“The nurse is wrong. She needs to keep her strength up.”
My Type-A personality twin was out of his element. No amount of reading could prepare him for the reality of childbirth.
Jamie pondered my statement, clearly weighing who he trusted more before asking, “Suggestions?”
“Keep it simple. Crackers, scrambled eggs, dark chocolate.”
Jamie scanned the room. “Can you bring some?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I hugged him. “You’ll be great, just remember she’s scared. Em needs your support more than anything else.”
I felt his nod on my shoulder.
“I’ll be right back.”
I wiped away happy tears as I walked back to the waiting room. In a few hours, my twin brother would finally have the family he’d always wanted.
When I returned to the small waiting room, I was greeted by newcomers.
Emily’s brother Chris, his pregnant wife, and their adorable daughter must have just arrived because they were still greeting everyone.
Ashley was sitting beside Meg.
It surprised me that she’d come without Nathan.That he let her. Nathan was as overprotective as everyone else at SSI.
Like the others, he had a good reason. It wasn’t all that long ago that a terrorist kidnapped Ashley and almost killed her. That mission resulted in Dad getting stabbed, and Jay, AJ, and Nathan getting shot. Fortunately, everyone survived and made full recoveries.
“Nathan let you come alone?”
“Nathan would never try to keep me away from my bestie while she’s in labor.” Ashley’s sass was pure, well, Ashley, as she stood and walked over to hug me. Her belly was growing bigger by the day.
She, Emily, and Meg—the three musketeers—were thrilled beyond measure that their kids would grow up as siblings.
When she pulled back, she asked, “So where is your gorgeous SEAL?”
“I sent him home.”
“Are you sure about that?” Meg asked, her eyes focused on the entryway.
My breath hitched in my throat.He came back.
I didn’t like the feelings flooding my system—relief, gratitude, love—so I ignored them.
Ashley put her hands on my shoulders and gently turned me around.
And there he was.
My gorgeous Navy SEAL.
Mine? No, he wasn’t mine.I’m only thinking that because Ashley put it in my head.
The gorgeous Navy SEAL who most definitely wasn’t mine strode towards me. A wicked gleam twinkled in his eye. Plastic grocery bags hung off his forearms while he carried a case of water with a box of coffee balanced on top.
“A little help?” he asked the room.
But his grin. That was all for me.
Not only had he ignored my dismissal, but he’d brought sustenance for the long wait.
