Page 136 of Still Bruised
I could’ve loved him… if I wasn’t a mess.
Jude stared up at the ceiling, wide awake. He forced his eyes closed, but it was no good. All he could manage was catnapping through the few hours he had left before he had to get up and go to work. He spent the morning checking his phone—baby newsandGrindr to see if Foster was on—but the hours passed, and he got nothing from either.
Finally, a photo of Roan, Mia, and their new little baby girl arrived around lunchtime. A smile stretched over his face. Theirs were full of joy as they looked down at their daughter. There was a text along with the image.
Roan
We have a little girl! Born at 7:02 am. Mom and baby girl are doing well. If you and Ant want to visit, stop by after work and meet your niece
Jude
I’ll be there. Congrats, man!
Roan
Thanks. See you tonight
Jude leftPaulie in charge of the team during their nightly closing chores so he could leave a bit earlier and grab a shower before Anton arrived to pick him up. They made it to the hospital a little earlier than planned, so they hit the gift shop. After their arms were laden with gifts, flowers, and balloons, they headed up on the elevator. The first person they saw as soon as the doors opened was a red-eyed Roan, saying goodbye to Mia’s parents before they boarded to go down. While he looked exhausted, the broad smile spread across his face told Jude all he needed to know.
“Hey,” Roan said.
They both set the gifts down on a nearby table in the waiting room and enveloped him in a bear hug.
“Congratulations,” both he and Anton said, hugging Roan tight.
“Thanks, guys,” Roan said before he backed up. “I can’t believeI’ma dad.”
“Me, either,” Anton said.
“Shut up,” Roan joked. He turned to Jude. “You’re up first. Mia and baby are in 3457.”
Jude tensed.
“I’ll hang out here with Anton,” Roan said.
“You’re not coming?” Jude asked, panic hitting him square in the chest.
“You’ve put off that talk long enough,” Roan said. “You’regoingto be a part of my kid’s life, so go fix whatever this is with Mia,Uncle Jude.”
Jude sighed. He snagged the teddy bear and flowers he’d bought downstairs and held them in front of him like a shield. Something told him they wouldn’t protect much.
“Fine,” Jude muttered before walking down the hall. It felt like a gallows walk. The only thing that kept his feet moving was the fact his therapist might be proud of him for actually facing something instead of running away from it.
When he approached Mia’s room, he knocked on the door and peeked inside.
Mia rested in the hospital bed, curled up and cradling her daughter. Her smile was beautiful, and he couldn’t help but smile himself.
She must’ve sensed him watching. Mia turned her focus his way. “Hey, you.”
“Hey,” Jude said, his voice low. “Is it okay if I come in?”
“Of course.”
Jude walked in and closed the door most of the way. “I brought a gift for the baby.” He held up the bear before setting it and the flowers beside a bevy of arrangements, cards, and other gifts. It was nice to see so many were happy for them.
“Do you want to meet our daughter?” Mia asked him.
He inched closer, but not too close. The baby yawned, her little eyes wide open. They soon closed, and she drifted off to sleep. “She’s beautiful.”
