Misconception (Coming Home)

He rushes to my door, and instead of helping me down, he lifts me out of the truck and gently sets me on my feet. “I can get out of the truck on my own.” It’s a reminder to him, but secretly I love that he’s taking care of Hayes and me.

“You, my dear, just gave birth to our son. If I’d thought about it, I would have had them come to us, but I didn’t want you to feel obligated to cook or even clean for them.”

“I’m fine, Hudson.”

He wags his eyebrows. “I know you are. Now, give me a minute to get our boy.” He opens the back door and fumbles with the car seat but manages to free the baby and grab the diaper bag.

“I can take that.”

“I’m good, babe.” He closes the door, moves the car seat to the opposite arm, and offers me his hand. “United front. Not a day will ever pass that you don’t have me by your side. Either of you,” he says, smiling down at Hayes, who is sleeping in his seat. He’s done a lot of that today, making me think we’re in for a long night ahead.

I take his hand, and together, the three of us make our way inside. “Mom, Dad!” Hudson calls out.

“In the kitchen,” Janice calls back.

As soon as we step into the room, she’s wiping her hands on a dish towel and rushing over to take a peek at the baby. “Oh, he’s such a doll baby. I can’t wait to love on him when he wakes up.”

“He’s been sleeping all day,” Hudson tells her. “Please, wake him up. We don’t want to be up all night.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize tonight was your night of the rotation.” She smiles warmly.

“Tonight and every night moving forward.”

I squeeze his arm. I had no idea he was just going to waltz in here and drop the truth bomb on them like that.

Janice looks at Hudson and then me with tears shining in her eyes. “You told her?” she asks with hope in her voice.

“I told her,” Hudson agrees.

“Who told who what?” Rick asks, stepping into the room. “The table is set, dear,” he tells Janice. “Oh, look who we have here.” He peeks into the seat to get a look at Hayes. “He’s a handsome fella.”

“Thank you,” Hudson and I say at the same time.

I’m freaked the hell out, but his parents seem to be okay with him staying with me from here on out and for accepting a compliment about my son. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone when Hudson takes control of the conversation.

“Who told who what?” Rick asks again.

“He told her.” Janice smiles. I return her smile even though I have no idea what she’s talking about.

Rick looks at Hudson and gives him an approving nod that he returns.

“Dumplings?” Hudson asks his mom.

“Yes. One of Riley’s favorites.” She leans over and hugs me.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to go through that trouble.”

“Oh, I was making it anyway to drop off tonight. It was my night to stop by. I signed up for dinner delivery. When Hudson texted and said he was getting you out of the house, I already had it planned.”

“It will sit for a bit, right?” Hudson asks.

“Sure will. What’s wrong?”

Her mother’s intuition must be going crazy right now.

“Let’s take this to the living room. I need to talk to the two of you before we eat.”

“We can eat first,” I whisper just for him.

He leans over and presses his lips to my forehead before placing them next to my ear. “Trust me, baby. It’s all going to be fine.”

He reaches for my hand and leads me into the living room. He guides me to sit on the couch. I’m sore, but I’m feeling so much better than even yesterday, but I don’t say a word. Instead, I watch as he sets the car seat on the floor, dropping the diaper bag next to it, and expertly removes our son, lifting him into his arms. He snuggles him a little before grabbing his blanket and sitting next to me on the couch.

“Can I hold him?” Janice asks me.

“Of course.”

She immediately hops from where she and Rick are sitting on the love seat directly across from the couch and motions for Hudson to hand him over. “Go to Grandma,” he tells our son.

Janice, the wonderful, amazing woman that she is, doesn’t bat an eyelash at his words. If anything, her smile grows wider as she pulls him into her arms. Hudson drapes the blanket over him, and she rushes back to the love seat, where she and Rick coo at him.

“Told you,” Hudson whispers.

“They don’t know,” I remind him.

“Doesn’t matter, Riles. It’s all going to be fine.”

“So Mom, Dad, I have a story for you.”