by Cari Quinn
How could they be so calm?
Finally, a woman came around the big horseshoe-sized front desk. “Okay, let’s get you up to your room. Dr. Webber is on her way in.”
He glanced down at the tag on the frightfully happy nurse. “Thanks, Stephanie.”
She pushed him out of the way of the wheelchair. “My pleasure.” Her voice was sunshine over steel.
From then on, he was a second class citizen. It was all about the baby and Jules. Which he was a fan of, except for the part where they kept leaving him in random hallways and alcoves. Forgetting to come back for him once Jules was settled in a room. She had a team of people thanks to her platinum status.
Dad’s status?
Coal.
“Hey, did I make it in time?” Hunter ran down the hall. His huge stature made more than one nurse or resident twist in the hallway. By now, it was closer to six in the morning and the world was starting to move on its axis in the hospital.
Tristan’s face split into a grin. “How did you know?”
“I got a text from mama herself. Should have been you, pal.” Hunter clasped his hand and dragged him in for a hard hug. He shook a cigar holder. “I’m prepared. Are you?”
“Not even close since I haven’t opened my phone and told anyone.”
“The Warning Sign tree has been activated. Group texts are flying. The next wave will be here in the next hour.”
Tristan raked his hands through his hair. “I dropped the ball.”
“Nah, you’re just a little freaked.” Hunter reached into a side pocket of his oversized cargos. “I have a little elixir for that.” He waggled a flask.
“I shouldn’t.”
“I think you need a little belt, bud.”
Considering he couldn’t string a thought together to talk to anyone, let alone be of any help in the birthing room… Tristan suddenly bent over at the waist. “I’m going to fuck this up.”
“Breathe.”
Tristan gave a near hysterical laugh. “That’s what I’ve been telling Jules.”
“No hyperventilating. Not manly, dude.” Hunter held the flask in front of his face. “One good belt and you’ll be clearer.”
He needed all his wits about him. Before he could think about it too much, he unscrewed the cap and took a long sip. He blew out a whistle. “What the hell is in there?”
“The good stuff.”
Tristan shook his head but the fog definitely lifted. Though it was probably more psychosomatic. Who the fuck cared? He just needed his head on straight before he went in there. “Thanks.”
Hunter slapped him on the back, setting him forward two steps. “What an awesome friend is here for. Just don’t make me a godparent or I’ll sick Cujo on you.”
“What?”
“Serious man. I’ll fuck that up. We do furbabies.”
“Who says I was going to ask?”
“You were gonna.”
Hunter was nothing if not full of ego. Tristan and Jules weren’t actually sure what to do there. But hey, one off the list was probably a good thing. Their problem was too many godparents, instead of not enough. The family was growing by miles. Every tour seemed to add another branch to the tree. At first, he’d felt like nothing but an outsider, but they’d assimilated him in the last few months.
Randy had rocked the foundations there a bit, but they were finding their way back into the fold. The baby would be more than enough to bridge any gaps if Jules let it be.
“How’s honorary uncle?” Tristan asked.
“Perfect.” Hunter took a nip. “Now, let’s get some food in your belly and clear up the rest of that dumb, dazed look you’ve got going on.”
In the cafeteria, Tristan scarfed down a surprisingly tasty turkey and avocado sandwich. This was a high end, celebrity hospital. And for the first time he was happy with Juliet’s stardom. At least they had privacy. No worries that there would be a telephoto lens trying to peek its way into the birthing room.
He hurried back down the hall, having left Hunter back in the cafeteria on his phone. Margo and Lila ambushed him just before he got to her room.
“How is she?”
“Getting settled. The doctor wanted to see her and they kicked me out.”
“Just as well. She’ll need you more after the exam.” Lila was matter of fact with her usually perfect blond hair up in a lopsided ponytail. She was actually wearing jeans. Had he ever seen her in anything other than a suit?
“Can I come in with you?” Margo’s face was sheet white.
“Yeah, of course. She’s doing really well. I promise.”
“Yeah?” She swallowed and gripped his arm. “You aren’t lying.”
“No, she’s way more put together than I am. Last I saw her, she was cracking jokes with the nurses.”
Margo let out a shaky laugh. “That sounds like her.”
It was him that was going to end up hitting the floor like some TV show chump.
Two nurses came out of the room, bustling down the hallway to another patient. God, it didn’t even smell like a hospital. The walls were sunny yellow, with white pinstripes and frilly female touches. Considering it was made for women, he got it. Didn’t make it any less freaking surreal.
Margo looked around the place, her large dark eyes so much like Juliet’s. Except hers were laced with a little more fear than the mama-to-be.
“You okay?”
“What? Oh, yeah. Fine.” Margo smiled. “Let’s go see our girl.”
When they made it through the doorway, there were three people around Jules. She was hooked up to a few machines with some sort of strap over her belly. Her hair was braided into two pigtails, and she looked about fourteen.
He was going to throw up.
Jules held out her arm to Margo. “You made it.”
“As if anyone could keep me away.” Margo rushed forward.
Again, he felt pushed out of the way, but he knew Jules needed her sister. Just fuck, did she even need him here?
The machine beside her started beeping and she let out a soft cry. “Crap, oh, hi. That was not awesome.” Her voice was a little higher than usual. “Tris? Where are you?”
“Here.” He came forward.
She grabbed his arm. “Where have you been?” Her eyebrows furrowed. “Is that avocado on your face?”
“What?” He swiped at the corners of his mouth. “Hunter made me eat something.”
Jules blew out a sigh. “At least you didn’t eat it in front of me. All I can have is ice chips. I want fucking fried chicken. The cajun stuff you make. Now.” He looked up helplessly at the woman manning the monitor.
“Now, Mrs.—”
“Juliet,” she said through gritted teeth.
His chest tightened. Marriage was a word they were avoiding. He wanted it for obvious reasons—and also to make sure his family was taken care of. Being in a triad had been amazing from an emotional standpoint, but when Randy died, they realized just how few rights they had as a couple. A commitment ceremony was good for everyone knowing how serious they were about one another. Legally? Yeah, that was another matter entirely.
The nurse looked between him and Jules and nodded. “Right. Juliet. Okay, let’s sit back.”
“I don’t want to sit back.” She arched up and cried out.
“Hey. Look at me, okay?”
She growled. “You try having contractions.”
Evidently, serene Jules was being replaced with T-Rex. “I can take a punch if you need to show me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” But she chuckled. Her laugh was half sob, but she was still laughing. And for now, he’d take it.
The next hour was filled with visits from most of the women in their lives. Margo and Lila sat with them the most. Elle and Denver had hovered at the door, but wouldn’t come in. Even Lo and Molly had braved the room with their fingers twisted together. They hadn’t lasted very long. The men were too chickenshit to even attempt it. However, he didn’t blame them. The only reason he was
mildly coherent for any of it was because Jules kept looking at him like he was a lifeline.
It had been a damn long time since she’d done that.
He wasn’t going to let her down now.
The doctor came in to check on them, but she kept telling Jules she had a ways to go. He wasn’t sure how that was possible since the contractions seemed to be on top of each other. Three hours became five and she didn’t seem to be moving along as well as they’d like. There were various drugs being administered that were supposed to help, but that also didn’t seem to be working.
All he could do was look on helplessly.
He held her hand, offered her ice chips. Told her how beautiful she was. None of it mattered. It all made him feel useless.
Right now, things seemed to be in a lull. Jules was resting—sort of. He sat beside her, both hands wrapped around the only one of hers not hooked up to an IV or monitor. He had his forehead pressed into the mattress, trying not to freak out.
“Mr. Eves?”
He lifted his head. Had he drifted off? “Yeah?”
“The doctor wants to talk to you in the hall for a moment.”
His blood went icy. He glanced up at Jules, but she’d drifted off. Her eyebrows twitched as if the pain of the contractions couldn’t be dulled even with all the shit they’d pumped into her.
“I’ll stay with her.” Margo’s soft voice came from behind him.
He hadn’t even realized she was still in the room. Simon was asleep beside her on the couch along the side wall. If nothing else, the room they were in was large enough for all the people who cared about them. Even if the doctors didn’t let most of them stay for more than ten minutes. However, Margo and Simon were family.
True family.
He nodded. “Thanks.” He stood up and pressed a kiss to Jules’s forehead.
Her huge brown eyes slowly opened. They were glassy and tired. “Tris…” She leaned into his palm against her cheek. “Where’s Randy?”
His stomach knotted. He knew it was the drugs talking. But right then, he couldn’t bear to tell her that he couldn’t be here. That he would never be there to see their baby being born. And he knew Randy would have been way better at this than him.
Lie.
He shut his eyes for a second then smoothed her sweaty hair away from her face. “He’ll be here soon.”
She nodded as if that seemed to pacify her, then she fell back to sleep.
Margo grabbed his hand, tears starring her lashes. “I’ll be here.”
Simon came up behind Margo. “Don’t worry about our little mama.” He patted Margo’s shoulder. “We got this.”
Margo glanced up at Simon with a soft smile.
“Mr. Eves?”
He squeezed Juliet’s hand one more time then headed for the door. The doctor seemed a little less polished now. Her red hair was scraped up in a twist and she’d changed from her white coat, crisp pants, and shirt to scrubs.
Tristan shoved his hands into his pockets. “What’s going on? Is she okay?”
The doctor nodded. “She’s not advancing like I’d hoped. She came in raring to go, but seems to have…well, it’s not the medical term, but easier for you. Stalled.”
“Stalled.” He swallowed down the nerves and saliva flooding his mouth. “I’m assuming that’s not a good thing.”
“She’s young and strong. We could certainly wait it out, but her blood pressure is a little worrying.”
“What?” Nothing could happen to her. He wouldn’t survive it.
The doctor touched his arm. “No, it’s not that serious. It’s just we have the ability to take the baby now. A quick C—”
“She wanted natural.”
“And I’d prefer it as well.” Her voice was calm. It was the only thing keeping him from spiraling out.
He didn’t have family to lean on. No real family beyond Jules and the baby. Just the family he’d created.
A sharp beep came from their room and the doctor pushed by him. There was a flurry of people, barked orders, and so many medical terms that made no sense to him.
Jules was so still in the bed. So pale.
“Okay, we’re taking her to the OR.” The doctor pulled up the gate along the side of her bed.
Nurses transferred IV bags and monitors to her bed. And suddenly, they were pulling her away and out the door.
Tristan ran after them.
One of the nurses moved in front of him in the hall. “I’m sorry. If it was just a regular C-section, you could scrub up and go in with her, but we can’t wait.”
He shook his head. “No. I have to be with her.”
“I’m sorry, sir. We’ll take good care of her. Dr. Webber is the best in the hospital.” Then the nurse rushed off to the station on their floor.
Everyone seemed to be doing something. Phone calls, more patients with needs, laughter.
All of it attacked his brain.
But she was gone. Taken away from him again.
Flashbacks from the night when she’d been hurt. When the stage had filled with smoke and sparks. When he’d watched in horror as half the lighting rig came crashing down.
He hadn’t been able to see her.
Hadn’t been able to get to her.
He hadn’t even worried about Sparks. He was supposed to be safe. Supposed to be backstage away from all of it.
That acrid smoke had stuck in his sinuses for weeks. Burning. And in the end, stealing part of his family away from him. Leaving him half a man.
Now, he was helpless again.
Panic threatened to send him to his knees. Strong hands came around his upper arm.
“Come on, man. Let’s sit down.” Hunter’s deep voice barely dented the white noise in his brain.
Tristan ripped his arm away from his best friend and paced down the hall. “She has to be okay.”
Margo met him in the middle of the hallway and drew him close. She wrapped herself around him until he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
Finally, he hugged her back. “I can’t lose her,” he whispered.
“They’ll take good care of her.” Margo’s voice was muffled into his chest. “She’s way too strong.”
“Right.”
She was the strongest of them all.
Ten
“You’re the perfect little guy. I knew you were a boy. I knew all along, she was going to give me a perfect little boy.”
Jules turned her head toward the soft voice.
“We just have to figure out a name. Because I know for a fact your mama will not like any of my options. She has vetoed every single one.”
She smiled as the room came into focus. Funny how fast Tristan had switched to knowing the baby was a boy.
There’d been pain. Endless pain as the contractions had stacked one on another for hours and hours. Never-ending. Then she’d just drifted away. She hadn’t wanted to. Kept reaching for Tristan. For Randy. For anything to tether her to the room.
She shifted on the bed with a wince. There was pain again, but it was dulled. Whatever they’d given her had done the trick. Of course, now she couldn’t really tell what was going on below the waist. And truthfully, she was afraid to look.
All that mattered was the soft voice beside her.
Tristan was curled in a chair next to her with a bundle of blankets in his arms. One long finger poked out of the swaddling fabric. She recognized it from the endless hours that she’d practiced on a doll. Her baby—their baby—was all bundled tight, but one little fist was holding onto Tristan’s finger for dear life.
Strong grip.
She wasn’t even aware she was crying until she tasted the salt.
Tristan turned his head and smiled hugely. “Hey there, Mama. You gave us a little scare.”
“Is he...” She tried to sit up, but couldn’t quite manage it. She reached out for him—the baby, or Tristan. Mostly the baby. Her thoughts were muddled, her body achy, but she had to see him with her own eyes. “Did you say h
e?”
“I sure did. And he’s perfect.”
Tristan stood up and lowered the baby over the rail. “Perfect little—well, not so little. This guy came into the world at seven pounds and four ounces. Also at nineteen inches.” He settled the baby in her arms. “Did I mention perfect? See what you did.” His voice was soft and full of awe.
“We did.” Her voice was little more than a whisper as she traced his pink cheeks and sweetly round head.
She thought she’d known love. Two strong, amazing men had loved her in her short lifetime. She had a sister who she was close to and parents who loved her in their way.
But this?
There was no end to how huge her heart felt. And how petrified she was at the same time.
He grabbed her finger and held on so tight as tears raced down her cheeks. He was hers…theirs. Was it wishful thinking to think he had Randy’s chin?
Tristan leaned down to hover over them, his arm around her head to peel back the swaddling from their baby. “Certainly has a full head of hair like his mom—and his dad.”
She lifted her hand to Tristan’s scruffy face. “Do you see Sparks in him?”
“I do.” He rested his cheek against her hair. “He’d be so proud.”
“Yeah,” she said on a soft laugh as the baby cooed in some weird little garbled way. “Yeah, he would.” She gripped Tristan’s arm. “God, I miss him.”
“I know, babe. I know. Me too. But we have this little Mini-Sparky to make up for the hole in the universe since he’s been gone.”
“I like that.” She glanced down at the baby. “I think he looks like a Josh.”
“Josh?”
“Yeah. How’s Joshua Randall Eves sound?” She tipped her head toward Tristan.
He swallowed hard and his eyes were just as red-rimmed as hers. “I think that sounds just fine.” He buried his face into her hair with a light sniffle.
A knock on the door had him drawing away, but he linked his fingers with her as he turned.
“Looks like mom is awake. Okay if we check you over?” The nurse came in and twisted the blinds so late day sun came into the room.
Jules squinted at the light, but nodded. Tristan took the baby out of her arms and she had to fight not to snatch him back. “Don’t go far.”
