrito. I've mastered the baby burrito, which is a good thing because I've unwrapped him to count his tiny fingers and toes more times than I can count, and he's only a few hours old.

"You have so many uncles, aunts, and cousins who can't wait to meet you. Oh, and two sets of grandparents who have already spoiled you rotten. Just wait until you see your room at home." I chuckle.

My mom and Courtney's have gone a little overboard. They're taking spoiling their grandson to all new heights. Not that I should be surprised. I've watched my mom do this very thing with each new baby that's born into the family. And my mother-in-law, this is her first grandchild. Chloe and Rodney are waiting a few years before they start their family, so our little man gets all of her grandma love until the time comes when they add to their family.

I know our families are in the waiting room, but Courtney needs her rest, and I for one am not going to pass up this time with my son before everyone wants their turn to hold him.

However, I do have this feeling, this urge that I need to call my twin. I reach for my phone that's sitting next to me on the uncomfortable chair that turns into a lounger and pull up his name.

"Mer," he greets, and I'm man enough to admit tears well in my eyes.

"He's perfect, Mav. So fucking perfect."

"Of course he is. He's a Kincaid."

"I—I love him so much, Mav. He's this tiny little piece of me and Court, and fuck, brother, this is intense." I swallow back the emotion welling in my throat.

"It is. I'm happy for you. I feel you," he tells me. Not that he needed to say the words. Our connection runs deep. "There is nothing like it. Just wait until he calls you daddy. When Ada—" His voice cracks.

"Yeah," I tell him, because I get it. I thought I understood, but there is no way for anyone to grasp the love a parent has for their child until they experience it on their own.

"You're still behind," he teases to lighten the heaviness of the emotions.

"I can see how Mom and Dad did this so many times." I laugh.

"Agreed." He chuckles. "When do we get to meet him? We're all here, some of the wives are at home with the kids, but we're here."

He doesn't need to say more for me to know that all eight of my brothers, and more than likely Ramsey or Deacon, along with both sets of grandparents, are in the waiting room not too patiently waiting their turn to meet our son.

"Courtney's sleeping. As soon as she's up, I'll let the nurse know to start sending everyone back."

"We need more pictures."

"Yeah, pictures I can do. I already have way too many on my phone." I've been taking them nonstop. There are so many cute faces he's made while Courtney has been asleep, and I didn't want her to miss any of them.

"Welcome to fatherhood, little brother."

"Mav?"

"Yeah?"

"Love you, brother."

"I love you too. Take care of your family. We'll be here when you're ready."

"Yep," I say, because tears are threatening to fall. Tossing my phone on the chair next to me, I bend to kiss my sleeping son on his forehead.

"Love you, little man. You and Mommy, you're my everything." Closing my eyes, I rest my head back and catch a little sleep. I know I should put him in his bassinet. I'm going to spoil him, but I'm just not ready to let him go yet.

My eyes flutter open when I feel someone watching me. I smile over at my wife. "Hey, gorgeous. How are you feeling?"

"Sore, but happy." Her smile tells me that all on its own.

"So fucking happy, Court." I stand, careful not to jostle our son, and move to the bed. I hand our boy to her, and settle on the bed next to them, wrapping my arm around them. "Our families are still here, and we need to give this little man a name."

"Do you have one you're thinking from our list?" she asks.

"Henry." That name has been running through my head from all of those that are on our list.

"Henry Kincaid. I like it."

"Me too." I kiss the top of her head. "I have so many pictures." Standing, I grab my phone and scroll through each of the images I took while she was sleeping.

"Looks like your daddy might be giving Aunt Palmer and Aunt Scarlett some competition," she teases.

"He's just so damn cute, and I didn't want you to miss any of it."

"Thanks, babe. I appreciate that."

"I'm ready to do this again," I tell her. "I know that's probably not what you want to hear after fourteen hours of labor, but I want you to know that I'm ready when you are."

She chuckles. "Okay," she whispers.

"Hear that, Henry? You should know that when Mommy says okay, great things happen."

"Stop." She laughs.

"It's the truth. Your ‘okay' is what got us here."

"You are the one who agreed to be my fake boyfriend."

"Yeah, but when I asked you to stay real…."

"Okay," she concedes with a goofy grin. "You win."

"Are you ready to let our families come back?"

"Yes. This little guy has a lot of people who love him and want to meet him."

"Yes. Yes, he does." I fire off a text to the group chat, knowing my brothers will send the grandparents in first, and toss my phone back to the table.

I smile down at my family, and my heart swells, knowing that Courtney and I vow to love them harder with each passing day.

Work hard.

Love harder.

That's the Kincaid way.