“Carrie is but she’s freaking out. Emma’s the calm one and she’s tried to kick her out but Carrie refuses to leave. Shesays she can’t leave her alone, causing Emma more stress really. She’ll be happy to see you, Mr. Price.”
They got to their floor and with barely enough time for conversations, Maxwell was suited up and led into the delivery room.
“Gramps?” A surprised Emma uttered.
Her grandfather hurried forward and Carrie hurried out to her sister who patted her comfortingly. Maxwell held his granddaughter’s hand as he cried, “I'm so sorry for abandoning you when you needed me the most, my girl. Will you please forgive this old, unwise man?”
Through her tears, Emma smiled, “I don’t hate you, Gramps. You’re here now and that’s what matters. Please forgive me for not doing things right.”
Her grandfather kissed the top of her head.
“You’re ready, Emma, you’ve dilated fully. It’s time to push,” Dr. Kara said.
The piercing scream that came from the room caused Carrie to hold her sister tight. Helen whispered, “Emma will be fine.”
A few feet away, Grant was saying same to his wife.
*
To get to the new mother and her babies, one had to wade through a sea of bouquets, fruit and gift baskets, balloons and cards.
“I didn’t know you had these many fans,” Carrie laughed as she cradled the baby girl.
Emma smiled as she looked down at the beautiful boy she was feeding. She stroked his blonde hair and she looked up at her friend with eyes filled with tears, “I can’t believe I’m a mother to these amazing ones.”
“Neither can I,” Carrie smiled. “And damn girl, your kids are gorgeous. This girl’s going to cause traffic jams and heads to roll and your boy, he’s going to break girl’s hearts. I’m glad they look nothing like their dad.”
“Oh Carrie,” Emma shook her head.
“What? It’s true. Your genes triumphed. They have your blonde hair, your green eyes. You don’t have to look at them and think of that bum.”
“Mind your language in front of the kids,” Emma said just as her grandfather entered the room. He was followed by Didi and Maria.
Maria took the baby from Carrie and smiled. “So what are their names, mi corazoncito?”
“Maxwell and Mia Price, that’s what I’ve always planned to name my babies,” Emma smiled at her grandfather who was standing beside her.
He took little Maxwell from her and smiled proudly. “I’m a great-grandfather and I’m now Maxwell Price Senior!”
“Maxwell is such an old-timer name, I think he’ll be happier with us calling him Max,” Carrie said.
They all laughed and then, Maxwell turned to Emma as something dawned on him, “Price? What of their father? Maria said you were together.”
“Not anymore, Gramps. It’s a long story that I’ll fill you in on later. What you just need to know for now is he’s no longer in the picture. He doesn’t want anything to do with my kids and my kids don’t need him for a father. They will be perfectly fine.”
“They have us all,” Carrie said.
Maxwell held his granddaughter's hand, “You will come back to Texas with us, please, will you?”
“Of course I will, Gramps. The ranch has always been my home and it’s where I wanted to create a life. I still want that.”
“We’ll miss you, my dear,” Didi smiled.
“I’ll miss you all so much. Thanks for being with me all the way.”
A couple of hours later, Emma and her grandfather were finally alone. The babies had been taken to the nursery so that she could get some much needed rest. He sat beside her and held her hand. He kissed her knuckles and said,
“I really am sorry, my dear. I made the same mistake once again.”
