Page 136 of It's Always Us

“What if . . . ” I can’t even finish it.

Her hand wraps around mine. “No matter what we do and how hard we try, we can’t protect or shield our kids from everything. You did your very best today, keeping them safe.”

I swipe at a tear, remembering that I was talking to Mark’s voicemail. I try to sit up. “I need my phone. I have to call Mark.”

“We can’t find it. Grandpa called him. He’s on his way.”

I rest back, frowning. “What? Grandpa called him.”

“Yeah. He should be here soon.”

Every part of me yearns for him to be here.

“I’m excited to meet him,” my mom says, smiling. “I didn’t know you two were so serious in high school. Also, didn’t know he wastheMark Sandberg.” Her eyebrows raise with amusement, but then her gaze falls to her finger, running over a wrinkle in the scratchy sheet. “You know, when your dad left . . . I just never want anything like that for you.”

“Mark isn’t my father, Mom.”

“I didn’t think that’s who your father was either.”

“It’s not the same.” I don’t know how to explain this to her. I know she’s never had what I found with Mark at sixteen. I brace my hands on both sides of my belly, feeling our babies move.Peyton and Eli.

I let out a breath of relief. “I trust Mark.” Even as I say it, I do. I trust him with everything. “He’s in this. He’s not going anywhere. He’ll be here for these babies and me . . . always.”

There isn’t any part of that declaration I believe to be untrue. I’m not sure how I know. I just do.

“I like Bob,” I offer, wanting to move off Mark.

One side of her mouth tips up. “He kind of laid into me after you left dinner that night. I’m not used to having a man tell me I’m wrong.”

“It means he cares.”

A soft, subtle smile appears. “I think I’m beginning to see that.”

There’s a light knock on the door, and Slade and Grandpa stroll in with Bree. Her face is pale, and she sticks close to them.

“Hey. Come here.” It takes a moment, but she comes to stand beside the bed. “I’m fine. Ok?” Her eyes flick to my belly and the bumps of the monitors. “They’re fine, too. Want to feel?”

She bites her lip and slowly raises her hand. I take it and place it on the underside of my belly, where one of them punches me.

Her eyes grow wide, and a small smile escapes.

“See, they clearly don’t understand we’re supposed to be resting.”

Grandpa plops down in a chair as Slade stands at the foot of my bed, assessing me.

“You look pretty good compared to your truck.” Slade’s large hands rest on his hips.

My truck. “Totaled?”

He nods.

Great. Now, I don’t even have a vehicle.I sigh, but it sounds more like a pathetic whimper.

“You and the babies good?” he asks.

“Yeah. I have to stay overnight for monitoring, but we’re good.”

“The guys were about to camp out in the waiting area. I’m not sure if it was for you or the nurses.”

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