Page 88 of Always on My Mind

Tessa nodded. “Stop being so cheesy or I’ll boke.”

“Don’t you dare. I just had my car detailed.”

Laughing, they drove on. Tessa’s muscles relaxed. It was going to be okay.

They reached the hospital and Jamie pulled right up to the door. Tessa gathered up her things and faced her girlfriend one more time.

“Keep me updated,” Jamie said. “I’ll come back after training to wait with you for a while if need be.”

“Perfect,” Tessa said. “I’ll see you later.”

She leaned over the console to give Jamie a kiss, but Jamie drew back. Tessa saw the immediate regret on her face as she tried to regroup.

“Sorry. Habit.” She leaned forward and pecked Tessa’s lips. “I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”

“Right,” Tessa said, still a bit stung. “Love you too.”

She didn’t give Jamie the opportunity to say anything more before stepping out of the car.

A nurse at the front desk directed her to the lift and told her that labor and delivery was on the fourth floor. Tessa pressed the button, and as the lift doors closed, she tried to shake off what happened in the car. Jamie had corrected, but why was she still struggling when there were no people around?

All thoughts of Jamie fled her mind when she arrived on the ward, where she met up with Ethan’s grandmother, Betty. Ethan got a lot of his looks from Betty. The soft blonde hair, green eyes, wide forehead. Tessa had met Betty several times, most recently for Billie and Ethan’s wedding. Betty hadn’t been able to make it to the shower. She extended a red nail polished hand to Tessa.

“What about you, Betty?” Tessa asked.

“I’m doing just fine,” Betty replied. Ethan got his sweet Southern accent from her too. “Ready for my great-grandbaby to get here already!”

“Did you fly over from North Carolina just now?” Tessa joked.

Betty grinned. “I would have. But I flew in a week ago so I could help Billie out while Ethan is at practice.”

“That’s kind of you.”

“Well, we all know the schedules of athletes unfortunately don’t stop for babies.”

“Quite true. Are they in a room already?”

“Yep, they took Billie back a few minutes ago. Her sister and Ethan are with her.”

Tessa let out a relieved puff of air. Billie had offered to have Tessa in the room while she gave birth, but Tessa politely declined. Billie didn’t seem to mind. Tessa thought Stevie might be a better presence anyway, since she had two kids of her own, and could ease any anxiety Billie might have.

“How long do you suppose it’ll be?” Tessa wondered.

“Could be days with a first baby,” Betty said. She reached into her purse and pulled out a couple decks of cards. “Wanna pass the time with some canasta?”

“I’ve never played.”

“I’ll teach you. Believe me, we’ve got time.”

Betty was right. The sun shone through the window as dawn arrived, and Tessa had finally gotten a grip on the game of canasta. They talked about how excited they were for Billie and Ethan. Betty mused about being a great-grandmother. Though Tessa assured her she didn’t look the part.

And it was true. Betty was already young to be Ethan’s grandmother. Billie told Tessa some of the back story. Betty was eighteen years old when she had Ethan’s mother, Laura. And Laura was twenty-one when she had Ethan. Ten years later, she passed away from a drug overdose, and Betty took over raising Ethan. Tessa was amazed at how Ethan turned out so kind after such a harsh childhood. But Billie said it only made Ethan want to be the best father possible, and his child would want for nothing. Tessa had no doubt he would be an incredible dad.

Hours passed. And then more hours. Tessa napped on the waiting room couch. While she slept, she found herself dreaming of her life as Rosie, only this time, she was back in Derry, heartbroken and crying in her house. When she woke, she needed a distraction, so she read her book and played more cards with Betty until the sun went back down.

Ethan finally entered the lobby. Bags under his eyes, his hair and clothes rumpled, sweat stains under his arms—and yet, Tessa had never seen him happier. His green eyes were misted over, but glowing. The smile on his lips accentuated his dimples. His body gave no signs of weariness. He was the definition of elated.

“He’s here,” he said in his deep drawl, and his voice cracked over the last word. “My son is here.”

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