Cole moaned but didn’t open his eyes when soft but firm lips pressed against his. “Kane,” he whispered when his lover kissed his way up to his ear making him giggle when warm breath tickled his ear.
“I told you no matter how far you run, I will find you.”
Cole snapped his eyes open and started to scream, fighting off the man he never wanted to see again.
“Did you think you could run from me, you little bitch?”
He opened his lips to answer but a loud scream erupted from him.
Cole sat up, his breathing loud to his ears. He quickly scanned Marla’s cabin and was happy when he didn’t see anyone. “It was a dream, that’s all it was. It was just a dream. Ryker doesn’t know where I am,” he kept telling himself. Throwing his blankets off, he got up and walked into the kitchen, picking up a glass to get himself some tap water.
Bringing the glass to his lips, he froze when he saw a tall figure standing outside the window staring at him. The glass fell from his hand and into the sink and broke, but he did not care. He needed to get away, he needed Kane to be here. Running to the back door he made sure that it was locked before going to the front door. He started when he heard knocking and someone turning the lock on the door.
No . . . no . . . he chanted. Ryker is here, he found me.
“Go away,” he screamed. “Please, just leave me alone.”
The knock grew louder and insistent the more he yelled.
“Cole, baby, open the door.”
Kane, it’s Kane. He rushed over to the door and opened it instantly. Before Kane could say anything, he threw himself into his lover’s arms, he couldn’t stop shaking; he was afraid and relieved at the same time.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
Cole shook his head and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to talk about it. The last few minutes felt like a bad dream and that’s the way he wanted it to stay. Kane was there with him and would protect him. That was all that mattered.
“Baby, talk to me.”
“Not yet, just hold me a little longer, please.”
“Anything for you.”
Chapter Twelve
Are you ready?”
Kane looked up when Winston walked into his bedroom and leaned against the doorframe.
“Yeah, give me a few minutes,” he said fixing the knot in his tie.
“I can’t believe you’re taking this plunge. Just a few months ago you were dead set against the whole kid and marriage gig.”
“Is this your way of telling me I told you so?” Kane asked turning around to face his best friend.
“That and to tell you I’m happy for you, man. I’m glad you found your forever one.”
“Me too, and one day, I’ll be saying the same thing to you.”
“From your mouth to the fates’ ears.”
“Everything okay out there, no unwanted guests?’
“Yeah,” Winston answered. “I’m not doubting Cole, but is he sure of what he saw last night?”
“He’s sure. If you’d seen him last night you wouldn’t ask me that question.”
Kane had known that Cole was at Marla’s the night before and had gone over there to get him once he was done with work. He didn’t expect to find his lover scared and shaking.
“Look, just watch out for any visitors, I don’t want anything to ruin mine and Cole’s special day.”
“I got your back, man, you never have to worry about that.”
“Good, now let’s go get me married.”
Winston laughed. “I’m glad someone finally took you off my hands, you were starting to get on my nerves.”
“Shut up,” he said, lightly hitting Winston on the back of his head.
“Hey, watch the hair. Do you know how long it took me to get it just right?”
“Whatever.”
Cole hissed when he felt a sharp pain in his side. Gods this kid isn’t giving me a chance to get dressed. He’d woken up in Kane’s arms feeling safe and secure. After he’d explained to Kane what happened, he’d waited for his lover to tell him he was crazy. He was surprised when Kane got on his phone and called Winston, instructing him to get some of the guys and search around for anyone that looked suspicious.
They hadn’t found anyone, but Kane never left his side the entire night. He wanted to believe that it was his mind playing tricks on him. Since the agents from the FBI had paid him a visit, he’d been a bit freaked out that Ryker had found him. Another kick pulled him from his thoughts just as the door to his bedroom opened.
“Cole, dear, shouldn’t you be dressed?” Julia asked him.
“I’m almost ready,” he told her as he got up to button his shirt.
They went with dark-blue suits paired with crisp white shirts and matching blue bow ties for the wedding.
Julia stood in front of him with concern on her face. She looked beautiful in the dark-blue, off-the-shoulder dress she was wearing. Her dark hair was pulled back into a low bun, showcasing her beautiful face. “Are you okay, you look a bit worn out.”
“I’m fine,” he told her. “This little one is a bit active today. I think he’s just as excited as I am for us to become a family.”
“I’m so glad you came into Kane’s life.” She touched the side of his face then leaned in and kissed him. “I’m glad he realized he needed you.”
“I needed him just as much.”
“Well, then I’m glad you both found each other.” She placed her other hand on his stomach. “And in just a few short days we will welcome this little one.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I can’t tell you how having you here has changed not only Kane, but me as well.”
Cole was confused. “Me, what did I do?”
“You gave me the hope I’d been waiting for and Preston too. For so long we feared our son wouldn’t settle down and have a child to pass the Black Meadow down to, but when you came here, it gave us hope.” She stepped back and reached for a tissue, dabbing at the sides of her face. “Oh gods, I didn’t mean to get all emotional.”
“It’s fine.” His voice cracked, and he realized he’d become just as emotional as she had. He grabbed one of the tissues and dabbed the corners of his eyes.
“What I’m trying to say is, thank you, Cole.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for, I love Kane with all my heart.”
“And he loves you too.”
They hugged and were pulling away from each other when his dads walked in.
“Are you ready?” Denny asked him.
“Just about.” He picked up his jacket and pulled it on. He looked up just in time to see his dads staring at him with smiles on their faces. “What?”
“Do you know how long we waited for this day?” Bill said to him. “I had so many words of wisdom I planned to say to you. But now I’m speechless.”
“That’s a first,” his dad said. Denny stepped in front of him and started fixing his bow tie. “Now listen, in a couple of minutes you will be a married man.” He sighed and Cole felt another emotional moment coming. He couldn’t take it. “I promised myself that I wasn’t going to get emotional.” His dad smirked and touched his cheeks. “Be happy, Cole, that’s the only advice I can give you. It won’t be easy, but I think you already know that. I’m glad you and Kane finally found each other.”
Bill walked over to him and kissed him on his forehead. “Me too.”
Their smiles expressed their happiness for him.
“Come on,” Julia said. “Let’s get you married. I’m ready for you to call me Mom, no more Julia.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Kane stood in front of the barn doors waiting for Cole. They’d decided to walk down the aisle together. Instead of hiring a hall, Kane and some of the guys cleaned out one of the barns and his mom and a few others decorated. It was still cold out so they had heaters inside to keep the place warm.
After the ceremony, everyone would drive over to the Brook where the reception would be held. The local judge, a friend of his dad�
��s, agreed to officiate the ceremony for free as a present to him and Cole.
“Nervous?”
Kane turned and looked at his dad. He was doing better over the past few months. He still required his cane, but he was walking better than before. “No.”
“Good. I wasn’t nervous the day I married your mother, either.” He smiled then walked closer to Kane. “I like Cole, I like what he’s done to you.”
“What do you mean ‘done to me’?”
“He’s changed you. If you had seen your face the first time you talked about him, your mother and I knew he was the one for you. But we needed you to see it first.”
“I don’t think I’ve changed that much,” he mumbled.
Preston chuckled. “Yes, you have. But in a good way.”
Kane wrapped a hand around his dad’s shoulder and pulled him into a one-armed hug. “Thanks for being around to see this happen, old man.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, young buck.” They smiled at each other. “Well, would you look at that.”
Kane looked away from his dad and in the opposite direction he was staring at, and his breath caught in his chest. Cole looked absolutely gorgeous. He was smiling, and it enhanced the glow on his face. Kane couldn’t help but stare at his soon-to-be husband. Excitement bubbled inside of him. The man walking toward him was his future.
“I’ll see you inside,” he heard his dad say, but Kane didn’t look away from the man walking toward him.
“Are you ready?” he asked when Cole stopped in front of him.
“Yes.”
“No turning back once we walk through those doors.”
“I have no reason to walk away from you or our future together.”
He extended a hand out. “Okay then, let’s do this.”
Cole took his hand, and they turned to face the closed doors. He nodded to Chase and Daniel to open the doors.
The music started, and they started walking down the aisle, everyone in the barn stood with smiles on their faces and phones capturing the moment. They were halfway up the aisle when Cole stopped and grunted.
“Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Yeah,” he said looking up at him. “Our little one is very active today.”
“Are you sure?” Kane asked. He didn’t like the pensive expression on Cole’s face or the beads of sweat on his upper lip.
“I’m sure, he’s just a bit active today.” He smiled and took a deep breath.
“Okay,” he said and they continued walking.
They started walking again and had not gone two steps before Cole hissed again. He was about to stop walking but his lover squeezed his hand and shook his head as if to say everything was fine. They stopped in front of the judge, Samuel, who smiled at them.
Judge Samuel went to speak and Kane heard Cole grunt. Quickly he looked at his lover and saw his eyes widened and a scared look appeared on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“My water just broke.”
That wasn’t what Kane was expecting Cole to say. “What?”
“The baby is coming,” he said through his teeth as he squeezed Kane’s hand.
“Holy fuck, the baby is coming, we need to get you to the hospital.” On the outside, Kane must have looked clam but on the inside, he felt as if he was going to go crazy. He turned and started pulling Cole with him.
“Wait,” Cole yelled.
“Wait, why?”
“We’re not married yet.”
“What’s the problem?”
They turned and looked at Denny and Bill.
“Cole’s water broke,” Kane told them.
“What, the baby is coming?” Denny yelled.
The people in attendance started murmuring amongst themselves.
“Why the hell are we not on our way to the hospital?” Bill asked.
“Because we are not married yet and I refuse to leave until we are husbands.” Cole was panting as he spoke.
“Cole, son, come on, be reasonable,” Julia said to him.
“I am.” He had a tight grip on Kane’s forearm. “I want our son to be born with us being married.”
“Maybe I could be of some assistance.”
Everyone turned to look at Judge Samuel who’d been standing there the entire time. “Why not do it on the way to the hospital?”
Cole grunted beside him and Kane was starting to get worried. “It will have to do,” he said as he picked Cole up in his arms and ran with him down the aisle as the judge started speaking.
“Ah, sorry, folks, it seems the little Cartwright wanted to be here on his parents’ special day,” Kane heard Denny say to the audience as he ran out of the barn.
“Cole, do you take Kane . . .”
“Yes,” Cole yelled at the judge before he could finish his question.
“And do you, Kane . . .”
“Yes, now and always,” Kane said as he helped Cole into his truck.
“I called Lakeland,” Bill said coming up behind him. “He was on his way here but once we told him about Cole, he changed course and is on his way to the hospital and will meet you there.”
“Good.” Kane shut the door as the judge poked his head through the open window.
“I now pronounce you as husbands, you may cement your commitment to each other with a kiss.”
Kane had just gotten in the truck, gripping Cole’s chin, turning his face to his and kissed him gently. Loud cheers sounded behind them but he ignored them, it was one moment he would not forget. When they separated they smiled at each other before another contraction hit him. “Kane, hospital now.”
“On it.” He started the truck, and they were off. He was going to have his baby and, fuck, it hurt like hell.
“Okay, Cole, this is going to hurt some,” Lakeland said to him.
They’d gotten to the hospital in record time. Lakeland, Cole’s doctor, had met them at the door and had them brought up to their room where everything was waiting for them. Once they had Cole settled, Lakeland came over to check the progress of his labor.
The baby had turned himself upside down and was trying to be born butt first which could be a problem for both father and child. Lakeland was in the process of trying to turn the baby, they had been doing this for the past three hours but it seemed each time Lakeland turned the kid, hoping he’d turn himself fully, he would go back to the position he was before.
“It hurt the other times you did it,” Cole snapped.
“I know, but I promise if this doesn’t work we’ll do the other option we talked about.”
“Okay.”
Kane felt completely helpless, his new husband was in pain and he didn’t know how to help him, all he could do was give Cole his hand to squeeze. They hadn’t given Cole any drugs as of yet, they were waiting until they had the baby turned. The room was filled with tension and silence as Lakeland tried to turn his son.
“It seems your son is just as stubborn as you are, Kane, he refuses to do what he’s supposed to,” Lakeland said then turned to the nurse. “Let’s get him ready for emergency surgery.”
The nurse nodded, ran out of the room and came back a few seconds later with more nurses. They walked over to Cole and started unhooking some of the monitors and lowering his bed.
“Like I explained to you both, we are going to cut a small incision in the lower part of his stomach and take the baby out that way.”
“It won’t hurt the baby, right?”
“No, this is safe, you will need some time to heal, but everything will be fine.”
“What do I need to do?” Kane asked.
“Nothing, just be there and watch the miracle of your son being born.”
Kane nodded and in the time span of fifteen minutes, he and Cole were in another room with more doctors and monitors. They’d given Cole a local anesthetic, he would be awake the entire time but he wouldn’t feel anything. Kane looked at Cole and he didn’t like the look on his husband’s face. He heard Lakeland giv
ing orders to the nurses and other doctors asking for tools and whatever he needed.
“Can you believe that only a few months ago you and that little man we are about to meet came into my life,” Kane said sitting, hoping to distract his husband.
“Do you regret it?”
Kane leaned down and kissed Cole on his lips. “No, you and that little . . .”
“Preston,” Cole said.
“What?”
“His name is Preston Dennis Cartwright.”
Kane stopped breathing as his vision became clouded by his tears. “You named him after my dad?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he means a lot to you and I see how much you admire your father. I want our son to have the name of the man you see as your hero. It’s also the same reason I gave him my father’s name. I admire them both but Denny and I have a connection that sometimes even Bill doesn’t understand.”
Kane leaned down and kissed Cole, pouring all of his love in it. “Thank you.” He pulled back from their kiss and looked up just in time to see his son being pulled out. He gave the loudest cry he’d ever heard, and it brought the happiest smile to his face.
“Listen to those lungs, he’s going to scream the house down,” Lakeland said, Kane couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, Kane, you’re up.”
“What do you mean?”
“As one of his dads, you get to cut the umbilical cord.” He extended a pair of scissors in his direction. He stood, his legs shaking a bit, and took the scissors from the doctor’s hand.
“Right here,” Lakeland said pointing to the spot for him to cut.
Kane did as he was told, he was still bubbling with emotions from when Cole had told him the baby’s name. He looked over at his crying son and reached out to him, the nurse handed him over without an argument. He brought the baby to his chest and didn’t care that he was going to be covered in the fluid from being inside of Cole. Preston was beautiful, dark curly hair covering his head.
“It’s okay, my little one,” Kane whispered to him and instantly he calmed and stopped crying. “That’s it.”
“Let me see him.”
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