Friends to Lovers (Heart of Hope 6)

The nurse snickered. “You should probably start practicing not saying the f-word. It’s embarrassing when your child starts repeating it.”

“Right.” Cy looked at the baby. “Sorry honey. I’ll do better.”

“You should call your mom.” I was sure my parents were already in the waiting area. In fact, they probably picked up Cy’s mom to go with them.

“Are we sticking with the name?” he asked me as he pulled out his phone.

“Yes. Jane Charlotte Blake.”

He’d asked if we could name her after his mom. We chose Charlotte as an homage to Jane Eyre’s author.

He kissed me. “Your mom can have the next name.”

“Next?” My stomach dropped. At the moment, I couldn’t imagine going through all this again.

“In a couple of years,” he said.

April had a second child, so maybe in a couple of years I’d be ready too.

A few minutes later, our parents were in the room oohing and ahhing over the baby. I was right in that his mother had called my parents after our crazy car conversation and they’d all driven over here together.

“Thank you, Petal,” Jane said. “I wasn’t sure I was ready to fight this cancer and then I learned you were having a baby. Cy’s baby, and I knew I had to be here. You gave me life and my son life. And this precious being life.”

“She’s a goddess alright,” Cy said.

“Not witch?” I arched a brow.

He blushed and made a “shh” sound.

The parents left and a few minutes later, April and Jude showed up with Maya.

“Oh, Petal, your baby is so cute,” Maya said as she peered down at little Janie. “Can I help take care of her sometimes? I’m good at it. I help with Bertie all the time, huh mama.”

“Yes, you do honey.” April smiled down at her daughter. I wondered if she was remembering the day she was born.

“Where is Bertie?” I asked.

“He’s a rambunctious one year old. Not a good hospital visitor, so he’s with August and Beth. I think they’re trying to decide if they want one too,” April said.

“Congratulations, Cy,” Jude said shaking his hand and patting him on the back. “There’s nothing like having a baby to make you feel like a man.”

“Terrified?” Cy asked.

Jude laughed. “Exactly.”

They stayed only a few minutes, and then it was just Cy and me and baby Janie. I made room and Cy joined me on the bed as we stared at this little being that we’d made.

“Do you remember when we made her?” he asked.

“Halloween? Yes.”

“I loved you then,” he said.

I looked up at him and smiled. I didn’t know it then, but he’d told me plenty of times since we got together that he’d loved me in secret as I had loved him. I wasn’t sure why he was bringing it up again though.

“She was made from love,” he said and his statement became clear.