A Must for Christmas: A Darling Cove Novella

by Deborah Garland

  Changing the subject, he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Do you want to see the boys?”

  “Of course.” She perked up.

  He walked back to the bed and gave Faith a small kiss, breathing her in. At every glance he looked for a small change, an improvement, a sign. Nerves were getting the better of him, and he needed to do something else with his energy or he’d explode.

  In the waiting room, he brought Lily to his family. “Guys, this is Lily, Faith’s friend from work.” He whispered, “She was at Ron’s funeral.”

  Lily gave a quick wave, her reporter eyes sweeping across all the faces looking at her.

  “I’m gonna show her the babies.” Greg put his hand on her back before the Mallory’s devoured her with questions. Or his brothers-in-law’s tongues fell out, earning them icy, dagger-filled glares from their wives. It’s for your own good, fellas.

  Not that he had to worry about Andrew and Edward. They were honorable men. But heck, a beautiful woman was hard to turn away from.

  Greg was warmed by the friendly faces that always lit up whenever he arrived in the maternity area.

  “Do you want your sons, Mr. Mallory?”

  “Yes.” He spritzed his hands with the sanitizer. “Thank you.”

  “Come with me.”

  He followed the nurse through the double doors, and when she picked up Baby A, Lily gasped.

  “Oh my God,” she screeched with her fingers wiggling to get at him. “Can I? Please, please, please?”

  Greg smiled and nodded to the nurse. “Of course.”

  He wondered how Faith was going to feel about so many people having their hands on the babies before she. His wife wasn’t selfish or self-centered, though. He hoped she would appreciate that everyone pitched in to help. Still, he worried if she would make the sacrifice, fall on the sword, and give up her career out of guilt, thinking she’d gone into labor early because she pushed herself even though she was told to take it easy. Or that she’d be drowning in depression from crazy, evil hormones.

  Maybe…maybe he needed to take a leave of absence. What he hadn’t told Lily was that a few people in their parenting group clearly didn’t have the financial resources to have a choice. He and Faith were intensely lucky. Greg had worked for twenty years as a police officer and had a nice pension. It wasn’t going to make him a millionaire, but it gave him and Faith choices.

  While Lily fell in love with his son, he sat next to the incubator and reached in to touch Baby B. He looked inside and said, “Daddy’s here, baby. I’m right here.” He kissed the outside of the dome.

  When it got quiet, he gazed up at Lily who looked like she was ready to cry. She shook her head and held Baby A out to him. “My ovaries are screaming. Get him away from me, before I go jump one of those hunky brothers of yours. Hot damn. I have to move here.”

  Greg looked up and smirked as she sashayed away.

  A woman like that, a sassy city girl with a dark past, and according to Faith, was inked up and down her arms and back? Yeah Lily would sure stir things up in Darling Cove.

  Chapter 8

  8:14 PM

  Baby B snoozed in his incubator while Greg fed Baby A. He was the only dad in the maternity area. His case was unusual since Faith was still in recovery and not in a room, like other mothers.

  Other mothers.

  Faith wasn’t going to be just another mother. She’d be…the greatest.

  He’d seen a mug in the gift shop, World’s Greatest Mom. He made a note to pick one up for her. He had plenty of other gifts waiting under the tree. But they were all addressed from the babies. Something now irked him about that move. He’d already identified Faith as a mother. And not…a woman. His wife. Stupid.

  One of the things stressed in the parenting class had been balance. Couples were told, don’t forget about each other. Don’t fall into bed and crash. Talk to each other. Go on dates. Get out of the house.

  Greg looked around. They were out of the house, all right. Faith loved him more than he ever could have possibly imagined. Or wanted. Or needed. She was exactly the wife he desired. And more. The babies were created from their love and passion for each other. They both had wanted this. Greg needed Faith back. Now.

  A cackle reminded him, the babies needed her too.

  Her babies.

  It was their first holiday as a married couple and that was not how he wanted to spend it. A shiver ran through him. It was two days before Christmas. Greg did not want to be in that Goddamn hospital on Christmas morning.

  Greg stood, holding Baby A, and signaled for the duty nurse.

  “Yes, sir?” She smiled brightly. “Is he done?”

  “Yes, but I want to bring the babies back to Faith.” He hated that he almost broke down.

  The nurse, whose name tag said Anne, patted his shoulder. “Sir, of course.”

  Anne took Baby A and prepped him to be brought to recovery. Moving babies with the security measures in place bent all their protocols.

  Anne followed him holding Baby A, and another nurse pushed Baby B’s incubator. Greg was starting to hate that thing. He wanted to hold his sons the same way. The doctor had been right about Baby A, he was strong. Already wiggling in his swaddle and looking at Greg as if to say, When are we getting out of here?

  When they reached Faith’s bed, he turned to Anne. “Can I take the baby out of the incubator for a while? I know this sounds crazy, but I want to put him next to Faith. Maybe she will sense how he needs his mother.”

  The nurse pressed her lips closed and walked to the incubator. She began a series of inspections, listened to his heart, and checked the attached computer monitor. “His temperature is good.” She stepped to the opposite side of the access ports and lowered the clear plastic side.

  When a few tubes were disconnected, he twitched and then yawned lazily. Greg took the baby in his arms, and as much as he wanted to relish in that moment as he did with Baby A, he immediately turned to Faith and gently laid him beside her. “Say hi to Mommy. She’s sleeping. But I know she can’t wait to see you.”

  After a bit more maneuvering, Greg managed to sit comfortably on the bed next to Faith with both babies. Looking satisfied, Anne touched his shoulder and said she’d be back to check on him.

  He settled next to Faith, letting the soft sound of the babies cooing drift into her ears. Let their warm bodies rest against her. Let their powdery smell reach her senses. She’d been utterly thrilled when she found out she was pregnant. With every minute that passed, he worried what she was missing. The first yawn, the first little sneeze. He preserved every moment and planned to tell her about it when she woke up.

  He and Faith had been lucky enough to have two beginnings. The one from a few months ago was more in the forefront of his mind because that had led to her becoming his forever.

  It was those years when they were growing up that laid the foundation of what they’d eventually built.

  And made.

  Greg looked down, two beautiful baby boys. Man, he was so lucky. To have that part of Faith with him. He brought them close to her body again. “Look what we did Faith. The night we got married.” He always felt that was when he’d gotten her pregnant. “I love you, Mrs. Mallory.” He sniffed. “We’re waiting for you, right here.”

  After an hour with no change to Faith, the babies dozed off. Anne came by and took them back to maternity. He was jealous everyone around him was sleeping. He wanted to crawl into bed next to Faith and was about to, but a hand rested on his shoulder.

  “Hey, you.” He looked up to see Skye’s supportive smile. “How are you doing here?”

  “Fine,” he said stoically even though he felt like he was ready to collapse.

  “Okay, that’s bullshit.” She dragged a chair next to him.

  “I’m sorry you had to change your honeymoon plans.” He took Faith’s hand in his, fighting a yawn and the fear of how cold and limp it felt.

  “Well, since none of you had a real honeymoon, I figure
d I wasn’t being fair anyway.” Skye smiled.

  No, he and Faith hadn’t had a honeymoon since they were married in London on Faith’s lunch break. She had finally become his, and that was more important than a beach vacation. Faith was his paradise. Lying in her arms felt warmer than sunbathing. Her kisses made him more lightheaded than a piña colada.

  Before she returned to Darling Cove after being away for ten years, Greg had been lost. Ready to give up. Taking a chance on Faith had been a risk. He’d barely survived once. She completed him. In every way.

  “Where’s Edward?” He cleared his throat before falling down that rabbit hole.

  “He’s dropping Julian off at his mother’s. He’s got school tomorrow.” Skye stretched and let out a yawn. “When he comes back, Gwen and Andrew are going home. Ellie’s getting restless, and they need to get some sleep. When they get back here tomorrow morning, Edward and I will go home.”

  Greg snorted at the convoluted logistics. He stood and snagged his sister’s hand. “Come with me.”

  With heavy footsteps, he walked into the waiting area. All eyes flew his way as everyone got to their feet. To his surprise, Lily was still there. But sat alone in the corner.

  Martin hushed a flurry of questions that rained down on him. “Gregory, what do you need?”

  “I need all of you to go home. Right now. I can’t think straight, knowing you’ve put your lives on hold.”

  “What else did you expect us to do?” Gwen folded her arms, her blue eyes piercing into him.

  “Nothing is happening. You all live ten minutes away. Go back to your lives. When I need you, I’ll call you.” Greg eyed Andrew seeking approval and unclenched his stomach at the terse but understanding nod.

  “Come on, my love. He’s right.” Andrew slid his arm around his wife. “I want Ellie in her crib.”

  Gwen bit her lower lip. “Fine.” She grabbed her coat, and while she seemed angry, the hug she wrapped Greg in was tight, warm, and loving.

  He touched her cheek. “I’ll call you.”

  Martin turned to Faith’s mother. “Come on, Madeline, he’s right. Chances are, Faith’s gonna wake up soon, and Gregory will be too tired to do anything. They’re gonna need us.”

  With her lips pressed tight, Madeline nodded and kissed Greg on the cheek. “You’ll tell my Faith I was here, right?”

  “Of course.” Greg kissed her back.

  Skye pulled her phone out of her bag. “I’ll tell Edward to meet me at our house. Madeline, I’ll drive you home.”

  After getting kisses from everyone, Greg watched them all leave, feeling a pang of emptiness. Even though he knew it was best for them.

  It left Martin, who flashed a smile. “I assume you didn’t mean for me to leave.”

  “I never assumed you would.” Greg touched his father’s shoulder. “But you need some sleep too. If I need to…make some crazy decision here, Dad, I need one of us to have our wits.”

  Martin nodded, his eyes clouded with exhaustion.

  “I’m used to being up all night. I’ll watch over this man for you.” Lily patted Greg’s back.

  He returned to the recovery room with Lily walking quietly behind him. He felt a twitch of hunger again, but his stomach was still in knots.

  Greg needed one thing.

  Faith.

  He must have Faith back with him.

  Lily took her seat and touched Faith’s hands. “Come on, girlfriend. You’re making this man crazy.”

  Greg smiled but then leaned against the bed.

  “You need some sleep too, Mister.”

  “I’m good.” Greg fought the exhaustion trying to ravage his body. He took deep breaths and paced, watching Faith. She was tiny again. She’d always been petite, and his sons inside that little body had made her enormous.

  “So where is this book?” Lily asked looking around.

  Greg stopped. Did Lily have the balls to read it? Should he let her take the bullet? In the big picture, he’d prefer Faith kick Lily to the curb instead of him for invading her privacy. Running a hand through his hair, he said, “It’s in that bag at your feet.”

  Without hesitation, she reached down, and when she sat up, it was in her hands.

  Greg’s body began to tremble, but he pushed the quick spike of fear away. Faith had kissed him every day. Told him she loved him every day. Sure, they’d been disagreeing about this one thing. And sure, at times, the conversation had gotten a little heated. Greg didn’t want a push-over for a wife. He loved her fire, her feistiness.

  Like the baby names, it had been something they hadn’t exactly seen eye to eye on. He figured and Faith agreed, they had a month to work it all out. Except now they didn’t. Time was up.

  “Greg, you look scared shitless,” Lily said, skimming through the book, her face expressionless.

  After slapping page after page, she closed the book and gazed at him. Her face was still even. Wow, she was good. But evil at the same time. Was she seriously not going to give him a clue what was in there?

  Lily dropped the book back in the bag and leaned over the bed, to whisper something in Faith’s ear. After a minute, she turned to him again. “Let’s go get some food.” She stretched. “It’s gonna be a long night.”

  Greg put his head down and swore under his breath. “Fine.”

  Chapter 9

  December 24, 6:28 AM

  Martin returned to the hospital and approached Faith’s recovery area slowly. He listened for voices, but there was not a sound or movement behind the privacy curtain. He puffed out his chest and grasped on to the end rails of the bed, looking at his daughter-in-law, his third daughter really. Where his son was at the moment, was a mystery. In truth, Martin was surprised not to see Greg curled up next to Faith. His snoring would certainly wake her up.

  For years he’d given Greg a hard time for not moving on after Faith left. What a ludicrous thought now. Greg with someone else. His son was made for that woman. It was a good thing she came back when she did.

  The familiar squeal of the incubator stand’s wheel, turned Martin around. The nurse holding Baby A beamed. That woman loved her job. He intercepted her and the aide pushing the incubator, though.

  “My son stepped away for a moment.” Martin always covered for Greg. “And everyone else went home to get ready for the holiday.”

  The nurse nodded. “It’s been a difficult couple of days.” Looking down at Baby A, she smiled. “There are plenty of us who can feed these two.”

  “No. We’ll do it.” Madeline stepped into the recovery area looking fresh from a few hours’ sleep. “Martin, I’ll take this little boy.” She reached into the access port and gave Baby B a gentle nudge.

  Martin shrugged his shoulders. “Looks like we’ll have to disappoint the nursing staff. We want to feed our grandkids.”

  The aide got Madeline situated first, since it took more care and skill to take Baby B out of the incubator. Once the little boy was out of his contraption, Madeline held him like a pro.

  Martin remembered the differences of all his children when they were babies. Greg was huge when he was born. Both Skye and Gwen were tiny. That was a long time ago.

  Thinking of a long time ago, he said with a heavy heart, “I can’t believe we almost missed all this, Madeline.” Martin let the bottle’s nipple slip into Baby A’s tiny but hungry mouth.

  “I knew those two would figure it out. My Faith always belonged with Gregory.”

  Martin agreed, “Seems that way.”

  “My Faith,” she choked and brought Baby B to her chest and stifled a sob. “She’s…missing this.”

  “She’s going to be okay, Madeline.” Martin stiffened and felt inadequate for not being able to offer her any physical comfort.

  She sniffed and straightened her back. The poor woman had lost her husband earlier in the year.

  Nothing could make up for the loss of a spouse, Martin knew that better than anyone. Looking at both those babies, though…holding his grandkids so
far had come pretty close. “What’s really sad is that Ron and Elizabeth missed this.”

  Madeline pursed her lips. “Ronald was thrilled Faith had chosen Gregory.”

  Martin nodded. At least Ron had been around when Greg and Faith dated the first time. “If we believe in the things we’re supposed to believe in, we have to trust they are here in spirit. Watching over…all of us.” He nudged his head behind him again.

  “If it took Elizabeth’s intervention from heaven to make those two get their acts together…”

  Martin laughed and it spread warmth through his chest. He’d feel a hell of a lot better if his daughter-in-law woke up. She was needed in this life. Not just for the precious angels she’d given everyone. Martin endured losing a wife, barely. He wasn’t sure his son would survive.

  The sun was up again, and it sent Greg into a panic. This shit was going on for days now. Days. Being in that hospital reminded him of the police precinct. It was a twenty-four-hour operation. Bright lights at all hours made it easy to forget the time and the day. After a quick bite to eat the night before, he and Lily had gone back to recovery where he snoozed once again in the chair, while Lily watched movies on her phone.

  He’d encouraged her several times to leave, even dangled his house keys in front of her, promising a warm guest room bed for her to sleep. The woman wouldn’t budge and stayed focused, except deep in the middle of the night, texts had pinged her phone causing tiny smirks as she read each one.

  They’d stretched their legs to get some coffee when Greg asked, “So what’s up with you, Lily?” He hit the button for the elevator to go back to recovery. “I feel like this has always been about me and Faith.”

  “Faith listens to me talk about men.”

  “Oh? Are you seeing someone?”

  “Not really. Unless you consider screwing around with a co-worker who would never actually date me in a million years, seeing.”

  Talk about cryptic. Greg burned with curiosity about whom she meant. A fire ignited in his chest. “Please don’t tell me you’re talking about that English guy.” Greg saw red, thinking about the only other man Faith had ever been with.