“Hey! Already? Can’t give me five minutes before the sarcasm hits?” Carter chides his brother as he joins us again in the room.
“He might be right,” I tease Carter. “Dogs can detect labor, apparently. He loves grumpy Carter so much that he came to save me. Don’t worry, guys, we gave him a treat from Carter’s hidden treat jar as a reward for his efforts.”
The lighthearted conversation continues as everyone comments on our beautiful little girl that we gush over.
“We kind of need your help if you don’t mind. It’s the least you can do for being away when we needed a neighbor the most,” Carter impassively reprimands.
“Excuse us for having a life. We got back as soon as we could. What can we do?” Oliver responds.
Carter and I smirk at one another.
“Keep our parents in line when they get here,” Carter requests.
Hailey laughs. “Not happening. The first grandchild is in the room, but I give you a point for optimism.”
“Gotta support my wife on that one,” Oliver adds.
“Fine. Can you at least meet the judge in the lobby to show him to our room?”
Oliver’s face puzzles, then he swims his eyes side to side. “Ah. Legal talk. Are you two getting hitched? Shotgun wedding kind of thing?”
Hailey squeals and brings her hands together. “Ooh, a wedding.”
“Yeah, keep that on the down-low until everyone is here and the judge just randomly shows up,” Carter implores.
“Love easygoing weddings,” she comments.
Carter points to the door. “Great. Now you two go and get to work.”
Oliver shakes his head in amusement. “They’re kicking us out already.”
“All good. I’ve arrived bearing gifts.” My sister Bella peeks around the door.
“We’ll be back, so get in line on the baby-holding list.” Hailey indicates with her fingers that she’s watching Bella.
“You two are already leaving?” Bella asks, perplexed, as she holds a big Labrador stuffed animal.
“We have an important mission,” Oliver explains in passing.
Carter circles the bed to lift Cassie out of my arms to let her rest in the hospital bassinet It will be easier for everyone to see her.
I stifle a laugh. “Did you choose that stuffed animal to remind Carter of who was present at the birth of our daughter?”
“Totally.” My sister has no qualms stating the obvious as she joins me on the bed.
The next few minutes, we chat and go over the details of the night before.
We don’t even need to check the door when we hear both sets of parents walking down the hall.
“Twenty bucks that Dad says he can’t handle the grandpa title,” she mutters under her breath to me as she straightens her back and stands up to go hide in the corner.
Carter winces as he scrubs a hand across his stubbled jaw and remains close to our daughter.
We all watch the door fling open when our parents pile through with flowers, wrapped presents, and a basket of baby clothes. I couldn’t even say what belongs to whom because they all blob together.
“My baby has a baby.” My mom is victorious on reaching me first and leans down to give me a big hug with tears in her eyes. “You did so well.” Then she playfully pinches my shoulder. “Don’t ever have a baby during a snowstorm again,” she scolds me.
“Speak to your granddaughter about that,” I remind her and smile.
