Page 93 of Strike Zone

“Linc, maybe my mom could hold Lilah while you put some pants on. I think Anders has your bag with him.” There’s a sadness in his eyes, but it’s fleeting, replaced with wonder when Lilah wriggles in his arms.

“Of course.” He carefully steps down from the back of the ambulance, unfazed that he’s naked but for a pair of boxers. I love him so much. “Martha, I’d like you to meet your granddaughter, Lilah Lexington Nash.”

My mom clasps her hand over her mouth when she sees Lilah for the first time, a little bundle of blanket and a shock of black hair. “She’s so precious.”

“Would you like to hold her?”

“I’d like that very much.”

Linc places our daughter gently into my mom’s arms, tearing himself away just long enough to slip into a pair of jeans and a hoodie from the bag Anders brought with him. I watch as they hug it out, Anders being the closest thing to family Linc’s had for so many years. It warms my heart to know he has his brother—in every way that counts—here with him today. When they’re done with their bromance, everyone congratulates him, including my dad, which truly warms my heart.

I’ve always taken my family for granted. I’m the first to admit it, but Linc has made me appreciate what I have. Parents who’ve loved and supported me throughout my life, championing my dreams. A sister who’s willing to give birth to a cardigan to protect me. And now, I have Linc and Lilah. We’ve started our own little family, and he’s already an amazing dad.

Linc is back at my side as they lift me out on the gurney. “How are you feeling?”

“Ready for a hospital bed and some pain meds.”

“You did amazing, southpaw. If I weren’t already head over heels in love with you, this would’ve clinched the deal for sure.”

“Can you bring me Lilah? I don’t want her way from us, and everyone’s going to have to wait for a while until we get settled inside.”

“I’m on it.”

My mom is besotted with Lilah, already humming a lullaby she used to sing to me when I was a kid. Linc tells everyone what’s happening and that they’ll have to wait for some snuggle time.

It’s an odd feeling as my mom places Lilah in my arms. We have this shared experience that didn’t exist a few hours ago. Suddenly, I see her in a different light, a lifetime of love viewed through a kaleidoscope.

“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mom. She’s kind of great, right?” All is well in the world with Lilah back in my arms.

“Just like her momma.” She leans in, wrapping her arms around me the way only a mother can, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “I love you, darling. You, Linc, and this little one are going to be such a beautiful family.” She follows my gaze to Linc. “You picked a good man, Dee. That boy would go to the ends of the earth and back for you.”

“I know.”

My heart is full as we get settled in our room, having some quiet time, just the three of us before we’re inundated with visitors.

“Are you sure you’re okay with my family swarming around the hospital?”

“Of course. I love that they’re all here.”

We haven’t really spoken about it before now, but I want to put it out there so he knows I’m okay with it. “Have you thought about calling your mom to see if she wants to visit?”

“I love you for asking, but my mom has no interest in my life.” That same pained expression comes and goes in a flash as Linc stares down at our newborn daughter. “It’s her loss, Diana. You and Lilah are my family now.”

“If you ever change your mind, we can reach out to her together. We’re a team, the three of us.”

Linc’s lips find mine, tender, firm, and earth-shatteringly beautiful, our fledgling family sealed with a kiss.

* * *

“This was a bad idea. We should just go.”

Lilah turned three weeks old today and is changing by the hour. We’re sleep-deprived, and our house looks like a tornado hit it, but we’ve never been happier.

We haven’t heard a peep from Linc’s mom since Lilah was born, but this morning he decided he wanted to take us to meet her, so we jumped in the car, and here we are. “If that’s what you really want, then we can get back in the car and go home, but you came here for a reason.”

“It seemed like a good idea in theory, but now that we’re here, I’m embarrassed.”

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