They brought an ultrasound machine, and I was able to see our baby for the first time. The flicker of his or her little heartbeat was flashing on the screen. The doctor assured me the baby was perfectly healthy, and there’s no reason to be concerned.
I hate she missed this moment. The tech who was assisting the doctor printed me lots of pictures and even handed me a DVD, which had me tearing up. Now, not only can I show Aspen, but our family too.
I’m going to be a father.
“I love you,” I say from my spot next to her bed. The tube is out of her throat, and she’s doing well, breathing on her own. Her vitals look good, and now we just need her to wake up. “I never got to tell you that.” My eyes are glued to her belly, where our child grows. “I was so afraid you would run if I did. This taught me a valuable lesson. Say today what you might not get to tomorrow. Never again will I go a single day without telling you how much I love you. How much I love our baby.”
“Baby?” a raspy voice asks.
My head jerks to her, and I blink hard. Once, twice, three times to make sure I’m not seeing things that aren’t really happening. She’s awake. “I missed you,” I say, leaning in and pressing my lips to hers. Pulling back, I offer her a sip of water.
She drinks greedily. “You said baby.”
I nod. “Did you know you were pregnant?” I ask.
Tears well in her eyes. “No. Is—” She stops, getting choked up.
“The baby is fine. You’re going to be fine. Do you remember what happened?”
“I woke up to the smoke alarm and lots of smoke. I couldn’t see, and the heat…” She shivers.
“You’re safe.” I lean in and kiss her again. “You and our baby are safe.”
“Conrad, I-I didn’t know.”
“Now we do. Starting today, we focus on our forever.”
“I could feel you. I could hear you, but I couldn’t say anything back.” She swallows hard, and I offer her another drink of water. “I focused on the feeling of your hand in mine.”
“I need to call the doctor and let them know you’re awake, but first.” I reach into the bedside table and pull out the ultrasound pictures. “This is our baby,” I say, pointing out the heartbeat. “They said you’re about seven weeks along. So, our night together at the cabin.”
“I’m on the pill, and we used protection. I don’t understand?” Except that one time.
“It’s the magic, baby. It doesn’t matter how or why. All that matters is what is. We’re going to have a baby.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you.”
Reaching over her head, I call the doctor to come and check on her before our families come in. “I’m going to text Aurora and tell her that you’re awake. I didn’t tell anyone about the baby except for Marshall. He was in here when the doctor told me.”
“Can we tell them all at the same time?”
I think about the two people at a time rule that we’ve been breaking all day and decide I don’t give a fuck. The worse that they can do is kick everyone back to the waiting room. I’ll never deny her anything. “Yeah. I’ll make that happen.”
For the first time since she was admitted, I step out of her room and across the hall to the waiting room. All eyes land on me, and I smile. I can see the tension leave every single one of them from that simple act alone.
“She’s awake. They just checked her out, and she’s doing well. They’re going to keep her overnight, just as a precaution.”
“Can we see her?” her mom asks.
“Actually, I’m going to need all of you to sneak across the hall as quietly as you can.” I glance around. Layla and Sawyer aren’t here, but that’s okay. They’re where they should be at home with their babies. I’ll be sure to have Royce and Owen call them before we make our announcement. I don’t want them to miss out on this.
The tiny room is packed with all ten of us, eleven counting Aspen. She’s sitting up in bed, and I take a seat next to her. “Owen, Royce, I’m going to need you to call your wives and put them on speaker.”
They give me a quizzical look but do as I ask. Once Sawyer and Layla are on the line and can hear me, I look over at Aspen and nod. We decided she would be the one to tell our families that we’re having a baby.
Her eyes zero in on her sister, and she smiles. “Conrad and I have something to tell you.”
Aurora gasps, having already figured it out in that weird way siblings do. Grant looks down at her and back at me, and the slow grin that tilts his lips tells me he did as well.
“What was that?” Sawyer asks. “What did I miss?”
“Yeah, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” I laugh. “We’re getting ready to tell you.”
“Well, get on with it,” Layla says.
“Babe.” I nod toward Aspen.
She looks at me with so much love in her eyes that it’s a good thing I’m sitting, or it would bring me to my knees. “Conrad and I are having a baby.” Her voice is strong, although still a little gruff. That’s okay. From the commotion around the room, our friends and family hear her just fine.
There are lots of tears, smiles, hugs, and congratulations, and of course, the nurse stops in and tells us that we’re breaking the rules. After kissing Aspen on the head, I leave her, letting her have time with her sister and her parents while Marshall and I grab something to eat in the cafeteria. This day started out as my worst nightmare and ended with me being a father. It could have been so much worse, and I thank God, as I will every day, for keeping my family safe.
Chapter 32
Aspen
Conrad kisses me softly before promising to be back in a little while. I watch him leave before turning my eyes back to my parents and my sister.
“He loves you,” Dad says with confidence.
“I love him too.”
“And you’re having a baby.” Mom sniffles, trying and failing miserably to hide her tears.
“We were certain Aurora would give us our first grandchild.” Dad smiles at my sister.
I hold out my hand, and Aurora takes the seat next to me on the bed that Conrad just vacated. “About that,” she says, gripping my hand tightly.
“No,” Mom gasps, covering her mouth with her hand.
Aurora smiles, tears welling in her eyes. “I went to the doctor on Friday. I’m six weeks along.”
My parents look at me, and I know by the look in their eyes what they’re asking. “Seven weeks,” I tell them.
I watch as my father pulls my mother into his arms and kisses her forehead. “Two grandbabies a week apart.” Dad smiles. He looks down at Mom. “Sheila, I think it’s time we make that move.”
“Yes,” Mom agrees emphatically.
The four of us sit and talk about what’s to come. I’m so excited to be going through this pregnancy journey with my sister. She’s my best friend, like our kids—cousins—I’m sure will be as well.
Aurora yawns for the fourth time, and I know I need to assure them that I’m fine so they can all go home and get some rest. “I’m good,” I tell her. “You need your rest.” I glance from her to my parents, who also look exhausted. “Go home, get some rest. You know Conrad isn’t going to leave here without me. I’ll call you if there are any changes, but I’m going to be okay.”