Down on My Knees
Page 19
“Everyone, I would like you to meet Delaney Cathleen, our daughter.”
“I knew it!” Kristen whisper-yells in the room. “Pay up, Derek.”
“I have a granddaughter,” my mother whispers in awe.
Taking the sleeping bundle from Camryn’s arms, I walk toward my mother to let her hold her, getting choked up as tears stream down her face.
“Oh, Isaac. She’s absolutely beautiful,” Mom whispers.
“You did good, son. I’m proud of you,” my dad rumbles out.
After several congratulations, the horde of family and friends leave. Sitting in the rocking chair, I cuddle my nugget close while Camryn talks to her brother on the phone.
“I love you too, Bry. Yeah, just get here when you can so you can see your niece in person. Okay. Bye.”
A subtle knock at the door heralds the arrival of Dr. Hood.
“Good evening, parents. How are we doing?”
“We’re doing great,” I smile at her as she walks over to me.
“I’ve seen a lot of babies in my day, but I’ll admit, she’s one of the prettiest ones I’ve ever delivered,” she says as she runs a finger down Delaney’s cheek. “Camryn, let’s check you over and make sure your stitches look good.”
“Stitches?” I ask, feeling the ones on my forehead, confused. Why would she be asking about my stitches?
“My stitches, Isaac,” Camryn replies as she squirms uncomfortably in the bed.
After a few minutes, Dr. Hood declares Camryn is healing well and gives her instructions on sitz baths and avoiding constipation.
“From my point of view, you can go home tomorrow. Has the pediatrician said anything?”
“She said she looks great and there are no issues. Delaney is breastfeeding, and she gave me some advice about that.”
“How is Delaney taking to the breast?”
“We had some issues at first, but the lactation nurse came in a few times today and taught me some tricks. After that, it’s been smooth sailing. I just hope it’s that way when we get home.”
“I’m sure you will do fine. Just follow up with me in six weeks, or if you have any problems before then. The stitches will dissolve in seven to ten days. Any signs of infection, come see me.”
“Yes, ma’am. And I want to apologize for anything I said during delivery,” Camryn says, sheepish.
“You were tame compared to some mothers.” Dr. Hood laughs. “Take care of that baby and each other. Again, congratulations.”
The next morning, after a final once-over from the pediatrician, we get the all clear to head home. One problem: Isaac’s SUV is wrecked, and Mallory drove me here.
“Jason. Hey, man. Oh, yeah, everything is great. But we need a ride home,” Isaac laughs out. “We also need a car seat to take Nugget home, or they won’t let us leave. It’s sitting in the hallway closet. Thanks, man. I owe you one.”
Two hours later, a haggard-looking Jason walks into the room with a laughing Mallory in tow.
“Do you have any idea how hard that damn car seat is to get buckled in!”
Isaac just laughs at the look of frustration on Jason’s face. “Yes, I do. I practiced putting it in and taking it out for hours. Let me go get the nurse and get her wheeled out of here.”
Later that night, standing beside the bed, Camryn is sound asleep, her hand resting on Nugget’s stomach as if she’s afraid she’ll disappear. Knowing she’ll wake up shortly to eat again, I leave her laying there and jump in the shower. When I shut off the water, I hear the little snuffling noise of Nugget waking up and hurry to wrap the towel around my waist. Under Camryn’s hand, my girl wiggles her arms and legs, working herself up for a good fussing.
“Nugget, give your momma a chance to wake up,” I whisper as I crawl onto the bed and pick her up. She instantly starts rooting against my chest, tickling me.
“Red, it’s time to wake up. Delaney’s hungry.”
“I’m awake,” she replies on a yawn. “I was just absorbing the cuteness you two make.” As she sits up, I grab the pillow from the end of the bed to help support Nugget while she feeds. As Camryn bares her breast and baby girl latches on, I feel a pang of regret that I won’t get to play with those beauties for a while. My heart fills to bursting. These two are my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Camryn
“Sis, you’ll never guess who called me,” Bryson chuckles out. I reposition Delaney in my arms as I try to juggle the phone.
“Who?”
“Addyson,” he blurts out, and I can’t contain the groan from escaping my lips.
“What did she want? She didn’t say anything about the baby, did she?” After one of the more reputable magazines ran an article about Isaac and me after Delaney’s birth, we haven’t heard anything from her, and I was hoping to keep it that way.
“Apparently she found a new focus for her attention. She started stalking Damon Whitaker.”
“Isn’t he that guy who’s starring in that new fighter movie?
“That would be him. And do you happen to know who he is currently dating?”
“Not really. I haven’t had a lot of time to keep up with the gossip rags. If it doesn’t have to do with Isaac, I don’t bother.”
“Does the name Mandy Hersch ring any bells?”
“No…” I pause as a picture of a muscled-up woman appears in my head. “Wait, isn’t she a MMA fighter?”
“That would be her. World champion MMA fighter.”
“Oh shit,” I breath out. His laughter blares through the speaker. “What happened, Bryson?”
“From what I heard, Damon and Mandy were out at a club when Addy showed up. Now, I don’t know all the details, but she did something that pissed off Mandy and Mandy laid her the hell out. There’s a video of it on YouTube. She punched her in the face and sent Addy flying into a table.”
“Oh, shi—” The laughter that has been bubbling up breaks free as Isaac walks into the room, looking at me like I lost my mind. Delaney doesn’t like it and immediately lets her displeasure be known. Being the great dad that he is, Isaac swoops in and takes her from my arms.
“Why did she call you?” I finally get out.
“She wants to come and stay with me while she recovers since I have people who can cater to her in her condition.”
“Condition? Is she okay?” I inquire, losing all humor in the situation.
“Broken nose and arm. Plus, a minor concussion when her head bounced like a ball on the floor. The doctor told me her nose will never be the same without a lot of reconstructive surgery.”
“Are you going to let her stay with you?”
“After everything she’s done? Hell no. She’s on her own. It’s karma, sis.”
And karma is a bitch.
* * *
Brett
“Hello?” I answer, my throat scratchy.
“Brett? You awake?” Brian’s voice blares out of the speaker, causing me to wince.
“I am now. What’s up?” I ask around a yawn.
“Do you have any plans this morning?”
“I’m meeting the guys at the gym in about an hour,” I reply after looking at the clock.
“Change your plans,” Brian demands. “Something has come up, and it needs to be dealt with.”
“Brian, I haven’t done anything lately,” I defend.
“I’m sorry, Brett, I didn’t mean it that way. This is something you need to see in person. It’s eight now. Can you be ready in an hour?”
“Sure, I just need to shower and get dressed. Where do I need to be?”
“I’ll come to you. And I’m bringing someone with me you need to meet.”
“Who?”
“I’d rather you see them in person.”
“You’re being awfully cryptic, Brian.”
“I know, but in this case, seeing is believing.” The phone beeps as the call ends. That was weird as hell.
Jumping in the shower, I rush through my routine before getting d
ressed and heading downstairs. I’m sipping a cup of coffee when the doorbell rings. Glancing at the clock, it’s fifteen minutes to nine. Right on time for Brian.
I hurry to the door and open it. Brian stands there, and behind him is an older woman with a baby resting on her hip.
“Come in, please.” As Brian passes, I can only ask with my eyes what the hell is going on.
“Brett, I’d like you to meet Helen Lexington. She contacted my office a few days ago with some startling information.
“It’s nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.” She gives me a tight smile before sitting down the…baby? Toddler?
“Brett, I don’t know how to do this gently. Helen has a granddaughter by the name of Amanda Lexington.”
“Okay.” Brian must feel my confusion because he carries on. “She was at a lot of your shows. She followed the band around the country for a while.”
“My granddaughter was a huge fan, Mr. Ingles. She was nearly obsessed with you.”
“Was?”
“Yes, was. My granddaughter passed away several months ago, I’m afraid.” Sadness tinges her voice.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Brett, I…man, this is harder than I thought it would be.” Brian has trouble finding the words, which is unusual for him.
“What Mr. Jefferies is trying to put delicately is that according to my Amanda’s diary, she slept with you in April of two thousand and fifteen.”
I have no idea how to respond to that, but when she turns the baby toward me, my breath catches.
“Colby was born eight and a half months after that.”
I can’t move as I stare into the eyes of who could only be my son.
Playlist
Down on My Knees Playlist
Saving Grace - Stellar Revival
Shattered – Stellar Revival
Better – Art of Dying
Down to the Bottom – Dorothy
Torn to Pieces – Pop Evil
Set Fire to the Rain – Adele
Cross Your Heart (And Hope to Die) – Stellar Revival
Hungover You – Stellar Revival
Jar of Hearts – Through Fire
The Crazy Ones – Stellar Revival
Drunk Enough – Angels Fall
Best I Can – Art of Dying
I Will Be There – Art of Dying
In the scene where Isaac is playing the piano, the song that I was playing was Shattered. I couldn’t include the lyrics but it’s an awesome song and it conveyed how he was feeling at the time.
Also by Samantha
Silver Tongued Devils Series
Down in Flames
Break Me Down
Down on My Knees
Crashing Down – coming soon
About the Author
I’m just a small-town Texas girl who loves her husband, kids and the Dallas Cowboys. I spend most of my free time, what little there is between kids and work, getting wrapped up in my own make-believe world bringing my characters to life or reading anything I can get my hands on. On a wing and a prayer, I wrote my first novel and released it in March 2017. There’s no looking back now.
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