Page 53 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

With every step, Dan couldn’t stop thinking of Leah. The fact that she wanted him by her side didn’t mean that she wanted them to get back together, but it was certainly a good sign and a first step. Dan thought back to the pregnancy books he’d read for information about what was going to happen now. He wasn’t sure what his role would be, but he knew he needed to get to Leah. Now.

At the hospital, he asked after Leah’s room number, no longer sure what Moira had told him, then hurried up the stairs (no time for the elevator) to the room the nurse had mentioned. When he arrived, his steps slowed until he was standing in the doorway.

The pregnancy books had prepared Dan for a lot of blood and screaming, but at the moment, Leah looked as calm as ever. She was dressed in a pink hospital gown and sitting cross-legged at the top of her bed. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she looked all the more beautiful for having no makeup on. As she sat, she swayed slowly from side to side, her hands resting on her enormous pregnant belly. Her eyes were closed.

Dan took a mental picture of this moment. He wasn’t sure what would happen next, but he knew he wanted to remember this.

“Leah?”

Her green eyes opened and met Dan’s. In that moment, a world of unspoken connection passed between them. Then Leah’s mouth slowly lifted into a smile.

“You came.”

“Of course I did. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“And you made Forenal affordable.”

“Yes, I did. And I’d do it again, for you.” Dan crossed the room to the bed and took her hand. After so many months, his head was finally in the right place, and Leah was finally beside him again. “Leah, I am so, so sorry. I messed up, big time. I shouldn’t have freaked out about the triplets, or at the very least, I should have talked to you instead of shutting you out. And the bigger mistake was not reaching out to you over the last few months. I thought that the most important thing I could do was make money for you and our kids, but I’ve realized that was wrong. Nothing is more important than you and the family we’ve created together.”

Leah opened her mouth to say something, but Dan rushed on. He needed to say all this before he lost his nerve. “I want to be by your side, through every dirty diaper and nighttime feeding and skinned knee and broken heart. Triplets are going to be a lot, but I believe that we can give them a wonderful childhood, together. I love you, Leah. I love you more than anything. And I’m sorry it took me so long to say that.”

Dan turned to her, his heart on his sleeve. It was up to her, now. He could only hope that she was willing to give things with him another shot and let him be part of her life, and the life of the triplets. The moment stretched. Then, to Dan’s surprise, Leah opened her mouth and let out a long, low moan. She squeezed Dan’s hand as her other hand reached for the metal rail on the side of the bed.

After a long moment, she straightened up and took a deep breath.

“Dan. I am so glad you’re here. I’m glad you came around. But to be honest, I’m a little distracted. Seeing as, you know, I’m in labor.”

CHAPTER 22

LEAH

The expression on Dan’s face might have made Leah laugh if she weren’t so busy focusing on her next contraction. He looked completely bowled over, even though he must have already known that she was in labor. Just as quickly as the shock had come, Dan managed to pull himself together.

“Of course. I’m so sorry; I couldn’t have picked a worse time to confess my feelings for you. So, what can I do to help?”

“Maybe get me some ice chips?”

“Ice chips. Consider it done.” Dan hurried out of the room, and Leah leaned back against the head of the bed. She could already feel her next contraction building. Yet the fear she’d felt before had been replaced by a kind of calm and peace. Now that Dan was here, Leah felt that all was as it should be. All would be well. She couldn’t wait to meet her triplets — and then talk with Dan.

Over the next few hours, Dan was the best labor partner Leah could ask for. He brought her ice chips and rubbed her back, helped her move to the birthing ball and back to the bed, and held her hand as she weathered contraction after contraction. Moira was in the room more and more towards the end of the labor.

“I can’t do this,” Leah said at one point, tears filling her eyes. “This is too hard. I want the C-section after all!”

“We’re a little far along for that…” Moira said diplomatically.

“Leah. Look at me.” Dan lifted Leah’s gaze to his. Both his hands were on hers. “You can do this. You are the strongest person I know, and you can bring our babies into this world. You can do this.”

“You do it!” Leah snapped back. Luckily, Dan didn’t seem to take her words seriously. Even Leah knew she hadn’t meant them, because Dan’s words had lifted her spirits tremendously. She breathed into the next contraction, squeezing his hands tightly. Her world had narrowed to the pain and Dan.

“Okay, Leah. I think we’re ready to try a push.”

“Really?” Leah almost burst into relieved tears.

“Really.” Moira and Dan helped her into position, and she began to push. To her surprise, she found pushing a relief after the hours of relentless contractions. There was finally an end in sight.

As Dan and Moira cheered her on, Leah pushed with all her might. And then she heard the most wonderful sound in the world — the sound of a baby crying.

“You have a little boy,” Moira said. “Dan, are you ready to take him?”

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