Ever’s eyes flutter open and her voice croaks, “Hi, Julie.”
“Hi, pretty girl.” Another tear falls as I smile at her sleepy face.
Jase steps to the edge of the bed and places Kylee in Ever’s waiting arms. “I’ll just go check on the crowd in the waiting room.
“Thanks, Jase. I’ll come out in a minute—talk to everyone.”
“Take your time. You’re right where you need to be.” The door whooshes closed behind him.
“You did so good, baby. They’re perfect. You’re perfect. How ya feeling?”
She nods before she tries her voice again. “Good. Tired. Thirsty.” She brushes her fingers along Kylee’s cheek as I put the straw cup to her lips and she sips.
“Your mom was just in here. She cried when I told her you named Kylee for your dad.”
Ever’s eyes fill with tears as she nods again. One races down her cheek, shining in the dim light. “He’d . . .” She sniffs as more tears fall and nods in lieu of trying to talk.
“I know, babe. He would.” I assume the rest of her sentence and agree. “Allie cried too about using her maiden name for Kylee’s middle name.”
She smiles and nods again with a little laugh.
“How’s Davis?” She looks up, stretching her neck to peek as I dip down to give her a better view.
“Asleep. Wanna switch?”
“It’s okay. Let him sleep.”
“Babe, you did so good. They said they’re probably discharging you today. All of you. The babies are perfect.”
It takes another five hours before I’m settling Ever into our bed with a baby nestled in each arm. She insists on holding them both, so I agree if I can hold her. Sliding in behind her with my back against the cushioned headboard, I rest my cheek on the top of her silky head.She just showered and dried her hair, so the scent of sunshine swirls around my nose.
“I lied. When I told you that making love to you will forever be my favorite feeling.” I feel her laugh more than hear it. “This will forever be my new favorite feeling.”
“It may be mine, too. But give me six weeks and I may challenge that.”
Chuckling, I kiss her temple. “God, I love you, sassy girl. So much.”
“I love you too, Julie. Thanks for . . . this life—our life.”
“Mmm, thank you, sweet wife. We’re just getting started.”
“Indeed.”
Epilogue
Julian
“Hey, Doc.”
“Hi, Julian. And who’s this little assistant you’ve got?”
“This is my son, Davis. Although he’s not much of an assistant, as you can see. He sleeps on the job a lot.”
Her smile is soft, like her laugh. “How’s being a dad?”
“Incredible. But it’s like you said. It’s bringing up a lot of stuff from my childhood.” The screen blurs as my mind goes reflective. “Mostly how I don’t get how someone—a parent—could treat their child the way mine treated me.” I look down and focus on my two-month-old son, his image growing blurry as my eyes swim with emotion. “I’d burn this world down to protect him, both of them. I thought I’d never love anyone as much as I love Ever. I can’t describe . . . I . . . being their dad makes me want to be better every day.” I look back up at the Zoom screen, blinking to rein in the tears. Sniffling, I add, “Ugh, sorry. Ever’s supposed to be the one with all the post-pregnancy hormones, and I swear I’m the one that’s turned into a waterfall.”
Davis stirs in my arms, so I press my lips to his forehead and he settles back down. It’s their naptime but he wouldn’t stay asleep, so I took him out of the nursery so he wouldn’t wake Kylee. Already it seems Davis’s sleep habits mimic mine and Kylee’s are more like her mom’s.
