“That’s not what he fucking said,” Dad grits out.
Jaxon’s jaw clenches and I run my hand along his jaw. “I’ll be having words with him later.”
“I tried calling you,” I tell him, my breath hitching.
“My phone got smashed. And then I was trying to help get the daughter out of the car. She was trapped in the back, so I asked Reid to call you. I’m sorry. So fucking sorry. We were around the corner when Wyatt’s phone began to ring. Paisley called us.”
I grip his hands tighter. “I love you, Jaxon. Please, don’t ever leave me.”
“Never,” he declares.
“Push really hard on your next contraction, Lily,” Mum orders.
“I’m so tired,” I wail, as another hits. I squeeze Jaxon’s hand, Faith’s in my other, and push. “I can’t. I can’t. It hurts so much.”
I fall back and gaze up at Jaxon, my eyelids drooping.
“You can do this, Lily,” Jaxon claims.
I can’t.
Every fibre of my being has been drained of energy. My legs feel like jelly, and I can barely lift my arms.
“Grab her legs and pull her knees to her chest,” Mum orders.
With one hand on my head, and the other at my leg, Jaxon leans into me. “You’ve got this, Angel.” I close my eyes as he presses a kiss to my forehead, giving me some of his strength.
Faith lifts the other, and as the next contraction hits, Mum’s breath hitches. “I can see the head, baby. I can see the head.”
I push, yet the burning between my legs become too much and wins the fight. My head flops back against the pillows. I’m too weak to keep it up.
“Paramedics are here,” Max yells. “Oh my God, the paramedics are here.”
“Push, Lily,” Mum urges.
“Push,” Jaxon repeats with the same urgency.
With strength I didn’t think I had left in me, I push, bearing down with everything I have in me.
“That’s it. That’s it,” Mum praises. “Faith, get me a towel ready.”
The paramedics walk in as the contraction dies off. “Jaxon,” I whimper.
“What a beautiful way to spend Christmas,” the woman announces cheerfully.
Max snorts. “Yeah, seeing your niece in pain is real beautiful.”
Mum shuffles to the side, and I feel pressure down below as the paramedic examines me. Everything becomes hazy, and I fight to stay conscious.
“What’s your name?” she asks, glancing up at me.
“Lily,” I reply drowsily.
“Lily, on your next contraction, I’m going to need you to really push. Your baby’s head has crowned. I want you to push into the back like you would if you were on the toilet. You’ll know it when you feel it. And tuck your chin into your neck.”
I nod, and as the next contraction hits, with Jaxon on one side, Faith on the other, I lift up a little, bearing down like the paramedic ordered, chin to the chest.
The pain is indescribable, the pressure intense. It feels like my insides are torn apart, right before there’s a moment of relief. It feels like a gush of water, but I know it’s not. I know it’s my baby.
And it’s confirmed when I hear the sweet melody of his or her cry.
Jaxon slowly lowers my leg to the floor, and I roll my head on the pillow, catching the paramedic working on our baby before wrapping him or her up.
My baby.
It feels surreal. I’ve carried the tiny human for so long. I’ve felt them kick, punch, and wiggle around. Now they are here.
“Congratulations, Mum; you have a baby girl.”
Tears stream down my face as they pass her over to me and the first thing I notice is her dark fluff of hair. I cradle her in my arms, staring down at her beautiful face, taking in her cute button nose and bow lips. I sniffle as I glance up at Jaxon, who’s hand has moved to stroke our daughter’s cheek to soothe her crying. “We did it. We are a mum and dad.”
It’s just us two, locked in our own little world.
The love shining back at me warms my heart. He’s staring at me like I saved the world, and like he’s rejoicing and grateful over the act. His eyes are swimming with unshed tears, and for a moment, the intensity of the vibe I’m getting off him, overwhelms me.
My breath catches as he leans down, our lips touching. “I love you so fucking much, Lily.”
“I love you too,” I reply, exhausted. My gaze goes back to our daughter, not wanting to take my eyes off her.
She’s perfect.
Absolutely beautiful.
And I know without any doubt that I’ll never fail her. Not as a mum, not ever. Before, Jaxon held my heart, but now, this little lady shares it too.
“She’s perfect,” I whisper, reaching for her hand. I press my lips to the tip of each finger.
Perfect.
“Yeah,” Jaxon rasps, pressing his lips against mine, before he slowly presses a kiss to his daughter’s forhead.
Mum makes a noise in the back of her throat. “What is her name?”
I blink out of our moment and share a smile with Jaxon. He nods, giving me permission before I face her. “Mum, meet Rose Hannah Hayes.”
Her brows raise in surprise. “Lily,” she murmurs softly.
I run my finger over my daughter’s cheek, keeping my voice low as I reply, “Faith wants to use Grandma’s name for her first daughter, so I thought I’d use your mum’s name for mine. If she were a boy, we were going to use William.”
“I love it,” she gushes, her entire face lit up with happiness.
“I can’t believe I’m a mum,” I tremble. “She’s absolutely perfect.”
“You were right,” Jaxon suddenly announces, his voice low and close to my ear. I glance up from our daughter, to him, our noses brushing against his each other before he pulls back.
“Right about what?” I ask, my brows pinching together.
“About Christmas.”
Christmas?
That isn’t what I thought he was going to say.
“What about Christmas?
His pupils dilate as he replies, his voice low and hoarse. “It really is magical.”
As I glance down at my daughter, a smile tugs at my lips.
Magical.
“Told you,” I rasp.
Today could have been a lot worse, and for a while there, my future looked to be a lonely one. But now it’s filled with so much more.
With the snow fluttering in thick flakes outside the window, the twinkling lights giving off a soft glow, and the smell of Christmas dinner cooking in the oven, I couldn’t think of a better time to give birth.
And minus Jaxon getting in an accident, I couldn’t wish for a better Christmas.
Or a better future.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jaxon
The snow finally stopped last night, and although there is snow on the pavements, the main roads are clear and the side roads are slush, giving us a safe passage home.
It’s the day after Boxing Day, two days after Lily gave birth to our precious baby girl. It has been a surreal couple of days.
I went from going to get Reid, to being in an accident, to freezing my balls off trying to get the woman out of the car while we waited for the emergency services, to getting a call from my sister screaming at me. The minute she told me Lily was in labour, I made Wyatt put his foot down. As soon as we got close to Maverick’s, I jumped out of the van and ran the rest of the way, knowing it would be quicker.