Page 77 of Won’t Let You Get Away

Despite my concerns, I helped Bri take the short walk to the animal barn. I stayed close by as she showered Rosie with fruits. Just when I turned my back for a moment to say goodnight toKenny, the sound of a bucket hitting the ground made both of us whip around.

And just over eight hours later, Nicolas arrived in this world, screaming and crying.

“He’s perfect like his mama,” I carefully settle beside her on the bed.

She smiles sleepily, reaching out to touch his tiny feet covered in a blanket.

There’s a soft knock on the doorway. Ma peeks her head in, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of us.

“Oh, look at you three,” she says in a hushed tone but doesn’t move from the doorway. “Are you up for some visitors? Or would you prefer we come back later so you can rest?”

I look at Bri, leaving the decision to her. We had discussed having visitors at the hospital weeks ago. We knew our family would be excited to meet Nicolas, but ultimately, it was Bri’s call. If she wasn’t up for visitors, they could wait until we were settled at home.

Our eyes lock as she nods with a smile. “Yes, come meet your grandson.”

Ma doesn’t hesitate, rushing through the door with Pa trailing behind her, his arms full. She heads straight for the sink to wash her hands while Bri’s dad makes his way to the table on the other side of the room.

“Um, are you guys moving into the hospital?” Bri asks with a shaky laugh, attempting to sit up a little straighter.

“I told you she’d ask that, Hun.” Pa chuckles over his shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ma playfully retorts while drying her hands and turning back to us. “It’s all for you two. We brought lunch, dinner, and snacks. Some toiletries for both of you, an extra phone charger, and a pillow.”

Ma grabs the pillow and walks to the other side of the bed. My throat tightens as I watch her brush away a stray curl from Bri’s face while asking her how she feels.

I give them as much privacy as I can, focusing on Nicolas while her mom tells her how proud she is.

“Alright, enough of that.” Bri clears her throat and wipes away tears from her face. “Do you want to meet your grandson?”

Ma beams, rounding the bed and coming to my side in a flash. I stand and carefully hand Nicolas to her.

“Ma, say hi to Nicolas William Dawson,” Bri says with pride evident in her voice.

The moment she suggested naming him after our fathers, I knew it was perfect. We had considered other names, but none felt right. Seeing our son for the first time only solidified our choice.

“Now that’s a good name,” Ma whispers, finally tearing her eyes away from the baby and smiling at her husband.

Pa steps up behind her, placing a hand on her arm as he looks over her shoulder at Nicolas. Tears shimmer in his eyes.

I flex my hands, unsure of what to do now that Nicolas isn’t in my arms. “Can I get you anything, Sugar?”

“Will you sit with me for a minute?” she asks, reaching for my hand and pulling me down to sit beside her again. Bri rests her head on my shoulder, and together we watch as her parents fawn and coo over their grandson.

Movement on the muted TV catches my attention, and I catch the end of a commercial about hockey season starting soon. A soft laugh escapes me.

“What’s so funny?” Bri asks, not looking away from her family.

“Remember how I told you I had a beer with that hockey player at the resort? Dominik Mikelson?”

She scrunches her nose and tilts her head back to playfully glare up at me. “Yes, and I also remember you refusing to tell me what you guys talked about.”

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and holding her close. “He told me that how we met was gonna be one heck of a story to tell our kids.”

The half-hearted scowl fades from her face. “Wait…what?”

I nod, unable to wipe the grin off my face. “After I told him that I was waiting for my date—who I’d just met the night before—he told me that we had a hell of a “meet-cute” and that it was gonna be a great story to tell our future kids.” Cupping her cheek in my hand, I gently pull her in for a kiss before continuing. “It took me nine months to understand it, but damn the guy was right.”

Bri’s eyes widen. “Oh my god.” Her voice drops to a whispered shout. “We cannot tell our son that we met and immediately spent four days having unprotected sex.”

---