Page 59 of The Forever Game

Lani hampers a giggle while she stands to greet them. “Last we heard, Caroline was doing great. We’re due for another update very soon, so…”

Tammy stops beside me, her fingers twitching as she flicks them in the air. “I feel like it’s taking forever. I just hope everything’s okay.”

“I’m sure it will be.” Caroline’s mother puts on a brave smile, rubbing Tammy’s arm, then admiring her wedding dress before cringing. “Oh dear. It’s happening again, isn’t it?”

I take Tammy’s hand, caressing my thumb across her wrist. She just nods and gives me a sad smile. Part of me wonders if I should have fought to just keep the wedding going, but there’s no way Tammy would have been able to enjoy it knowing her friend was having a baby emergency.

“Dada!” Troy shouts, wriggling out of his grandmother’s arms and shooting across the waiting room floor. He barrels into his father’s arms. Casey’s face is beaming as he scoops his kid up and then laughs when Billy wraps his arms around his leg.

“Daddy!”

“Unca Casey!” Nova grabs his other leg, and Casey lumbers across to us, smiling like he’s just won a gold medal.

Kai runs over to give him some knuckles, his adoring smile making Casey seem like the freaking Pied Piper of Nolan. The kids giggle at their fun little ride on his legs, and Troy starts bouncing in his father’s arms, scoring himself a raspberry on the neck. His laughter is infectious, and I can’t help grinning at the adorable scene… and the look on Casey’s face.

“How cute is his smile right now?” Mikayla murmurs with a soft laugh, then calls to him, “You got good news for us, man?”

“I have the best news!”

“So, she’s okay?” Tammy asks.

“Caroline’s doing great. She is currently holding our baby girl, getting in some cuddle time before she has to go into the incubator for a bit.”

“The incubator?” Michelle covers her mouth with her hand as her husband steps up to wrap his arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah.” Casey winces. “She’s gonna need a little support to keep her body temperature stable, and she’s got a touch of jaundice, but she’s breathing okay, her heartbeat is strong, and the doctor assures me she’s going to be absolutely fine.” He nods, sucking in a relieved breath. “She’s gonna make it.”

“Oh, thank you, God,” Caroline’s mother whispers, closing her eyes and leaning against her husband’s chest.

“When can we see her?” he asks.

“I know she’s desperate to see all you guys, but I’m not allowed to send everyone through. Maybe you two could go first?” Casey points at his in-laws. “You might get to see her with the baby for a minute.”

Her parents don’t even wait a beat before they’re rushing out of the waiting room and heading down the corridor.

“So, your baby got a name?” Ethan asks.

“She does.” Casey grins. “I knew the second they put her against Caroline’s chest. She looked up at me, and we both said…”

He looks between the boys, leaving us all in painful suspense until Lani huffs. “Just say it already.”

With a soft laugh, he bounces Troy in his arms and says, “Lyla. Your little sister’s name is Lyla.”

“Lyla!” Billy shouts, testing it out.

“Lyla!” Nova copies him.

“Ly-ly-ly!” Troy claps his little hands.

I share a grin with Tammy while the rest of the adults laugh.

“That’s really pretty,” Rachel murmurs, crossing her arms and fighting obvious tears.

Liam tucks his arm around her waist and whispers something in her ear.

I glance back up at Casey and wonder why he’s wincing at me.

“What?” I ask.

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