Hollow (Heaven Hill Generations #4) - Laramie Briscoe Page 0,81
world. I’ll concentrate on making sure they have a place to sleep.”
In the end, we decided to stay close to the club and family. We’re in the process of building a house a half-mile from my parents. It’s mostly done, but we hadn’t expected the baby to come early.
Dalton’s brother is living in our old house and enjoying having a stable environment for once in his life.
“If you say so.”
“I say so, you don’t have to worry about anything other than what you’re doing Mandy. You’re doing a great job.”
Tears spring to my eyes. A rush of emotion I’m not ready for. “I don’t feel like I’m doing a great job.”
He gets directly in my line of vision, tipping my chin to force me to look at him. “You’re perfect, and this baby is perfect.”
“A few more pushes, Mandy, and we’ll see if it’s a boy or a girl.”
That sentence ends up being the one that gets through to me. I want desperately to know what we’re having. I’ve never been great with surprises and this one is about to do me in.
“I can do this.” I take a deep breath, pushing hard like the doctor told me to.
“Good, count to ten,” she instructs. “Press into the contraction.”
What the fuck does she think? I’m pressing into the great void? I wanna smack her, but I need her to get through this. It’s a dilemma I’m living in.
“Mandy, come on snap out of it.” Dalton rubs a cool wet cloth along my forehead.
“I’d like to snap you in two.” A voice I don’t recognize comes from deep within my throat. “I swear to God, the thing getting snapped are your testicles. We aren’t having another child.”
He chuckles. “I love you, babe.”
“Why are you so nice to me?” I cry.
“Because you’re my favorite person in the world.” He caresses my neck. “Now come on and let me meet my third favorite person in the world.”
That’s all it takes for me to give it everything I have. I scream, and as I scream, we hear a baby start crying.
“Congratulations! It’s a boy!”
They lay him on my stomach, his face scrunched up and pissed off, screaming his little lungs out. He’s definitely ours.
“He looks just like Walker.” My voice is watery as I look at Dalton.
“He does, we need to get him in here ASAP.”
They take our newest addition, weigh him, and clean him off.
“Can you put the beanie I brought for him in my bag?” I ask the nurse.
“Oh my God,” Dalton rolls his eyes. “You were that prepared?”
“I was.” I give him a wink.
When they bring the baby back over, I hold my arms out for him. He settles deeply into me, and I adjust his beanie so that it can be read easier. “Dalton Barnett Jr.?” Dalton reads. “Babe, my name…” His voice is scratchy, emotion filling the room.
“Is one of the best ones out there,” I interrupt him, our eyes lock, and I grab for his hand. “You’re a man of your word, you’re a man of integrity, the best father, the best husband, and one of the best friends anyone can ever have. Your past doesn’t define your name, no differently than my past defines mine.”
“I love you.” He leans in, dropping his forehead to my mine, putting his hand on our son.
“We love you too, Dalton. We adore you. It’s time for you to love yourself.”
“I’ll work on it.” He kisses me softly before his gaze moves down to our son. “Hey there, I’m your dad.”
I giggle, tired, but so thankful we’ve made it to here.
I must have dozed, because the next thing I hear is Dalton whispering to someone. Opening my eyes a tiny bit, I see him standing at the bassinet with Walker. “This is your little brother.”
“He looks just like me and you.” Walker’s voice is full of amazement.
“Yeah, yeah he does. He’s gonna have to grow into that nose, huh?”
Walker laughs. “Maybe he won’t break his the way we’ve both broken ours.”
“Maybe so, you wanna hold him?”
“What if I drop him?” Walker seems scared.
Dalton leans down. “You’re his older brother. He’s gonna look up to you for everything. All you gotta do is hold on tight and never let go.”
Walker slips his hand into the bassinet, Junior grabs hold of his finger, holding tightly.
“See.” Dalton grins. “He knows who you are.”
He reaches in, picking Junior up. “Go on over there and sit down.”
I don’t want them to know I’m invading their private moment, so