Page 93 of Wylder Ranch
I came to England to find Alex, but as I sit on the bed and watch him cradle our daughter, I know I found so much more.
I found love.
When the doorbell rings, I sprint to answer it, to find the same doctor who took Everly’s swab for her paternity test, only this time he looks less suave and more disheveled. I wonder how often he gets middle-of-the-night call-outs.
“Hello, Haven, good to see you again. Where’s the patient?”
“Upstairs with Alex.”
He follows me to the nursery, walking straight over to them while I watch by the door. There’s a gentleness to his touch as he strokes across Everly’s head, before pullingout a stethoscope from the bag he’s carrying.
He coos and mumbles to her, cautiously checking her little body, her breathing, inspecting her ears, and taking her temperature, all the while Everly keeps up her screaming, no matter how calm a voice he tries to use.
After what feels like an eternity, he turns around to me. “She’s certainly got a set of lungs on her, hasn’t she?”
I offer a weak smile. It’s all I can manage without my tears starting up again.
“When was her last feed?”
“At seven, before bed.”
He nods and hums. “Her temperature isn’t alarmingly high, not enough to worry too much. Her heart rate and breathing seem normal. She doesn’t have a rash either. How old is she now?”
“Three months almost,” replies Alex, and I hear the pride in his voice. There’s always pride whenever he talks about Everly.
“It might be the early signs of teething, but I want to monitor her in case it’s not. I’m going to give her some painkillers now to bring her temperature down, and it’ll relieve any pain she’s in too. If she’s sick again, call me. Otherwise, we’ll check in first thing.”
The simultaneous sigh of relief Alex and I let out is palpable.
“Okay, thanks, Oli. We appreciate you coming.”
“You’re welcome.” He slaps Alex on the shoulder, gives it a reassuring squeeze, and steps back. Turning to me still in the doorway, he then peers around the nursery, almost like he’s assessing the situation. “You’re doing fine, but you better get used to the sleepless nights. There’ll be plenty more.”
My lips roll tightly. Fine isn’t a word I’d use. I’m barely managing to keep my shit together, but I say, “Thank you.”
Oli scribbles out a prescription and hands it to Alex, along with a small bottle of red liquid. “This will get you through the night and just keep her hydrated. Call me if there are any changes, and keep checking her temperature, but I think she’ll be okay. This is nothing more than a rite of passage for you two.”
Alex stays holding Everly, and I take Oliver down to the front door, thanking him again. The moment it closes behind me, I sprint back upstairs to find Alex’s face wet with tears.
His muscles feel stiff under my hand as I rub along his back. “Alex?”
He wipes his sleeve across his face. “She’s just so tiny, and I can’t do anything to help her.”
Weirdly, Alex’s tears dry mine up, and a smile breaks through my anxiety. It’s reassuring to know it’s not just me falling apart, and seeing Alex crying only makes me stronger. We’re a delicate balancing act, drawing on each other’s strengths to make the perfect whole.
“You’re doing exactly what she needs,” I tell him. “If you want to keep her, I’ll go and make us some hot chocolate. I’m guessing neither of us is going to get any sleep.”
He reaches out, pulling me against him with his spare arm closing around my neck, and drops a kiss to my mouth. There’s something so comforting about it, reassuring,tender, about the way we stay pressed together. And when we finally break apart, his arm stays wrapped around me, his big blue eyes boring into mine as unspoken words pass between us.
Words like we’re in this together. We’re a team.
And feels a lot like love.
“I’ll be back.” I rush downstairs and whip up two hot chocolates and a bottle for Everly. I also take some of the broken, leftover pieces of gingerbread from the cookie tin, put them on a plate, and carry them all back up on a tray.
I find them in Alex’s bedroom, Everly lying on his chest. Whatever the medicine was, it seems to have kicked in quickly, because she’s quiet and her head doesn’t feel quite so hot. I settle down next to them, passing Alex his hot chocolate, and set the plate of gingerbread between us.
“Mmm.” He picks up a piece and bites down. “This isn’t the one your arse was in, is it?”
