Page 128 of Other Side Of Never
The constant jangle of beeping, intercom announcements, and chatter from the nurses added to our anxiety.
While Wren and I combatted it by talking quietly in the corner, Max sat staring at the floor with his elbows braced on his thighs, hands dangling between his spread knees.Kian, meanwhile, jiggled his leg so much I begged him to move down a seat to give me some peace.
Every hour on the hour, Kian stood up abruptly and completed several rounds of pacing the waiting room.Each time the wide white doors to labor and delivery opened, his attention swung around to see who came through.
This time, his attention was rewarded.
But Wren made it to Aaron’s side first.“Tell me,” she breathed.
He grinned down at his mother.“Nadine was incredible.”He shook his head.“I’m, I can’t even tell you how amazed I am at what she just did.”He rubbed a rough hand over his hair and barked out an incredulous laugh.“Shit, women are tough.”
Wren closed her eyes and breathed out a sigh of relief.
Aaron continued.“We have a baby girl, six pounds, ten and a half ounces.Her name is Thalia.”
Wren covered her face with her hands as happy tears streamed from her eyes.
Aaron threw back his head and laughed as he drew her into his arms.
Grinning, Max extended his arm to shake hands, but Aaron tugged him into their tight little circle where they stood clinging to one another.
Kian watched, a look of such utter longing in his eyes, it physically hurt me.I slipped my hand into his and squeezed.
It was at that moment, Aaron looked up.Catching my eye, he beamed.
I laughed out loud.
“Okay,” he began.“Grandparents are allowed in.”
Kian edged back, taking me with him, as Wren and Max stepped forward.
It wasn’t until Aaron got to the door and opened it that he realized Kian hadn’t followed.Cocking his head to the side, he called softly, “Come on, Old Man.”Sliding his gaze to me, he added.“Bring Granny.”
I laughed and slanted him a warning glance that promised retribution, but nothing could penetrate the armor of peace and happiness he wore.
Not today.
Inside the room, already brightened by the addition of a huge bouquet of roses and a giant brown teddy bear, a beaming Nadine sat up in bed with a tiny bundle of pink nestled in her arms.
Wren and I nearly knocked Max out of the way plowing through to the miniscule sink to wash our hands before going anywhere near Nadine’s little sweetheart.
“Oh,” I breathed when we got to her bedside.“She’s beautiful.”
As small as she was, I could already tell she had Kian’s pretty mouth.
“Wren?”Nadine called.“Would you like to be the first to hold her?”
Watching my sweet friend take her first grandchild in her arms was a vignette of everything right and pure and good in this world.
After several moments, Nadine beckoned me over for my turn.
“Are you sure?She’s so small,” I protested.
“Already trying to get out of babysitting, Granny?”Aaron teased.
“Oh, Aaron.”I laughed.“You and I are going to have words after this, you little shit.”
“I’m counting on it,” he teased as Wren transferred Thalia into my arms.
