“Understood,” I said with a nod.
When Gramps stepped outside, I met my woman’s tear-filled eyes and spewed question after question. “What’s going on? How are Riley and Braxton? Are they really okay? Gramps said they were, but I know he’s not telling me something. And what’s wrong with you? I know you weren’t with us, and I—”
“Kellan,” Avery interrupted and wiped a few tears from beneath her eyes. “You have a daughter.”
It felt like my heart stopped for a few moments upon hearing her words. A daughter. A little girl. I was overwhelmed with feelings of love, happiness, and pride, but also fear, as the purpose of my entire being shifted to a new focus—family.
“When did you find out?” I asked. “I thought you wanted it to be a surprise.”
More tears spilled from her eyes. “I found out when she was born two days ago.”
My eyes immediately moved from her face down to her stomach. “But it’s too early.”
She nodded. “She’s in the NICU and will be for a few weeks, but the doctors say she’s doing good.” She handed me her phone. “Here she is. Sienna Blake Ward.”
I took the phone from her hand and stared at my baby girl on the screen. Tubes and wires surrounded her little body, but she was the most precious thing I’d ever seen. “She’s beautiful,” I whispered in awe. “And you named her after my parents.”
“I hope that’s okay. We can change it if it’s not, but I couldn’t bear the thought of her not having a name if something happened,” she said and choked on a sob.
“Fuck, Avery, you’re killing me. I can’t even hold you right now. Are you okay? How was the delivery?”
“They had to put me under general anesthesia and deliver her by an emergency c-section. I didn’t even get to see her until hours after she was born, but your grandfather made sure she wasn’t alone.”
“What about Riley and Braxton?”
“Riley’s arm is broken and Braxton has a concussion. He had to spend the night in the hospital but he was released yesterday morning.”
I suddenly remembered why the kids were with me in the first place. “Shit, baby, how’s your mom?”
“She’s going to have a long recovery, but I keep trying to remind myself that she is going to recover. Her hip was broken as well as her pelvis. She’s been in a lot of pain, and now she’s pissed because she can’t help me with this whole situation.”
“Did they get the person who ran over her?” I asked.
Avery shook her head. “No, and the last I heard, they don’t know who hit you either.”
“How is that possible? The grocery store should have surveillance cameras and there had to be plenty of witnesses for my wreck.”
“I don’t know. Copper said he would handle all of that for us,” she said and paused. “Have you seen him yet?”
“No. Why?”
“He’s been a blessing through everything over the last two days, but he’s also been a mess,” she said carefully.
“What do you mean?” Copper always had his shit together. Just like Phoenix, he seemed to know what was going on before it happened.
“When you fell, he tried to catch you. He told me his fingers barely brushed your shirt. Bronze said he didn’t hesitate to jump in after you. Actually, none of your brothers thought twice about jumping in to get you. But you can tell it’s weighing heavily on Copper,” she explained.
“He doesn’t have anything to feel guilty about,” I said, more to myself than to her. “I’ll tell him that when I see him.”
“Ms. Parker, I need to take you back to your room now,” a nurse said from the doorway.
“Give us just another minute,” I said with a charming smile.
“Of course,” she said and stepped back into the hall.
I turned to Avery and told her what I should have said to her months before. “I love you, Avery Grace. I love you, your children, and our child.”
“I love you, too, Kellan. We all do.”
