Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,27

honestly, taking him from her arms and placing him back in his bed. “Get some rest. We’ll be here when you wake up.” Leaning down, I kiss her forehead.

“Thank you, Ridge. Thank you for our son,” she whispers as she closes her eyes.

As quietly as I can, I leave the room and take little man back to the nursery. After I’ve checked him back in, I decide to head to the cafeteria to join Reagan and Tyler.

“Everything okay?” Reagan asks when I approach their table.

“Yeah, Melissa is resting. I took little man back to the nursery.”

“Sit, I’ll grab you something to eat.” She stands, hugs me, then leaves to do as she said.

“How’s she doing?” Tyler asks.

I run my fingers though my hair. “Good. I mean, as far as I can tell, anyway. She was emotional, but happy. She’s been through a lot and we have a lot to work out, but nothing has to be decided today.”

“True. I told the guys to just stay home. They can come by tomorrow after work.”

“Yeah, thanks, man.”

“So, did you pick out a name?” Reagan asks, setting a tray with a cheeseburger and French fries in front of me.

“Nope, she said she wanted to get to know him first. I told her I didn’t care either way as long as he has my last name.”

“What did she say to that?” she asks.

“Nothing, what can she say? He’s mine. She seemed fine with it. Almost . . . relieved.”

“Good. Now eat up so I can go love on my nephew again before I have to get home. I can’t get to him without you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I say and do as I’m told.

After I practically inhale my food, we head back up to the nursery. The nurse from earlier, along with another and what looks like Melissa’s doctor, is standing outside the waiting room door. When one of the nurses sees us coming, her face pales.

Something’s wrong.

My heart begins to beat furiously against my chest. I quicken my stride and stop beside them. “What is it? What’s wrong? Is he okay?” I barely register a hand on each of my shoulders; at this point, I’m not sure if they’re for support or to hold me back. I look through the nursery window and I don’t see him. “Where is my son? Somebody better start talking now,” I demand.

“Mr. Beckett, let’s step inside.” The doctor points to the waiting room.

“Tell me now! Where is my son?”

“Ridge.” Reagan grabs my arm. “Let’s go in and sit down. I’m sure as soon as we do, this fine doctor here will tell us what’s going on.”

The doctor nods his agreement.

Once we’re in the waiting room, a nurse wheels my son out to us. I don’t hesitate this time, lifting him into my arms and holding him close. “Talk. Is he okay? What the hell is going on?”

“Mr. Beckett, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Melissa . . . well, she’s gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean gone? I was just with her not twenty minutes ago. She’s sleeping.”

“No, I mean she’s passed. We tried everything we could,” he tells me.

“Wait, what?”

“Ridge, you need to sit.” Tyler lays a heavy hand on my shoulder and pushes me into a chair.

“Explain.”

“We think it was a brain aneurysm. When there’s trauma to the head, you sometimes don’t know until it’s too late. I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“My loss? What about my son? That’s his mother.”

Reagan tries to take him from me, but I hold tighter. “Ridge, let me hold him, please. You’re upset, and he can sense that. I’ll be right here, I promise.”

“Let her take him,” Tyler encourages me.

Reluctantly, I hand over my son. “How is this happening? I was just with her. If I would’ve stayed, she would still be here.”

“No, Mr. Beckett, that’s not true. With an aneurysm, it’s fast. Those in the brain are more often than not fatal. There’s nothing anyone could have done.”

I slump forward, my face in my hands. She’s gone. My son will never know his mother. He won’t get to see the love in her eyes that she had for him. He will never get to see that he is all she ever wanted. He will never get to experience the childhood that I did, with both parents loving and supporting him.

How am I going to do this without her?

What do I know about raising a baby? I was hoping she would guide me. She was awake, and we were