Page 41 of Caged

Within an hour, they’re all here. Everyone but Cade and Hudson. Even Amelia’s husband, who isn’t exactly big on public gatherings, sits next to his wife, who was just here giving birth to their daughter a few months ago.

Once Max frantically pushes through the doors—his blond hair pushed away from his face, looking crazy, and his white dress shirt, which had been perfectly pressed when I saw him earlier but now a wrinkled mess—I know Daphne is ready. When he calls my name, I’m more than a little relieved to be getting out of the fishbowl of Kingstons I’m currently in.

I know Daphne wants me with her for her labor. It’s part of her birth plan. She doesn’t have any real family of her own, but Carys, Chloe, and I are all she needs, especially considering she has enough in-laws to fill their own football stadium.

I still can’t believe that I get to be here for this with my best friend as we walk along the hospital corridor. “Are you hanging in there, Max?”

This normally unshakable man looks completely undone under the humming fluorescent lights. “You get nine months to get ready for this. You read all the books you can get your hands on. You talk to your sisters and your friends who’ve all had kids. You hear all the stories, and you think you’re ready. They all say that once the baby is born, it’s like walking around with your heart outside your body.”

We turn a corner toward the hall full of delivery rooms, and he points at one a few feet away. “But nobody tells you what it’s like to know your wife is in pain and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

We stop outside Daphne’s room, and Max’s dark eyes boring into me remind me so much of his brother’s that they seem to soothe my nerves. “I need her to be okay, Maddie.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I force myself not to pull away.

“She will be, Max. She’s the strongest person I know.”

He must like that because a shaky smile pulls at his lips right before we walk into D’s room. I was expecting her to be a mess, but that’s never been Daphne’s way. With tears filling her eyes, she reaches out her hand, and I take it. “Sorry for making you wait.” She laughs and gestures around her. “They had to hook me up to all of this.”

“You doing okay, D?” I gently brush her hair out of her face. “Need anything?”

“I’m okay for now.” She looks me over, then shrugs. “They said it could be a while. I should have told you, you had time to change.”

I kick my heels off and set them against the wall, then bite my lip and hold back a silent laugh when I think about hitting Brandon with one of them earlier.

“Spill it, sister. What’s that smile about?”

A little embarrassed, I manage to tell D what happened with my brother earlier without sounding too much like a complete psychopath. At least I do, in my opinion. I’m not quite sure what Max thinks because the smart man keeps it to himself. And when a contraction has Daphne gripping both our hands tight a few minutes later, my confession is long forgotten.

Eventually a nurse comes in with a pair of dark-blue hospital socks with little grippers on the bottom to slip on over my pantyhose.

“Damn girl, you look hot,” Daphne snickers, looking me over.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I mean, my black stockings with the seam up the back of my legs seemed like a good idea when I was getting dressed earlier today. Now, not so much. But how was I to know that I’d be in labor with my best friend?

Seven hours and thirty-five minutes later, to be exact, Serena Kingston is born, screaming her way into the world. She’s a tiny, little thing, with an adorable button nose, a strong set of lungs, and a purplish shade of red covering her small body.

And this little girl is the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.

As the nurse brings Serena to Daphne’s chest, Max leans his head against hers, and they share quiet words meant to only be heard by their new family.

Without another thought, I snag my heels and walk over to the door to quietly duck out, but Daphne catches me before I make my escape. “Love you, Mads. Thank you for being here.”

I hold tight to the emotion clogging in my throat. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

Daphne swallows. “Will you share the news with anyone who might still be waiting out there?”

“Tell them to come back tomorrow.” Max looks at his wife with so much adoration in his eyes, tears burn the back of my lids. “Tonight’s just for us.”

I grab my bag from the chair, slip my shoes inside and smile. “Love you guys. I’ll be back in the morning.”

The crowd in the waiting room has dwindled down to just the Kingston siblings. The spouses are gone, probably to take care of their own kids. But these brothers and sisters aren’t leaving until they know what’s happening with their brother’s family.

I ignore most of them and find Hudson, who stands from his chair as soon as he sees me.

The overwhelming emotions of the day pull me under, and I walk right into his open arms, close my eyes, and take a deep breath. I soak in his strength, stealing some for myself before I look up at everyone, suddenly aware of what I just did. I try to pull back, but Hudson wraps his arms around me and gently squeezes.

“It’s a girl,” I announce to the room. “Serena Kingston. Six pounds, four ounces. She’s got a full head of blonde hair and a great set of lungs. Max asked me to let you all know that Daphne and Serena are perfect, but they’re exhausted and want everyone to come back tomorrow.”

The room is filled with voices and commotion as everyone celebrates the good news.

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