Chapter 47

LOGAN

As soon as I get a call from Carter, I know something isn’t right. Carter and I avoided conversations, mostly because it’s awkward, and I didn’t want to put myself in that situation.

He sounds straight-up terrified when he tells me he’s driving Maggie to the hospital because she’s going into labor.

I drive like a maniac. I’m a responsible driver mostly, but I’m nervous about this. The due date wasn’t until the end of the month, so this was totally unexpected.

When I reach the hospital, I see Carter pacing outside of the hospital room, and Chase sitting in the waiting chair, sobbing his eyes out.

When I see him crying like that, alarm bells go off, and when Chase sees me, he gets down from the chair and runs toward me.

I pick him up midway. “Hey buddy, why are you crying?”

Chase’s crying is loud enough to wake up the dead, and the nurses want nothing to do with it.

“Is Mommy going to die?”

“No. Who told you that?”

“I saw it in the movie.” Snot drips from his nose. “The mommy dies and the baby lives.”

“It won’t happen, I assure you. That was just a movie. Your mommy’s going to be completely fine.”

“You promise?”

“I promise, buddy.”

When I approach Carter, he looks more tense than me for some reason.

“Thank you, Carter.” I give him a pat on his shoulder before the doctor waltzes me inside the labor room.

Maggie is covered in sweat, her hair matted to her face, and she looks delirious with whatever pain medication she’s been given. She raises her hand toward me.

“I’m right here.” I take her hand in mine.

“Is Chase okay?” she asks.

I nod. “He’s with Carter. Don’t worry.”

She stares into my eyes. “Logan…if they ever ask you to choose between me or the baby, you’re going to choose the baby, okay?”

I roll my eyes. “I already spoke with the doctor, and he said it’s going to be smooth. You and Chase need to stop watching shitty TV shows.”

“Just wanted to say it, you know.”

I grab her face. “Even death can’t take you away from me.”

She sniffs. “So corny.”

“I’m going to ask Carter to take Chase for ice cream or something. At least it’ll distract him a little.”

Maggie agrees. “Do that.”

She’s far stronger than I imagined.

As I make my way out of the room, I find my dad and Maggie’s father approaching me.

As Richard passes Carter, he notices him, and the look on his face is unadulterated rage. If I didn’t know the man was capable of violence, now I do.

He glares at him openly while Carter looks like he wants to melt into the chair.

“What the hell is ~he~ doing here?!” Richard asks me, as if the man in question isn’t right in front of him.

I don’t have enough coffee in my system to handle this drama in a hospital, of all places. “Carter brought Maggie to the hospital,” I explain to him.

“So, where the hell were you?” That was my father.

Carter looks between us, seeming uncomfortable. “Uh…listen, Logan. I’m just going to step outside for a moment. I need some fresh air.”

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what you’re planning now,” Richard screeches, pulling Chase away from Carter as if he’s going to kidnap his grandson.

“Sir, I’m sorry about everything, but I don’t think this is the time or the place to…”

Chase wipes his tears from his cheeks. “Is the baby here? Are they going to cut open Mommy’s stomach? What clothes will the baby be wearing when he comes out?”

My dad glares at me. “You should be inside with your wife, son!”

“I don’t need a lecture from you right now, Dad.”

Carter gives me a look filled with sympathy. “I’ll take Chase outside with me.”

“Don’t you fucking dare touch my grandson, boy!” That’s Richard pointing his walking stick at Carter.

“Sir…I understand you’re angry…”

“Angry?!” Richard snaps. “You…you…”

“Shhh…this is a hospital.” The passing nurse comments and passes me a look as if this is all my fault.

Richard doesn’t listen. He goes off on Carter like a school principal, and my father stays close to listen.

I collapse onto the seat near the door with my hands covering my face. “I think I need a fucking drink.”

MAGGIE

I know Logan likes to act tough, but he worries about me, and I could see the sheer horror on his face when I was screaming in pain.

He’s scared to witness what was going to happen. I think I even heard the nurse trying to assure him that everything’s going to be okay.

After being in labor for six hours, I finally deliver a beautiful baby girl. And I name her Laken Rose.

Logan is almost too stunned to speak when the nurse tells him it’s a girl.

He’s hesitant as he reaches for his daughter. His hands are shaking when he takes the baby from her, staring at her like she’s a miracle. “Maggie, thank you.”

He comes closer to me and kisses my forehead, looking back at the bundle of joy. “She has your features.”

I smile. “But your father says she looks like you when you were a baby.”

His eyes shine with unshed tears, so I decide to tease him.

“Aw, are you crying, Loagie?”

He turns to look at me. “She’s so precious. This almost feels like a dream.” A teardrop stains his cheek. “I never thought I would have a kid, Maggie. Didn’t think I deserved to be a father.”

“But you’re the best father I could have ever asked for both my children.”

“Hey, angel,” he whispers to her.

I never dreamed of this ever happening. Logan standing beside me, holding our baby girl in his arms with a tender look on his face.

My eyes become heavy as I watch them together. It’s picture-perfect. I want to capture this scene in my memories forever.

***

The sounds in my room wake me up, and I find my boy standing beside me, holding my hand.

Chase looks worried. “Mommy, are you okay?”

I smile at him as I sit up. “Hey sweetie. I’m fine.”

“Did they cut your stomach open?”

“Uh, no, sweetie.”

That was the wrong answer. Now his forehead has creases of worry. “So…where did the baby come from?”

“You’re Chase, right?” The nurse comes to the rescue. “Would you like to see your baby sister?”

“Of course!”

I give her a grateful smile for distracting him.

The nurse places Laken into my arms. Chase climbs onto the bed and peers at the girl.

“Isn’t she adorable?”

He smiles at her in awe. “She looks like an alien, but she’s cute.”

“Well, you looked like an alien too,” I remind him. “All babies look like that when they’re born.”

The nurse laughs in the background. “You’re going to be a big brother now, Chase.”

Chase has a look of triumph on his face. “I can’t wait to show her my toys.”

Logan enters the room with balloons and flowers. He looks happier than I’ve ever seen him. “Hey, baby, you’re awake.”

Chase declares, “Now all I need is a doggie!”