Page 100 of Finding Forgiveness
“Mason bought them for me. He had them custom-made because he’s been calling me that since I fell pregnant. He’ll be upset if I don’t wear them.”
“Ooookay then,” I say with sarcasm as I cross the room. And she had the hide to call me and Connor weirdos because he named the cow we were eating.
Thankfully, we all made it to the hospital in time. Well, Grace and Jim didn’t. They are currently on a flight. They weren’t supposed to arrive until the weekend, but since the baby had other plans, they’re now scrambling to get here.
Mason is with Jacinta in the operating theatre, Connor is sitting in a chair with his head buried in his hands, Blake is beside him, swinging his little legs back and forth and playing his Nintendo Switch like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I’m pacing like a crazy woman. I swear I’ve worn a path in the vinyl floor.
One, because I’m worried about my BFF who is currently having her guts sliced open, and two, I have yet to tell my fiancé about the pregnancy test I took earlier. I feel like we invaded their wedding with our surprise proposal, I don’t want to crash the birth of their baby as well.
An eternity passes before Mason enters the small room where we are waiting. We get a start when the door comes flying open. “I have a daughter,” he announces with tears brimming in his eyes.
I fling myself into his arms. “Oh my God,” I screech. “Congratulations. Do we have a name?”
“Emmy-Lou.”
Once I release him, my hand flies to my chest.Oh, my heart.
Connor stands and crosses the short space to shake his hand, and Blake abandons his video game to hug his dad’s leg. “I have a little sister?”
Mason bends down to ruffle his hair. “Yeah, bud.”
“Yes,” Blake says, punching the air.
“She’s going to need you to look after her. Do you think you can do that for me?”
“Yes!”
“Me two,” Connor adds.
“Me three,” I say.
This little girl is going to be so loved.
Grace and Jim arrived before we were finally able to see Jazzie and Emmy-Lou, andwow, what an incredibly emotional moment that was. I think we all shed a tear or two. Maybe I shed a few more than that, but I’m going to blame my pregnancy hormones for my overly emotional state.
Connor and I do the right thing and let the grandparents and Blake have first cuddles. It’s a struggle because I just want to squish my beautiful niece’s fleshy cheeks.
When our turn finally arrives, I step aside and let Connor have first dibs. The way his face lights up as he looks down at her with so much love in his eyes has my ovaries disintegrating in an instant,poof. It feels like a bittersweet moment, because I know our first child would have gotten that same adoring reaction if that moment hadn’t been robbed from us. It has my heart flip-flopping in my chest.
He’s going to be the best daddy, and I’m already counting my blessings that it’s him I get to do this with. Our baby is going to be a Maloney from birth, and will be showered with all the love by these amazingly kind and good people.
“Do we have a weight yet?” I ask.
“Eleven pounds, three ounces,” Mason answers proudly.
I extend my arm, holding my palm face up. “Pay up, bitches,” I say, wiggling my fingers.
“Pay up for what?” Jacinta asks suspiciously.
“We had a side bet on how much your giant baby would weigh.” I curl my fingers over into an arch and blow hot air along my nails before rubbing them against my shirt, all smug-like. “Of course, I won,” I boast.
When her eyes narrow, I smile.
I take a seat beside my baby daddy and glance down at my chubby, giant niece. She has the sweetest little face, and she is so cute I could gobble her up.
Connor’s eyes move from Emmy-Lou to me. “Have you given any more thought to what I asked?”
“Huh?”
