Page 40 of Van

Chyanne

He’s the smallest thing I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t be happier. He’s finally here. I didn’t plan on seeing him for another month, but he decided otherwise. The doctors and nurses have watched him intently because he was early to make sure everything was going well, and so far, it is. I thank God every second of the day that he’s doing as well as he is.

“What are you doing?” I ask when I see Van sitting in the corner, filling out some paperwork.

“Helpin’.”

“With what?” He hasn’t left my side since I had him two days ago. Today, we’re going home. Or at least back to the clubhouse. Van assured me it’s the safest place to be, and there’s no way in hell Derrick would be stupid enough to come there. Not that he knows I’m staying there anyway. He shouldn’t know anything.

“Paperwork. You need to sign this,” he says before standing and walking over with a piece of paper in his hand. He passes it to me before taking the baby from my arms and cradling him to his chest. My heart swells just seeing the two of them together like this. It brings tears to my eyes.

“What’s this?” I ask, picking up the paper and trying to focus.

“Birth certificate,” he replies. When I look down, the paper is all filled out for me. He filled out everything, including the father’s name. I shake my head slowly as I look at his name filled into the spot.

“Listen. You can always remove it later, Chy. It’s so he can’t touch Nate.”

“You would do that for me?” I ask, looking up at him now.

“I’d do anything for you, Chyanne.”

“But this is your name. This is your life.”

“I told you, you can change it later if you want to. I’ll sign off on anything you need me to. Just let me do this for right now,” he tells me. I nod my head and sign the paper, setting it on the table when the nurse walks in.

“You guys ready to go home?” she asks happily.

“I am,” Van says, yawning. He’s been here nonstop. He hasn’t left our side, and I’m so thankful for that.

“You have a lot of work to do at home, Dad. Mom is going to need her rest,” the woman says.

“I got this,” he says. I have no doubt he can handle this. He’s gotten up every time the baby has cried and helped me with him. He hasn’t changed a diaper yet, and I don’t expect him to. In fact, I don’t know what I expect from him. Nothing. I shouldn’t expect a thing because he’s only doing this to help me.

“Okay. Let’s see how he fits in the car seat,” she says. Van holds Nate in one hand, lifting the car seat onto the bed with the other. Then he’s snuggling him down in it, buckling the belt over him. I can’t do anything but smile at him. He knows what he’s doing.

“I’m a professional at this,” he grins as he spins the seat toward the nurse to check. She goes about checking the straps and everything before she nods.

“It seems that way. He fits perfectly. Mom, are you ready?” I nod my head before Van walks over and grabs my hand in his. He helps me off the bed and into the waiting wheelchair before he grabs the car seat and gently sits it on my lap. He’s good at this. I can’t help but be thankful for having him here.

“Looks like you’re all ready,” the nurse says. Van gets behind the wheelchair and pushes me out the door and down the hall while I look at my little man in his car seat. I can’t believe how small he truly is or that I actually made him.

We’re in the truck and driving back to the clubhouse before I know it. I sit in the back with Nate and watch him sleep.

We pull into the clubhouse parking lot, and Van kills the engine. He climbs out and comes around to help me out before grabbing Nate’s seat and pulling him out.

“You want me to carry him?”

“No. You carried him for eight months. It’s my turn,” he tells me with a grin on his face. I smile back at him.

“Thank you, Van. For everything,” I tell him.

“No thanks needed. I set up all his stuff in your room while you were gone, too. Everything is ready for him,” he tells me, causing my heart to swell bigger. I don’t know how to thank him for everything he’s done.

We walk inside, and the guys crowd around to get a look at Nate. I can’t believe everyone is here just to see him. The girls gush all over him while the guys grab drinks and toast Van. That’s when he announces something I never thought he’d announce.

“This is Nate Mcintosh.” Heads turn, and all eyes are on him, including Mask’s. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything. I just stand back and watch the scene as it unfolds. Mask is the first to move in, fist-bumping him before pulling him into a hug.

“I’m proud of you, brother.”

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