Page 40 of Inevitably Yours

“So, are you two ready to be dads?” Gus asked as they entered the admitting area. She enjoyed how they both paled at the reminder that it was about to become a reality.

“Oh wow, this is really happening,” Andy said when Marco came into his arms. Andy held his husband tight. Forehead to forehead, wrapped in each other’s arms, they spoke in hushed tones.

“Ew, I’m feeling like a creepy voyeur, yet again. Cut it out, you two, I’ve got a long day and a lot of work ahead of me, I do not need that to be what I see every time I look your way.” They both stuck out their tongues like twelve-year-olds. “Real mature.” Gus sat in the lone chair in front of the counter.

“Would you rather see this?” Marco asked as he stooped on the side of her chair to baby talk her belly while making goofy faces. Andy joined in from the other side.

“On second thought, enjoy, because after tonight, you’ll be lucky to get two seconds alone.”

This was it, it was happening.

She couldn’t help but worry about John. Her mind had created a million different scenarios, each one worse than the last. However, as much as she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry, that wasn’t an option. She had to put on a brave face.

Both men stopped being silly and kissed her cheeks. “We love you, Augusta, and this gift. This beautiful thing you are doing for us, with us, we can never repay you for.”

Marco whispered, “And don’t think I don’t see what you are doing for our sake. I know it can’t be easy for you. You are a brave soul, and I know John is fine, I just know he is.” Marco squeezed her hand.

A nurse dressed in rubber ducky scrubs came in to the area pushing a wheel chair. “I hear someone is having a baby today. Let’s get to it, shall we?” Her voice was lyrical and upbeat, lifting their spirits a little higher. The nerves were still there, but she knew she could do this, and she was trying to believe what Marco said.

She heard Marco on the phone with Erika while she rode down the hall toward the elevator.

If Operation Harvest went as planned, everyone, except John, would be here at the hospital anxiously waiting for Butterbean to arrive. Hopefully—in record time—Marco and Andy will be fathers.

And John will be home safe.

“Boy. I am not going to miss these fluctuating hormones. One minute, I want to laugh, and the next, I want to cry.” One minute I feel good, the next guilty.

“Yeah, neither will we,” Andy replied, tongue in cheek. Maybe it was all hormones that made this whole thing with John seem so hopeless.

The nurse had her set up in her room in no time. She changed in the bathroom and came out like she was walking the runway. Andy came to escort her to the bed, and Marco started announcing the amazing summer line.

“Here we have the latest in the haute couture hospital line.” Gus spun with Andy’s help, then sashayed, as best as an elephant could sashay, toward the birthing pool—not that she planned on using it, but it was part of the suite. “The industrial blue really makes those no slip socks pop.” Jutting her hip out, she gave her best blue steel. “And the open design allows for freedom of movement and a cooling affect.” She spun again then made to walk back toward the bathroom to both Marco and Andy’s applause when Erika arrived, sans Walker.

“Oh, my God, really? Y’all did a hospital fashion show without me? And you lady,” Erika approached Gus with a kiss for each cheek, “promised I would be a part of this pregnancy from start to finish. Yet here you are, working the runway without me.”

Everyone, including herself, appeared to be without a care, but it was a lie. John was never far from their thoughts, but this day deserved its own attention, too.

So, everyone was torn and acting. Acting like John wasn’t missing. Pretending that this birth was their only concern in the world.

This family was amazing in many aspects, but the fact that they could all pull together with a tragedy and a birth and still manage to make this celebratory—no matter the worry of the unknown, or pain they were feeling—was beyond anything most people got to experience.

If this is going to be the attitude of everyone involved, it’s going to be a unique experience, and not just because I am having a baby for two men and another woman.

The feelingof being roasted alive woke him. Where am I that’s so hot? He went to move but couldn’t. Why can’t I move?

“Ouch,” he mumbled as he lifted his head only to discover it hurt like hell.

Raising his hand to the source of the agony answered one question when it came back bloody. He was injured, but how did he get hurt?

There was some key information he was missing. It felt like it was right there, he could almost touch it, but yet, not.

Once his arms seemed to be attached to his body and under his control, he let them search his body for clues. Straps, no seatbelt. Car accident? No, that’s not right. Tracing the canvas strap to metal, he undid it and was finally able to move.

Opening his eyes proved to be more difficult. The sun was blinding…and hot coming through the windshield.

Windshield.

Plane.

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