“Of course.” Jake kisses Naomi’s forehead with such obvious affection it makes my chest a little tight.
And then I turn to see Faith looking up at me with the same loving, unguarded expression, and it squeezes even tighter.
I’m so fucking lucky. And so grateful.
I hate that Bridget’s baby is going to have a rough start, but I’m so relieved that from here on out it’s just Faith and me.
And maybe, someday, if I’m lucky, I’ll get the chance to be a dad with a woman I love. Maybe even this woman because I sure as hell can’t imagine loving anyone more.
“You want to stay too?” Faith asks, proving she’s one in a million. “I don’t mind.”
“Yeah. I’d like to know that the baby is out of the woods,” I say. “And Bridget, too. I should call her parents and let them know what’s happened. They live in D.C., but they can probably get here by tomorrow evening.”
“That’s a good idea.” Naomi pulls her cell from her purse. “I’ll step outside and call Maddie.”
“Maddie’s here!” Maddie rushes breathless into the room. “I’m sorry, I was stuck in traffic from hell. What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
By the time Naomi fills Maddie in on all the news, the nurse has returned to the waiting room.
“How is she?” Naomi asks, her fingers twined together. “Is the baby still okay?”
“She’s doing fine,” the nurse, an older woman with tightly curled gray hair and kind blue eyes, says. “She’s stable and sleeping. She’ll need to stay in the NICU for at least a few weeks, but that’s probably for the best. It’ll give the mother time to decide on an adoptive family.”
I frown. “Bridget’s putting the baby up for adoption?”
The nurse’s gaze flicks uncertainly from me to Naomi and then back again. “Oh, no, I…assumed you knew.”
“No, we didn’t,” Naomi says. “But that’s great news. We’re glad the baby’s going to have a stable family. That’s probably best for everyone involved.”
The nurse nods, but her expression makes it clear she’s worried she’s said too much.
“It’s fine,” I say softly. “We won’t mention this to anyone. It’s Bridget’s private business.”
“Thanks.” The nurse backs away with a tired smile. “All right then. Bridget should be able to receive visitors this afternoon. If you want to go home and get some rest, you can come back then.”
“Thank you, we will.” Naomi waits until the nurse leaves the room, before turning back to the rest of the family. “Well, that’s amazing news. You think her parents are going to be okay with Bridget putting the baby up for adoption, Mick?”
I nod. “I’d imagine so. They’re both older. They had Bridget when they were in their forties, so I’m pretty sure they’re not up for raising an infant at this point in their lives.”
“But they might want to try, anyway.” Naomi nibbles her thumb as she paces back and forth across the room. “I mean, she’s their grandchild. But if they knew the adoptive family was going to be really great. Financially stable and committed and so excited to raise a child…”
Jake’s posture shifts, going from relaxed to alert as he turns to me.
The moment our eyes connect, I get what Jake’s already guessed.
Naomi and Jake are on the waiting list with an adoption agency, but Naomi clearly sees this as an opportunity to cut her waiting time and have the baby she’s been dreaming about in her arms within weeks instead of months.
“You want to adopt my ex-girlfriend’s baby,” I say, not exactly sure how I feel about that. On one hand, I know that little girl couldn’t ask for a better mother than Naomi, but on the other hand…Bridget’s baby would be my niece.
It’s an uncomfortable thought.
“I didn’t say that.” Naomi turns, her gaze flitting between me and Jake.
“You might as well, babe,” Jake says. “We all knew where that train was headed.”
“It’s a nice idea,” Maddie says gently. “But what if Bridget wants an open adoption, and wants to be a part of the baby’s life? It isn’t fair to do that to Mick. The sooner he gets that girl out of his hair for good, the better.”
“Right, right.” Naomi nods, but I can see the disappointment she’s trying to hide. “I wasn’t even thinking about that. And I’m sure there are tons of other ways it could get awkward. Forget I started plotting. I’m sure Bridget will find a great adoptive couple on her own.”
But not a couple who was there the night the baby was born, I think. Not a couple who obviously forged an instant connection to this little girl as she was wheeled by on her way to the NICU.
I can’t deny it feels like there’s an element of fate at work here, and I don’t want to be the reason a family that’s meant to be together doesn’t find their way home.
I glance at Faith, not surprised when she makes a “why not?” face.
“I mean, I was prepared to be a stepmom,” she whispers. “I think I can handle being an aunt, even if Bridget is planning to stick around.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “Look how much trouble she’s caused in less than twelve hours.”
She shrugs. “I’m not scared of a little trouble. Are you?”
I squeeze her hand, so grateful this fearless, big-hearted woman picked me. “Nah. Not with you around to back me up.”
“Always.” She smiles, that smile that brings the sun into a room, even at four o’clock in the morning on a cold February night.
I turn back to Naomi. “You should go for it.”
Her eyes immediately light up. “Really? Are you sure?” she asks, waiting for my nod before she turns to Jake with a hopeful look. “What do you think, babe?”
“You already know what I think.” He smiles. “Let’s go home and get some rest, and we can come talk to Bridget this afternoon.”
Naomi’s breath comes out in a rush. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”
“Don’t get your hopes up too high,” Maddie warns. “She might want to pick someone else.”
“Right, of course,” she says, but I can tell she’s already started decorating the nursery, a fact Faith clearly gets, too.
“You think she’s going to be disappointed?” she asks a few minutes later, as we cross the parking lot to her truck.
I shake my head. “No. Weirdly, I think it’s going to work out. I have a feeling about it, you know?”
She sighs. “I have a feeling I’m going to be too beat to go into work at noon today. You want to drive, and I’ll call Ben to see if he can cover my shift until five so I can get some rest before I go in?”
I take the keys but don’t move to open her door right away. Instead, I pull her into my arms, feeling even more connected to her after tonight—every part of it, from being together for the first time, to the ride to the hospital, and…everything since.
“I have something important to ask you first,” I say, my palms skimming up and down her back.