by Delisa Lynn
“I’m just tired and feel so damn bad about everything that I kept from you. Yes, they will. The doctor said she would send someone in to swab you and Liam, then the baby. It normally takes weeks to receive the results, but we will get them today.”
“Okay, good. I’m sorry for the way I acted on the phone. I was just shocked and surprised that you hadn’t told me sooner, but I’m here now. Thank you for calling me. I’m going to find Ta. Will you be okay?” he asks as he squeezes my hand. I still don’t have any emotional feelings toward him.
“I’ll be fine. It means a lot, and I won’t keep anything from you again.”
“Thank you,” he says as he leans over and kisses my cheek.
I can feel my contractions again. Evan walks out of the room and I want to just break down and cry, but I don’t. I need to be strong for my little man. I don’t want to cause him any stress.
***
I’m finally over Evan. Of course I may be having his baby, but I’m over him. As I lie here, staring at the picture of Addison with Nikki and me, I start to pray. I pray like I’ve never prayed before. If God answers any of my prayers, I would like for this one to be answered.
Then I talk to Addison. She always seems to appear when I really need her to.
“Ads, if you can hear me, please talk to God and let him know I’m sorry for everything I’ve done. We all make mistakes, but my family shouldn’t have to be punished because of my actions. I love my husband with every ounce of my being, and I would do anything in the world to make him happy. If you have any pull up there, please let Greyson be Liam’s. He can’t be Evan’s. I have hurt both men so much. I can’t hurt them like this anymore. It’s not fair to them. I promise I will never hurt either of them again. I will never be dishonest with my husband or myself ever again. I will live the rest of my life making what I’ve done up to him.
“Addison, please. I need your presence now more than I ever have. Please watch over all of us and guide the doctors and nurses into helping me have a safe birth so that Greyson will be perfect. If he isn’t Liam’s, then I guess he was meant to be Evan’s. I love you, Ads. I wish things were different and you were here. I know I can’t see you, but you can see and hear me. Will you hug my daddy for me and tell him his pumpkin misses him? I’m sending you butterfly kisses, sweets.”
***
“Lila, it’s me, Nurse Becky. Are you okay, sweetie? I know what’s going on. We are going to perform the DNA test as soon as you deliver. We can go ahead and swab the fathers now if you want. Also, do you want them both in the room while you deliver?”
“Okay. Can you get my husband and ask him to come in so I can speak to him? Thank you.”
I need to talk to him and see what he thinks I should do. I know he doesn’t want Evan in the room, but what if Greyson is his baby? Then he would miss his birth.
A few minutes later, Liam walks into the room.
“Hey, beautiful. Is everything okay? How did it go with Evan? Nikki, Brody, Meg, Kade, and Ashton are all here. Eric is doing rounds, then he will be down here. Do you need anything?” he says as he slides in bed with me and put his arms around me.
“I’m okay, and the talk with Evan went well. I think he understands why I waited to tell him. Nurse Becky said she can go ahead and test you and Evan and then test Greyson once he is delivered—which, by these contractions, will be very soon. Do you want Evan in here when I deliver? I don’t know…if Greyson is his, then I’ll feel awful that he missed out on his birth, but if he isn’t, then it would be wrong to you.”
Tears stream down my face. Liam leans over and kisses me.
“If you want him in here, then that’s fine, but I won’t leave your side. I’m in here regardless. Understand?” He kisses me again.
“Okay. Maybe you should go take the test and let me think about it. Can you send my friends in, please? I need girl time.”
“Yes, I’ll send them in. You want more ice chips?”
I laugh. “Please. I thought you would never ask.”
I’ve been having contractions every ten minutes, but I put a smile on my face and keep on trying to figure out what to do.
“Hey, bitch. Why is it that you are getting ready to pop out a ten pound linebacker and you look beautiful as ever? Seriously, did you do your makeup?” Nikki says as she hugs me.
“I always look this good. What are you talking about?” I laugh and kiss her cheek.
“Meg, what is that on your neck? Is that a fucking hickey?” I ask.
She and Nikki burst into laughter. I roll my eyes. “What? I know what a hickey looks like. You both know I dated Ashton and we all know he is the king of them.”
“Well, it must be an Ellis thing because Kade did it and we aren’t even having sex. He just did it. I had to wear a scarf to work today. Who wears a scarf when it’s this hot outside? People thought I was crazy.”
“Okay, on a serious note, do you two think Evan should be in here while I deliver? Liam says he doesn’t care, but what if the baby isn’t Evans? He shouldn’t be in here if that’s the case. Isn’t that odd? My ex-lover and my husband both in here, watching me give birth?”
“I hope you shaved. You wouldn’t want them seeing any bushes.”
Meg laughs. I throw my ice chips at her and stick my tongue out.
“Yes, miss hickey, I did. You see my beautiful Band-Aid right here on my knee?” I say, holding my leg out. “There was no way I was coming here looking like a gorilla. You never know who is looking at your hoo-ha.”
“Well, I’ll have to remember that when I go into labor,” Nikki says.
“Girls, I don’t know what to do. I think he should be in here, but then I feel it would be wrong to Liam. Why couldn’t I just keep my panties up? None of this would be happening. I’ve ruined everything. Oh fuck, these contractions aren’t stopping. Oh my God, they hurt and it feels like they are coming faster and harder. Please get the doctor and Liam.” They both stare at me in shock, as if they have no idea what to do. “Go now, please!”
“Okay, I’ll go. Nikki, you stay here with her,” Meg says. She runs out of the room.
“Can I get you anything, sweets? You need more ice?” Nikki says as she rubs my back.
“No, I just need to deliver Greyson. Oh Nikki, the contractions hurt. Where is the doctor?” I ask just as Dr. Brewster, Meg, and Tatum walk in the room. Why did Megan bring Tatum?
“Okay, Lila. Looks like your little man is ready to be welcomed into the world. The only problem is he is ready and your husband is on the other side of the hospital, having his test performed. We will have to start without him.”
I grab Nikki and Megan’s hands. Tatum is standing in the doorway. “Umm, can my friends stay with me?”
“Come on, young lady, get in here. We have a baby to deliver now,” Becky says to Tatum.
“Lila, should I stay or go? It’s your call, darlin’,” Tatum says. Fuck, I just want my husband.
“Yes, get in here,” I say.
She runs over and stands next to Nikki. Meg looks over at Nikki and all three of them look at me with smiles on their faces. “Okay, bitches. If you had a baby getting ready to be pulled out of your hoo-ha, you wouldn’t be smiling like that.”
They all start laughing. Tatum wets a rag and lays it on my forehead, and I have a death grip on Meg and Nikki’s hands. They aren’t going anywhere.
“Lila, I’m going to count to three and I want you to give me a good push, okay?”
I nod my head at the doctor.
“One, two, three,” the doctor says. “Now push.”
“Oh my God, where is my Liam? I need him. I can’t do this without seeing his handsome face.”
“Look at me,” Nikki says with tears streaming down her face. “You have to do this, love.”
“I need Liam. He said he wouldn’t leave me,” I cry.
“I can see his head. Just a couple more pushes and we will have us a baby. Okay, on the count of three again: One, two, three. Push, Lila,
push.”
“I can’t, it hurts! Oh my God, Liam,” I scream.
“Look at me. He will be here,” Meg says as she runs the rag over my face. “You are breaking my hand, girlfriend. Now deliver my nephew so I can spoil his ass.”
“Okay, one more pu-push,” I whimper.
“Yes, Lila. One more and he will be here. Who wants to cut the cord?” The doctor asks.
I look at my friends. They all just stare. No one answers.
“I will, if that’s okay?” Tatum says.
***
Liam
“Evan, come on. They just told the nurse Lila’s in labor. I have to get back over there.”
“Oh fuck, let’s go. I think we are finished here.”
We both run as fast as we can. Lila’s room is on the opposite side of the hospital. The elevators are slower than molasses. We almost knock people over trying to get to Lila. She will kill me if I miss the birth of our son.
***
Lila
What the hell? Why does Tatum want to cut the cord? Oh well. If she really wants to, and Liam or Evan aren’t here, then I guess it’s okay. Kind of weird, considering this may be her future husband’s baby. Oh, maybe that’s why she wants to do it, so she can be closer to Greyson. At this point, I’m just ready to hold my son. I don’t care what else is going on.
“O-okay,” I cry.
“One, two, three. Push, Lila!”
“Holy hell and all things pineapple, I’m never having another baby. I can’t do this again.”
Then I hear my baby crying. He is here. My baby is here. The doctor lays him on my chest and I forget about all the pain I just went through. He has a full head of blond hair and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He stares into my eyes.
“Welcome to this crazy world, Greyson Lain Ellis,” I say. “I love you more than you will ever know.”
“Okay, ma’am. If you will cut the cord so we can get this little guy cleaned up and weighed for his momma,” Becky says to Tatum.
She takes the scissors from the nurse and smiles at me, then cuts the umbilical cord that’s attached to my son and me.
“Thank you,” the doctor says. She gently takes Greyson from me. “I’ll give him right back, Momma, I promise.”
I look at the door and see a very out of breath Liam. “Lila, baby, I’m here. I’m so sorry we went to take the test. I didn’t think about you going into labor. I missed our son’s birth. I am so sorry,” he says with tears in his eyes.
“It’s okay. I was upset, but these three ladies made everything okay. Tatum cut the cord.”
I look at Tatum and smile. She, Nikki, and Meg are standing with Becky and Greyson. Seconds later, there’s a knock on the door. It’s Evan.
“Come in, he is here already. You can stay in here.”
He walks in and kisses Tatum. It doesn’t even bother me. He is hers and she is his. I am Liam’s and I finally realize that.
“Okay, get all of your loving in on this handsome, little ten-pound and three-ounce fellow. He is twenty-two inches long. I need to take him for his DNA test, then he is all yours. He is perfect, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis. And umm, everyone else, congratulations,” Becky says.
“He is so beautiful, Li. Congratulations,” Evan says. Tears form in his beautiful brown eyes.
“Thank you. Why don’t we let him have his test and then you all can hold and kiss all over him,” I say to everyone. They all look at me and nod their heads.
I’m so tired. I think I may have dozed off a little because, when I open my eyes, only Liam and I are in the room.
“Hey. You went to sleep so everyone else stepped out. The nurse said Greyson’s test went fine and they will have all of our results in the next hour. How are you feeling?” he asks, kissing my forehead.
“I’m okay. I feel hungry, though. Can I please have some caffeine? A pop, tea, or latte…anything.”
“Actually, Nikki went to get you some food. I’m pretty sure she has a surprise for you.”
“Of course she does. She knows what I like and I have a feeling she is bringing it to me.” I giggle.
“Oh, so what is it that you like, Mrs. Ellis? I thought you liked this.” He leans in and kisses me.
“I don’t like that. I love that, and I’m hungry. If Nikki wants to stay my best friend, she best be bringing me a burrito and a large, caffeinated tea.”
“Hmm, maybe she will. But right now, I want your lips on mine. That’s one beautiful son we have, you know. I know he is mine. His eyes look just like mine.”
“I think he is yours too. I can feel it. I love you, Liam Anthony Ellis. Thank you for everything.”
“I love you so much more, and I always will. Thank you for giving me three beautiful children. I’ll be ready to start on the fourth as soon as you are.”
“Trust me, you don’t want to go anywhere near that area right now.”
He smiles. “I think I should be the judge of that.”
Chapter Twenty
Liam
I can’t believe I missed the birth because Evan and I were on the other side of the hospital, taking that test. I finally got to tell Evan what I thought of him while I was over there. I was nice, but only because everything Lila and Tatum said made sense. I know they loved each other at one time, but I still think it’s fucked up that they had sex with each other four years later.
Life is short and anything could have gone wrong in that delivery room. Thank God I have a beautiful, healthy wife and a healthy baby boy.
If the test comes back and says Greyson doesn’t have my blood, we will get through it. We will overcome this just like every other obstacle we overcame. He will be one lucky little boy. He will have two sets of parents that love him very much. I know Evan and Tatum will take care of him just as well as Lila and I will. Evan agreed that Greyson can have my last name so the girls won’t ask questions. We will tell them the truth when they are older, but they are too young right now.
Becky gently taps on the door and walks in.
“Excuse me, Lila. We have the test results. Would you like for me to call Evan in here so everyone’s here?” Becky asks.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Becky.” Lila grabs my hand.
Becky walks back in with Evan and Tatum. They stand next to us, hand in hand. Lila is holding Greyson in one arm and holding me with the other. It’s finally time to find out if we have to share our little man with another family. I’m nervous, sad, and anxious. I don’t want to share our baby, and I know that Lila doesn’t either.
“This test was performed here in our secure lab, and these results are ninety-nine point nine percent accurate. With that being said, I will open the letter with the results and I will hand them to Lila. She can announce to everyone and I will step out to give you privacy. If you need anything, just press the call button and I’ll be back in. Good luck to you all.”
She hands Lila the folded results and leaves as quietly as she entered.
Lila hands me Greyson. I hold him up to my chest and place a kiss on his forehead just before I whisper in his ear, “I’ll always be your daddy. The love I have for you doesn’t mean you need to have my blood running through your veins. I will always take care of you.”
She slowly opens the test. Her hands are shaking and I can see the tears in her eyes. She looks at me, and then at Evan. She takes a deep breath and unfolds the results.
She gasps and starts crying. She put her hand over her mouth. I knew it! Evan is my baby boy’s father. I can’t fucking believe this shit. Their one night of passion has turned our worlds upside down and around.
I hold Greyson close to me and whisper in his little ear, “I’ll always be here for you, little man. No matter what that paper says, I’m your daddy. You are mine.”
I kiss his little forehead and sit next to Lila.
“Liam, please don’t cry. I’m sorry. These tears aren’t sad tears, baby. They are happy tears.”
“You’re happy Evan is Greyson’s father? What kind
of fucked up shit is this, Li?” I yell.
“No, you are the father. Look, he is yours. I was just so happy and shocked. I didn’t know what to say. He is ours; he is an Ellis baby. God, Liam, I love you so much and I am so sorry I hurt you. Please look at me.”
“Jesus, you almost gave me a damn heart attack. You scared the shit out of me.”
I lean over and kiss her, but I’m still shaking.
“Evan, Tatum, sorry we brought you into all this. We wanted to do the right thing and let you know the possibility was there. Here, you can look at the test,” Lila says. She hands the test to Evan.
“Liam, I’m glad you are the father, not that I wouldn’t have been happy if he was mine. But I know this is the best for all of us. Congrats to you both. I hope we can put this all behind us and we can all be friends someday.”
“Thanks, Evan. I think that is a great idea. Would you guys like to stay for the baby shower?” I ask as I extend my hand to him.
He shakes my hand. “We better get back, but thank you. We will see you next month at the wedding.”
***
Watching my beautiful wife sleep while I hold our son in my arms makes me the happiest man in the world. Greyson looks just like an Ellis. Lila and I sure do make some beautiful children. The girls are on their way here and they can’t wait to see this little guy.
After the test results, Evan and Tatum went home, but they’ll see us next month at Nikki’s wedding. They congratulated us and brought in some gifts. After learning Greyson is mine, I was fine with seeing them.
I know Li fucked up. Hell, we all make mistakes. No one is perfect. She vowed to never do it again, and I believe and trust her. Other than her little escape, she is the perfect wife. I will spend the rest of my life making sure she is happy and taken care of.
I’m finally doing something I wanted to do and that’s working at Ellis Boys Investigations as a private investigator with my two brothers. Of course I’m working at the Wine Venue too.
