Page 58 of The Grumpy Doc's Surprise Delivery

“These last few days, I’ve been on the maternity ward nonstop. I’ve seen families and their babies, and I’ve realized that maybe I can have it all. Work doesn’t have to be less important to me if I have other people in my life that I care about.”

“What are you trying to tell me?” She takes a shaky breath. Again, she’s trying to be strong, but I can see the look in her eyes that’s telling me she’s unsure about everything that’s happening.

“I’m not a perfect man,” I say. “But I want to be there for our baby. If you’ll let me, I want to be there for you. I love you, Emma. I will always love you. And I’ll do everything I can for our baby.”

“That’s all I ever wanted you to say. I never thought I would hear you say it.”

“If it’s a problem, I can go,” I say.

She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m not letting you go that easily. You’re staying right here where I can see you, and then you’re coming home with me when my shift is over, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say with a dramatic fake salute. She shakes her head, but she can’t hide the smile anymore.

Despite everything, there’s an absolute calmness in my heart. A stillness that tells me everything is just as it’s meant to be.

“Don’t start that,” she grins, her eyes shining with tears. “I only just forgave you for being an idiot, didn’t I?”

“I hope so.”

As we’ve been talking, we’ve been moving closer to one another, and now, with another step, I’m so close she could lean forward an inch and fall into my chest. Our eyes lock again, and I give her the most genuine smile I’ve given anyone since I left her.

“It’s not a choice, is it? Family over career? I don’t have to choose because I don’t have to fight to survive. I have everything I could ever want or need.” I’m rambling now, letting the thoughts that have been formulating for the last few days spill out of me in a wordy mess.

“No, it’s not,” she says, but before I can say anything more, she presses a finger to my lips and shakes her head. “I love you, Liam. And I don’t need perfect. All I need is this.”

Before I can say anything, she rises up on her tiptoes and pulls me in, our lips colliding in perfect fireworks. All the words I had been about to blurt vanish, because suddenly they’re not important anymore. Everything I could need to say is right here, in this kiss.

It seems to last forever, yet somehow it is over too soon. The salt from her tears lingers on my lips, and I reach out to brush my thumb over her cheek, wiping them away. I never want to be the reason she cries again.

“Our family is going to be perfect,” I whisper.

Emma wraps her arms around me and squeezes like she’s trying not to let me go. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

After that, there really are no more words as our lips collide again, our fingers twining as, just for this moment, we carve out a little slice of heaven just for us.

EPILOGUE

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER: EMMA

“Bah, bah, bah,” cries Lily, stretching her little hands up towards Liam. “Beh.”

Liam wastes no time in obeying our daughter’s command. He scoops her up into his chest and spins around in a big circle, making them both laugh until they’re dizzy.

Lily just turned one, and I couldn’t love her more if I tried. Neither could Liam, and seeing him with her makes my heart want to explode. Turns out, he’s a great dad, after all.

Ever since that day that he came to find me at the hospital, we’ve been seeing each other seriously, really committing to our relationship. And though neither of us is perfect at it, we’ve both been trying to be better about taking time for each other.

It’s been easier since Lily was born. She’s brought us together more than anything else, and a baby is an excellent reason to take a little time off work every now and then. I’ve spent my life worrying about what people would think if I worked a little less hard, but it turns out they haven’t been judgmental in the slightest.

In fact, they’ve been happy for me.

Liam feels the same, I think. He’s becoming an exceptional father, and he’s done more than I could ever have wanted from him. Any of his fears of what would happen to him if he worked slightly less haven’t come true, and it’s bringing us both round to the idea of time off now and again.

Not only did we take all the parental leave we were owed, but we’ve also nearly used our entire quota of vacation days for the year. For two people who have never taken a sick day in their lives, that’s impressive.

It really has been helping too. I couldn’t have done all this without rest and support.

Much as I hate to say it, but Phoebe was right. Taking days off does make you feel better.

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