“It’s probably good you have a drink in you. I think this baby is impatient.”
“What? What? What?”
At my clear distress, Austin came over to me. “You need oxygen again? I kept it in the truck from the last time you nearly fainted when we were together.”
I had to assume he was kidding, but part of me hoped he wasn’t.
“Just a few contractions is all,” Hannah said soothingly. “I already called Gran to sit with Lily and I doublechecked my bag is ready to go.”
“Go? Go where?”
“Asher, if the baby’s coming, we have to go to the hospital. Remember? We practiced this.”
“Yes, but you weren’t actually in labor.” I sucked in a breath. “Nothing we practiced included hyperventilating.”
“Holy shitballs. She’s squeezing it out now?” Austin winked at me. “Better hurry up and get that ring on her finger. If it’ll fit.”
“What ring?” Hannah asked.
I sighed and tipped back my head. Oh, look, I could see stars. That probabl
y wasn’t a good thing, considering I was inside on a cloudy day. “I’m not actually drinking. I went to pick up your engagement ring.”
“My—oh my.”
“You didn’t freak at possibly being in labor, but now I hear you breathing fast because I got you a ring?”
“Yes. And I’m freaking a little at the labor thing too, because ow.” She hissed out a breath. “Can you come home? Like…soon. So your buddy Austin doesn’t have to deliver this baby in the driveway?”
Since Austin was right beside me and Hannah was speaking more loudly than usual due to impending birth, he heard every word. He backed up so fast he nearly stumbled and held up his hands. “I’ll just get you home.” He raced out the door like his…well, like his ass was on fire.
Appropriate.
Nodding to the jeweler, I grabbed the ring box and backed out of the door. “I’m on my way. Don’t have the kid for about twenty minutes, all right? Promise me.”
She wheezed out a laugh. “I’ll do my best.”
It took three hours and forty-eight minutes for me to officially become a father for the second time. Rose Elizabeth—for Bess—Wainwright was born in a hospital, not a driveway, thank God, but Austin had insisted on driving us in my car.
Even so, Austin had needed the oxygen this time, not me.
I was too busy cuddling my perfectly beautiful baby girl and holding my wife-to-be’s hand, her triple diamond ring nestled between our fingers like a wish.
The best one we’d ever made.
Gran hadn’t met our little girl yet, because she was watching Lily. But she’d bring her here soon to meet our little one. Gran had broken up with her live-in guy, but she wasn’t upset. She knew love came along when you least expected it.
I smiled at Hannah. So did we.
Epilogue Part Two
I tied the belt of my robe and shuffled down the hallway. I was sure I’d get used to these 2 AM feedings someday. Probably just around the time our little girl didn’t need them anymore.
But for now?
Yeah, the boobs didn’t lie and our daughter would soon be looking for me. Instead of waiting for her to cry and wake up her sister—who refused to sleep in any other room—well, it was just easier if I reached her before she screamed.
I glanced at Asher’s office door. The light was on and the door cracked open. He’d been up late doing an interview for his podcast with someone in Hawaii.