I look down at our linked fingers, smiling.“Jace.His name is Jace Harrison Alexander.”
She laughs and shakes her head, her warm brown eyes sparkling.“I knew that name would grow on you.Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, he’s our son.I should be thanking you for bringing him into this world.”
“Did my family see him?”
“They wanted to.They’re not allowed anywhere near you or Jace.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back.I’m going to tell the nurses you want to see your son.”
Forty minutes later I watch her face light up, tears running down her cheeks when the nurse places our son in her arms as she holds him for the first time.This is what it should have been; with me holding her hand as she delivered him.The tears and laughter, seeing him for the first time, together.That’s what it is now.I sit down next to her, watching her holding him in her arms, transfixed by the little wonder we made.I kiss her forehead and look down at my son in his mother’s arms, finally.
The next day everyone comes by to visit, including my father.He’s been more understanding than I thought with me not coming to work and taking over some of my cases.He’s showing me a side I wasn’t sure he had.Cat fell asleep when they were visiting; she’s still recovering.My parents left, and Gage, Ava, and I went out to the waiting area for a while.We’re laughing and joking when I see Chris walking to us with his brother.What the hell is he doing here?
“What do you want?I told you, you and your family weren’t welcomed here.”I fold my hands over my chest, Gage standing beside me, and Ava in front of us.
“I want to see my sister.”
I shake my head sternly at him.
“We’re her family; we have a right to see her!You and your family are keeping her from us, turning her against us.”
“You saw her Chris, are we turning her against you?”
“No.”
“Youturned her against you.I’m protecting her from your family.”
“You’re a motherfucker!You’re not going to stop me from seeing my sister and my nephew.You don’t make the rules here, get the fuck out of my way!”
He steps up, and before I can show him I do make the rules, Ava jumps in front of him with her hands up and Chris steps up in front of her.
“Your brother needs to back the fuck up and back down, Chris.Where the hell was all this concern for her in the past seven months?He didn’t want to see her and now he wants to make demands?Get the hell outta here!”
“Ava!”Chris looks at her, gritting his teeth in consternation.
“What?He should be glad his ass is even allowed through the fucking doors.If he keeps this up he’s going to get a serious ass kicking in here.”
“Light his ass up.”Gage smirks and nods his head in agreement with Ava.“Yeah, and she’s not going to have to lay a finger on you, we’ll take care of that ass whooping.”
Chris pushes Jay back with his hand on his chest when Gage steps up to him.
“I’m not going to let y’all beat my brother down in here.”He holds his other hand up to us to back off.“Jay, this is not the time for more of this shit.I think you’ll agree with me, Nick.”He bends his head down to Ava, whispering low.“No one’s going to get their ass kicked, Ava.Calm the fuck down, your hot-ass temper is going to get us all locked up after one of us kills someone.
I back up and head to Cat’s room to check on her, and Jace, who I left sleeping in the room with her.
Chris and Ava
He grabs my hand and pulls me down the hall to have a not-so-private talk.Gage sees and says, “Hey!Take it easy.”
“It’s okay, Gage, he has my permission to manhandle me until I get tired of his ass.”
“If you say so.”He goes back to his chair and pulls out his phone, one eye on us, texting.
Chris drops my arm and steps back.“This is why I can’t deal with your ass.You’re all Southern charm sweet and put together, but the minute something doesn’t go your way, you’re ready to attack, escalating the situation and making it worse.Perfect example, back there with my brother.Tell me how it’s going to work if we hook up and I look at another girl?Which I will.You’re going to get at me and rip the poor girl’s freaking head off like a bitch in heat.”
