21. Baxter

CHAPTER 21

BAXTER

Tammy’s wedding dress billows out as she spins and starts pacing back toward me. Her heels click on the hard hospital floor, and I bounce Nova on my knee, trying to entertain her. She giggles, her curls bobbing while Kai starts playing peekaboo behind my shoulder. We’ve been in the waiting room for nearly two hours. Tammy’s parents arrived with the kids forty minutes ago. Nova wouldn’t nap and was turning into a “demon” child, according to Tammy’s mother.

“She just wants her daddy.” Mrs. Tan plopped her onto my lap with a small huff, then went to check on Tammy.

I couldn’t hear their entire conversation, but the snippets I caught involved “wedding,” “ruined,” and “can’t believe this is happening again!”

Her mother probably asked her if she’s sure we’re really meant to be together. In fact, I’m certain she did, because one: she asks that shit a lot, and two: Tammy’s face went red, her nostrils flaring slightly as she hissed, “Of course it’s meant to be. I’ve loved him most of my life, and he is going to be my husband! If it’s not today, then it’ll be another day!” Her hands flicked up, and everyone in the waiting room turned to look at her.

She caught my eye and I winked, my smile hopefully telling her how much I adore her. She grinned back, and then her mother huffed and sat down… and the pacing began.

I glance at Ethan and Mikayla. She’s on her phone, tapping furiously while Ethan sits there with a mildly dark frown. Asher and Lani are whispering to each other, their fingers interlaced. He whispers something in her ear, and she giggles, nestling her forehead against his cheek and saying something back. Those two are seriously loved up at the moment. It makes me wonder what’s going on with them. Is she pregnant or something?

“Again, Dada! Again!”

My thoughts are pulled back to Nova, and I grasp her little hands, neighing like a horse and giving her a bumpy ride on my knees before parting my legs and letting her flop into the space. She giggles like it’s the funniest thing in the world, and I can’t get enough of her dimples and her little teeth.

“Did we miss it? Is she okay?” Caroline’s mother comes bursting through the door, Troy on her hip and Billy racing in behind them. Her husband follows with a stroller ladened with an overflowing diaper bag.

Nova jumps off my knee with an excited gasp. “Billy!”

She runs over to hug him, and they melt hearts before pulling apart and jumping around the waiting room together.

I go to stand, but Liam shakes his head at me and mouths, “I got this.”

Moving closer to the toddlers, he stands watch, ready to jump in before they wreak too much havoc in this place.

“It’s all good, Michelle.” Asher stands, giving her a quick hug before kissing Troy’s cheek, then wincing and wiping his mouth.

Lani hampers a giggle while she stands to greet them. “Last we heard, Caroline was doing great. We’re due for another update very soon, so…”

Tammy stops beside me, her fingers twitching as she flicks them in the air. “I feel like it’s taking forever. I just hope everything’s okay.”

“I’m sure it will be.” Caroline’s mother puts on a brave smile, rubbing Tammy’s arm, then admiring her wedding dress before cringing. “Oh dear. It’s happening again, isn’t it?”

I take Tammy’s hand, caressing my thumb across her wrist. She just nods and gives me a sad smile. Part of me wonders if I should have fought to just keep the wedding going, but there’s no way Tammy would have been able to enjoy it knowing her friend was having a baby emergency.

“Dada!” Troy shouts, wriggling out of his grandmother’s arms and shooting across the waiting room floor. He barrels into his father’s arms. Casey’s face is beaming as he scoops his kid up and then laughs when Billy wraps his arms around his leg.

“Daddy!”

“Unca Casey!” Nova grabs his other leg, and Casey lumbers across to us, smiling like he’s just won a gold medal.

Kai runs over to give him some knuckles, his adoring smile making Casey seem like the freaking Pied Piper of Nolan. The kids giggle at their fun little ride on his legs, and Troy starts bouncing in his father’s arms, scoring himself a raspberry on the neck. His laughter is infectious, and I can’t help grinning at the adorable scene… and the look on Casey’s face.

“How cute is his smile right now?” Mikayla murmurs with a soft laugh, then calls to him, “You got good news for us, man?”

“I have the best news!”

“So, she’s okay?” Tammy asks.

“Caroline’s doing great. She is currently holding our baby girl, getting in some cuddle time before she has to go into the incubator for a bit.”

“The incubator?” Michelle covers her mouth with her hand as her husband steps up to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah.” Casey winces. “She’s gonna need a little support to keep her body temperature stable, and she’s got a touch of jaundice, but she’s breathing okay, her heartbeat is strong, and the doctor assures me she’s going to be absolutely fine.” He nods, sucking in a relieved breath. “She’s gonna make it.”

“Oh, thank you, God,” Caroline’s mother whispers, closing her eyes and leaning against her husband’s chest.

“When can we see her?” he asks.

“I know she’s desperate to see all you guys, but I’m not allowed to send everyone through. Maybe you two could go first?” Casey points at his in-laws. “You might get to see her with the baby for a minute.”

Her parents don’t even wait a beat before they’re rushing out of the waiting room and heading down the corridor.

“So, your baby got a name?” Ethan asks.

“She does.” Casey grins. “I knew the second they put her against Caroline’s chest. She looked up at me, and we both said…”

He looks between the boys, leaving us all in painful suspense until Lani huffs. “Just say it already.”

With a soft laugh, he bounces Troy in his arms and says, “Lyla. Your little sister’s name is Lyla.”

“Lyla!” Billy shouts, testing it out.

“Lyla!” Nova copies him.

“Ly-ly-ly!” Troy claps his little hands.

I share a grin with Tammy while the rest of the adults laugh.

“That’s really pretty,” Rachel murmurs, crossing her arms and fighting obvious tears.

Liam tucks his arm around her waist and whispers something in her ear.

I glance back up at Casey and wonder why he’s wincing at me.

“What?” I ask.

“We’re really sorry about the timing on this thing. I feel like we ruined your wedding.”

“Of course you didn’t.” Tammy brushes her hand through the air. “Nothing is ruined. The world has just gained a precious little girl. And I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Oh my gosh, she’s so cute, you guys. She’s got this red fuzz all over her head and these blue eyes and rosebud lips.” His eyes get a little misty. “As soon as she’s strong enough, you guys will be the first to meet her.” He looks around the group. “She’s adorable. My little Lyla.”

And I get everything he’s feeling right now. I have a stepson and a daughter, and I love them both equally, but there’s something about being a girl daddy that’s different. My protective instincts go into overdrive when I’m watching Nova, and I’m sure Casey will be just the same with his little Lyla.

“You know, out of all the ways our wedding has been postponed, this is by far the best,” I tell him.

Casey laughs, setting Troy down when he starts to squirm. Liam steps away from Rachel, blocking Billy from taking off, while Ethan grabs up Troy before he can do a runner too. Nova skips across to me, and I pop her back onto my lap.

Now that we know everyone’s okay, I’m thinking we should probably get out of here. As much as I want to see Caroline and Lyla with my own eyes, we can’t crowd into a hospital room, and?—

“Hey, guys.” Caroline appears in a wheelchair, her father gently pushing her into the room. Her mother hovers nearby, obviously not loving the way her daughter is up and about.

I understand why. Caroline’s face is pale, her smile weak and exhausted.

“Mommy!” The boys rush over to greet her, Troy trying to climb onto her lap.

Casey’s eyebrows dip with concern as he moves back toward her. Scooping Troy up with one arm, he takes her hand and crouches down beside her. “What are you doing up?”

“Lyla fell asleep, so they took her to the incubator for a session, and…” She sniffs and shakes her head. “I can’t sit in that hospital room alone when I know all my friends are waiting out here.”

“You can, actually,” her mother murmurs. “Everyone understands that you’ve just had a baby. They don’t expect you to be out here visiting. This can wait, Caroline.”

“It can’t wait,” Caroline insists, looking to her husband for support.

He gives her a soft smile and kisses her palm. “What’s up, baby?”

“This has to happen today. We can’t be the reason they don’t get married.”

My eyebrows dip together as I stand with Nova in my arms. “It’s fine, really.” I pull Tammy to my side. “You and Lyla are way more important.”

She gives me a watery smile. “I can’t wait for you to meet her.” She lets out a soft breath. “I wish I had her in my arms right now, but I’m going to see her again right after this.”

“After what?” Casey tucks a curl behind her ear.

“After Tammy and Baxter get married.”

There’s a thick beat of silence as we all throw her confused frowns.

She glances up at our faces and brushes a tear off her cheek. “I mean, it is ultimately up to you guys, and I know you’re standing in a hospital waiting room right now, but all of our favorite people are here. It’s Hockey House, you know?” She looks up at her father. “You’re a minister. You could marry them right now, right?”

“Well, I…” He shares a soft look with his wife, who rolls her eyes but then ends up laughing and shaking her head.

“Oh, go ahead. You know you want to.”

His smile grows, taking over his face as he glances at me. “I’d love to. I mean… it would be an honor.”

Tammy lets out a surprised laugh, like she can’t quite believe this, and I have no idea what to think. Exchanging vows in a hospital isn’t exactly romantic.

“Do you… want to?” I give her an uncertain frown, but her smile is radiant as she nods.

“I want to be your wife. Let’s just do it. Right here. Right now.”