Page 93 of Even Ground

I wake up just as my phone vibrates beside me in bed.

Flicking my finger up the screen to unlock it, I grin at the screen full of messages.

Delaney: This is it. We’re on our way to the hospital

Delaney: Oh my God! Josh has got us lost AGAIN

Delaney: This is the end. I’m divorcing him

Delaney: We’re in some street called Addison Street. I just told him I’m naming the baby Addison. LOL

Delaney: I’m serious about the divorce

Clapping my hand across my mouth, I laugh so hard. This is so Delaney, and I wish more than ever that I was there.

And then I scroll to the latest message. And this time, I tear up because Delaney’s sent me a photo of her, Josh, and her newborn baby. I assume she got someone else to take it because she’s cradling the baby, and Josh is well in frame. And the awed look on his face makes me sigh.

This is why, even if I didn’t have other commitments, I stayed away. Josh deserves this. The love is there for all to see, and I’m so happy they got their little family together. And now that family has a new member.

Another message pops up.

Delaney: We’ve named her Addison. Addison Montgomery Carter. Josh has no clue about Grey’s Anatomy, and I had to tell him where it came from. But he likes it.

Me: Congratulations, my friend. I love you guys. Let me know what Melly thinks of her little sister

Delaney: She’s so excited. I’m looking forward to taking her home. Everything went well, except for Josh getting us lost. I’m pretty sure I’m not divorcing him now.

I laugh out loud. That’s my girl.

Me: Love you. Call me when you’re ready.

Delaney: Will do.

* * *

It’s mid-afternoon when Delaney’s name pops up on my phone screen.

I grin as I answer. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“You sound tired.”

She sighs. “Very. But Josh has gone home for the night and I’m here by myself with Addison. We’ll be going home tomorrow, probably.”

“I’m surprised he’s not there.”

Delaney laughs softly. “Hospital rules. And I’m okay with it. I’ve got a night to myself with my beautiful baby. When I get home, Josh’s parents are there, and no doubt Reece will show up, so we’ll have a bit of a full house.”

I suck on my bottom lip at her description of that massive house being full. She could park herself away and not see any of them if she wanted to.

“How is Josh?”

“He’s over the moon. And Addison looks so much like Melly when she was born. I’m wondering now if she’ll have brown eyes like Josh and Melly or if she’ll take more after me.”

“You two make beautiful babies, Delaney, no matter what colour eyes she has.”

There’s silence for a moment, and I hear a bleat in the background.

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