All talking ceased when Morgan entered. Dressed in green scrubs, her bright red hair pushed under a surgical cap, she was a welcomed face to the crowd. “My, it’s busy in here,” she chortled. She shared hugs and greetings, making her rounds to our extended family. Morgan and I had grown close over the years. I loved her like the sister I always wanted. We had our secret club of being Wise wives. “All right, everyone out,” she instructed. “I need a moment with the patient.”
A chorus of goodbyes were made as everyone filed out of my room. Jared carried Chloe and Niles had Connor, who both fussed about having to leave their parents, at least until they were promised ice cream in the cafeteria.
When the room was empty, Drew took me by the hand, sighing in relief. “A little overwhelmed, are we?” Morgan teased.
Drew shook his head, laughing. “Maybe a little, Dr. Wise.”
She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Well, let’s have a look, shall we?”
She slipped on a latex glove, lifted my sheet, and completed her examination. “Do you feel your contractions?” she inquired after her check-up was complete. Snapping the glove off her hand, she tossed it in the trash. She moved around and took a gander at the monitor.
“I don’t.”
“At least we know the epidural is working.” She glanced over the readout. “I’d say maybe another hour or so at the max. Your contractions are coming pretty fast. I’ll start prepping now. Oh, and Gavin called. Your family has landed. He’s bringing them straight over.”
“Thanks, Morgan,” Drew said.
“Get some rest.” Morgan gave me a pat on the leg and slipped out of the room.
“You hear that, baby? Not much longer and our little man will be here.”
Tears filled my eyes. My family was growing. I couldn’t imagine feeling happier than I did in that moment. The day we had the twins, I’d felt the same way. I remember thinking that the birth of my babies was better than my wedding day, and that nothing could top the happiness I felt in my soul in that moment. But I’d been wrong back then, and I knew someday something wonderful would happen and I’d be wrong again. I welcomed that day, but today, I couldn’t imagine feeling happier.
Drew lifted my hand, pressing his lips to my wedding band—which had become his little gesture of love—then kissed my lips. I cupped the side of his neck, savoring the taste of his mouth on mine. It didn’t matter how many years passed, I would never get tired of his kisses.
“Hey, you two,” Jared intruded, startling us. We’d been so lost in the moment that we didn’t hear the door open.
“Hey, you.” I scooted up the bed, propping myself with pillows, happy to see him. Transferring to New York was a good move for him, and even though we talked or texted daily, I still missed him. “Everyone okay?”
“Yeah. Kat and Andie are catching up, and Niles is regaling the kids with one of his tall tales. I figured I’d come down here and see what you two kids were up to.”
“Oh, just having a baby,” I noted with a shrug.
“That’s all. Jeez, you’d think you were doing something important,” he teased me with a wink.
Jared sat down on the rolling stool stationed at the end of my bed. He started to scoot the chair back and forth at the foot. “I see why Morgan likes these things.” Before long, he had his legs in the air, squealing as he rolled the chair from one end of the room to the other. Drew gave me a mischievous, little wink and released my hand. He gripped Jared by the shoulders and commanded, “You might want to hold on.” It warmed my heart that they’d managed to overcome their differences.
Jared clamped his fingers around each side of the stool, and Drew took off running, pushing him as hard and fast as possible. Jared tried his darndest to stay on the seat, but his skinny butt kept sliding off. Then it was Drew’s turn. He managed to stay on the stool a little better, but not by much. The two of them acting like fools had me laughing so hard I was nearly in tears. Back and forth they took turns, rolling the chair around the room, attempting to knock each other off. They’d created a new sport: hospital rodeo.
As Jared raced Drew around the room, the door opened without warning. Jared barely came to a stop before they slammed into the door, but it didn’t keep Drew from flying off the stool. He landed on the floor with a humph, bouncing a few inches on his ass, stopping at my grandmother’s white sneaker-clad feet.
“What on earth are you hooligans doin’ in here?” Granny bellowed. My dear grandmother tapped her foot, her wrinkled face glaring down at my husband, but I could see in her eyes she was holding back her laughter. She rested her fist on her thick hip, her plump body sheathed in one of her favorite track suits.
Drew stood up, rubbing his bottom. “Granny,” he crooned. “How you doing, ol’ girl?” He pulled her into a hug, only to have her pinch his sore bottom. Drew jumped, his eyes widened, and his face turned a light shade of pink.
“Always good when I get hugged by two Wise boys on the same day,” she noted, giving his butt another pat.
Gavin, Mom, and Dad appeared at the door, each smiling but looking exhausted. They'd spent the better half of their day in airports, but I was grateful we were able to get them here before Jacen was born. “Mom, Dad.” I extended my hand out to my parents. Mom rushed to my side, wrapping her fingers around mine. “My sweet girl,” she cooed.
“Did she get your ass, too,” Gavin questioned Drew, wrapping his arm around Granny’s shoulders.
Drew laughed. “She never misses.”
“I’m feeling a little left out here. She never pinches my ass,” Jared pouted.
“That’s ‘cus you ain’t got no ass,” Granny stated, patting Gavin on the butt.
The whole room laughed at the bright red color that flooded Jared’s cheeks.
“So we saw Dr. Wise in the hall. She said not much longer!” my mother squeaked, wrapping me in her warm embrace.
“I’m so glad you could get here in time,” I said, feeling the tears form in my eyes.
“Where’s everyone else? Are the twins here?” Dad fished. He loved his grandbabies, and I knew it was hard on him to be so far away.
“They’re downstairs with my family in the cafeteria having ice cream,” Drew advised.
My stomach fluttered, the first real feeling I’d had since I’d been given my epidural. “Andy,” I breathed, placing my hand over my round stomach.
Concern instantly filled his eyes. “Baby, you okay? Do you feel any pain?”
“No pain. Just a little…movement.”
Drew glanced at the monitor and grinned. He pressed the call button on my bed. A nurse instantly answered. Within minutes, Morgan was in the room. “Yeah, those are contractions she’s feeling,” she announced after checking the monitor. “This little man is ready to join us.”
“You hear that, sweetheart?” Mom cheered, squeezing my hand.
“I’m sorry, but it’s time for everyone to clear out. McKenzie has some work to do,” Morgan instructed.
“We’ll be downstairs waiting,” Dad told me, kissing my forehead. “I’m so proud of you, Mickie.” He stepped back, giving Drew his spot, adding a pat on the back.
Mom squeezed my hand again, and something in me couldn’t let her go. “Morgan, can she stay, too? Please?”
Two nurses joined us in the room, moving around, setting up equipment for my impending delivery. “That’s your call, Mick.”
I looked up at my mother. “Momma?”
“I’m not going anywhere, if that’s all right with Drew. I wouldn’t want to be in the way.”
Drew reached across me, taking my mother’s free hand. “Lindsey, we both want you here.”
Mom glanced back at Dad. He nodded and stepped out of the room.
“Well, I think that’s my cue to head out of here, too. There are some things a guy doesn’t need to see his best friend doing, and popping a kiddo out her poontang is one of them.”
I waved him off. “Get out of here,” I laughed, my stomach fluttering again.<
br />
Jared’s smile broadened and he blew me a kiss as he disappeared out the door, closing it behind him.
The next thing I knew, the head of the bed was being raised, and the bottom portion of my bed dropped. Stirrups were pulled out and my feet were lifted into them. Morgan spouted out instructions to the nurses, Drew, my mother, and then to me. When she told me to push, I did, and when she told me to breathe, I obeyed. My body felt weak, but my will was strong. I cried out, not from pain, but from the force of my push. Sweat speckled my brow, my breathing short and shallow between pushes, and when I thought I couldn’t handle anymore, Morgan pressed me to do it again.
“I see his head,” she cried. “C’mon, Mick. Give me another good push, in one, two…”
My body knew what it was doing, because before she could even tell me to push, it did. Drew was positioned to hold my hand, but he could see beyond the blanket, as well. Tears filled his eyes, but he remained calm, coaching me and comforting me between each contraction.
“I see him,” he whispered to me. “He’s beautiful. Just one more push, my angel. He’s almost here.”
I moved up, bearing down hard on my stomach. “Ready, McKenzie?” Morgan called out. Taking in a deep breath, I held it until she screamed, “Now!”
With all my might, I pushed, screaming out in the process. The relief to follow and the sound of my little boy’s cry filled my heart with joy. Morgan handed Jacen to one of the nurses, who wiped him down enough to give him to me. In my arms, I held my little boy for the first time, my mother and husband surrounding me.
“He’s beautiful,” Mom gasped, wiping tears from her eyes.
“You did it,” Drew whispered, kissing me tenderly. He touched his son’s face, pride filling his eyes. “Hello there, Jacen.”
Jacen opened his eyes. They were as blue as the sky, and I marveled at the miracle that was my life. I smiled and pressed a kiss to my newborn’s forehead. “Hello there, baby boy. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Nearly five years ago, I would’ve laughed at someone if they’d told me I’d be here in this moment. It occurred to me that my life was a jigsaw puzzle, and while it took a few flips and turns, every intricate piece finally fit together. Each step I took from birth to now led me down the path I was meant to be on. Destiny knew what it was doing with me. Sure, I had to struggle, but in the end, all of my suffering paid off.
Finding Drew when I did, no matter how unorthodox it was, was a pivotal point in my life. If Olivia had gotten her way, Drew and I would’ve been ripped apart, our children would never have been born, and I would probably still be miserable. Not that I held any malice toward her, but it did take me a long time to forgive the atrocities she created over her own jealousy.
Looking back on it now, I realized that things happened for a reason. Every hardship we faced, all of the suffering we endured, brought us here. Drew and I were destined, I knew that now, and our love was eternal, evident in the face our newborn child. Through it all, we found what we were seeking, and if I had it to do all over again, I could honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing.
The End.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to start off with a little note to all my readers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this journey with me. While my excitement to be sharing this final installment with you is bubbling over, there is a bitter sweetness to it, for this is the end of Drew and McKenzie’s story. They have been my best friends for nearly four years, starting long before I released The Truth in Lies. While I will miss their voices in my head, I am happy that they found their happily ever after. I hope you have enjoyed this ride and I can’t wait to share with you my future works.
Here are a few thank yous to people who have to endure me through the tortuous process of my writing habits. I am so lucky to have each and every one of them in my life. A writer is often a loner, stuck inside their own heads for hours at a time. These people bring me back to reality and have always been faithful and honest. I love them all.
To my husband Chris and my son Alex, thank you for listening to me babble about fictional characters and giving me time when I needed to get a scene out of my head. I know sometimes it’s a pain to deal with me, but I feel blessed to have you both at my side. You’re both my inspiration and my driving force. I love you so much.
To my editor, Jo Matthews, what can I say, girl. You amaze me! I adore your spirit and your tenacity. You’ve become one of my dearest and most trusted friends. Thank you for taking your time to make my words pretty.
To my developmental editor, Mary Devereaux, thank you, thank you, thank you! McKenzie and Drew are as good as they are because of you. While having you tell me when I flubbed something up can be a bit of an ego bruiser, I love you more for it, because you drive me to be my best. You’re one of my dearest friends, a person I trust and know will always have my back, as I have yours. I love you loads, woman!
I hate doing this in lump sum, because each of these ladies are amazing, wonderful, talented, sweet, caring, and above all dear friends; and they all deserve their own entry for the time they spend with me through this process. However for time sake, Sarah Canady, Natasha Carrere, B.L. Wilde, Amber Sachs, and Amy Gamache, thank you. I’m so honored to have you all along for this ride. You’ve spent nights crying and laughing with me over this novel, and I am honored to have you all apart of my team.
A good author is only worth their salt with a wonderful Street Team behind them. My Sexy Divas are absolutely amazing. Everyday my social media sites are flooded with notices that someone from my street team has mentioned me somewhere. They work hard and I am grateful for everything.
Thank you to Pam, Faydra, and Maria—my Starbucks girls. These ladies not only enable my coffee addiction but they’ve also become good friends. I have a load of fun hanging out with them and discussing my next project.
Most of all, thank you to my readers. Without you, my stories are nothing more than words on a page. You bring these characters to life and I am forever grateful that you do.
All my best,
Jeanne
About the Author
Jeanne McDonald is an author, a mother, a wife, a student of knowledge and of life, a coffee addict, a philosophy novice, a pop culture connoisseur, inspired by music, encouraged by words, and a believer in true love. When she's not spending time with her family, she can be found reading, writing, enjoying a great film, chatting with friends or diligently working toward her bachelor's degree in literature. A proud Texan, Jeanne currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family.
Where to find her:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
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Also By Jeanne McDonald
A Ray of Hope
The Truth in Lies (The Truth in Lies Saga I)
The Certainty of Deception (The Truth in Lies Saga II)
Indulgence (Taking Chances #1)
The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) Page 26
