Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“Well, how’s this for sweet.” He cocked his brow and announced, “I want three.”
“Three?” I repeated. “Three what?”
“Three kids. Two boys and a girl.”
“Ummm, okay.” I studied him for a moment, then asked, “That party full of kids didn’t scare you a little?”
“Hell, yeah. But our kids won’t act like that.”
“And what makes you say that?”
“Because they’ll be ours.”
“Oh, okay.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “So, when do you want these kids of yours?”
He looked down at me with a serious expression. “Soon. Like I said, I’ve waited a long time. I don’t want to wait anymore.”
His word warmed my heart, and I had absolutely no reservations as I told him, “Then, we won’t wait.”
“You’re an amazing woman, Mia. I really do love you.”
“And I love you.”
Epilogue
Ten Months Later
“You sonofabitch!
I can’t believe you talked me into this.
You’re never going to touch me again!
I want it out! Get. It. Out!”
That was how my day started.
My beautiful wife was in labor and in dire need of an epidural.
Thankfully, it ended on a much better note.
I was now in the hospital room, stuffed in a chair that was too fucking small, but I didn’t care. I was rocking my beautiful daughter, Rosalie, and oh my, she was something. She had her mother’s dark eyes and button nose and my temperament. She’d been crying since the moment she was born, pissed that she’d been forced into a world she wasn’t quite ready for.
We’d tried everything to settle her down.
Mia had tried feeding her, Stitch walked her around the room for over an hour, and the nurses tried changing her numerous times. The only thing that stopped her incessant wailing was being nestled up in the crook of my arm in this tiny rocking chair.
I was good with it.
I would hold my daughter until the end of time.
Mia’s voice sounded like it was getting stronger as she asked, “How’s she doing?”
“Couldn’t be better.” I wanted to go over to her, but I was afraid to move. “How ‘bout you?”
“Much better. My nap did wonders.” Mia glanced around the room, and when she found it empty, she asked, “Where did everybody go?”
“Downstairs to grab a bite. Want me to text your mom and tell her to bring you something?”
“No, I’m good.” A smile swept across her face as she asked, “Has my dad settled down?”
“Some, but he’s still pretty shaken up.”
Stitch and I were at the clubhouse when I got the call that Mia was in labor, and he fucking lost it. He started asking all these questions and pacing back and forth. I barely got him in the truck, and even then, he was all jittery and nervous. The poor man was a wreck.
I got it. His one and only daughter was about to have her first child, and that was a lot for an overprotective father. And as I looked down at Rosalie, I had no doubt that I would be just as overprotective of her. “She’s really something, Mia. You did good.”
“We both did good.” Worry marked her face as she asked, “Do you think she’ll let me hold her now?”
“Only one way to find out.”
I carefully stood and carried Rosalie over to her mother. Emotion filled Mia’s eyes as she took our daughter into her arms, cradling her close to her chest. Rosalie didn’t make a peep. She knew she was in good hands with her mother. Mia’s voice trembled as she said, “Oh, honey. She’s beautiful.”
“Just like her mother.”
“I meant to tell you... I’m sorry about all those things I said earlier.”
“You mean when you said you were going to kill me in my sleep?”
“That, and all the other stuff.” She smiled. “Let’s just say it wasn’t one of my finer moments.”
“It’s totally fine.”
The door eased open, and Wren stuck her head inside as she asked, “Are we good to come in for a minute?”
“Absolutely.”
Wren looked relieved as she stepped through the door with Stitch, and they both made a beeline for Mia and Rosalie. Wren’s eyes filled with tears as she asked Mia, “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Just a little tired.”
“I’m sure you are.” Wren glanced back at Stitch as she said, “We aren’t going to stay. We know you need your rest... We just wanted to check on you two one last time before we go.”
“Are you coming back tomorrow?”
“Absolutely.”
Wren leaned down and kissed Mia on the forehead, then stepped back so Stitch could speak to her. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the man was working damn hard not to cry as he leaned over and said, “You did good, baby girl. You did damn good.”
“Thank you, Daddy. She’s really something, isn’t she?”
“Just like her momma.” He swallowed hard, then quickly added, “Now, you both get some rest, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
He bent down and gave them both a kiss, then turned and started for the door. Before walking out, he stopped and looked over at me as he said, “Proud of you, son.”