“You’re kidding me,” I say with a laugh. “Your kid was born and you were drunk?”
“Hungover,” he corrects me. “Nothing sobers you up quite like your person screaming at you and squeezing off your hand.”
“I can only imagine,” I say as my hand inadvertently starts opening and closing in a fist.I wonder if someone can get put on the injured reserve because they’re laboring wife broke it?
“I’m telling you this because I remember feeling like dog shit for being away from her. But life happens. Nothing goes to plan. And it’s not going to go to plan once your son gets here. In Lainey’s entire life, there has not been a day that hasn’t gone to shit somehow.”
“That makes me feel better.”
“Listen, being a parent is fucking hard,” he says. “But just be there for your kid. Be there for your woman. Just be there and everything is going to work out.”
Be there.
Two words. Short, simple, and to the point. Asher told me the same thing. Maybe itisthat simple? And exactly the reminder I need every day to make sure my worst fears don’t come true.
“Wise words from a wise man.”
“Why thank you.” He doesn’t take his eyes off the road as he grabs his cell phone. “Actually, can I record you saying that? I have a few people I’d like to play it for.”
“That’s the least I can do.”
I hear my text notification, and my heart drops when I see that it’s Shelby.
Shelby
She’s at nine and the doctor says ten is around the corner. Hurry the fuck up Gallagher.
“Fuck!” I yell. “She’s almost at ten centimeters.”
I don’t know if he has a turbo charge, but somehow, he hits a button and we’re going faster than should be legal. “Screw the speed limits. It’s fucking baby time!”
5:02 a.m. CT
“I’m here! I’m here!” I yell, holding onto the door frame as I swing myself into Gabi’s room.
Gabi looks up to me with relieved, yet scared eyes as she grips Shelby’s hand. “You made it.”
I step on the other side of her, taking her free hand as I bend down, needing to kiss her more than anything in the world right now. “I made it.”
For a moment—a few seconds in time—the world stops. It’s just me and Gabi. After the crazy last however many hours. After a half of a football game. After three planes and a thrilling car ride. After meeting strangers on a plane. After Gabi having to navigate the last day of pain. We’re here. Together.
Be there…
And I will. Always.
“I think my work here is done,” Shelby announces, breaking us of this moment.
“If you want to stay, and if Gabi wants you to, you don’t have to leave,” I insist. “I don’t know how I can thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“I love you both, but no one is happier you’re here than I am.” She kisses Gabi’s forehead before walking around to me. “I’m going to be the best Aunt Bee I can. I’ll buy him booze when he’s eighteen and I’ll sign tests when he fails them. But I do not, and I repeat, do not, need to see him being born.”
We all laugh as she gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Take care of my girl, okay?”
I pull her in for a hug, maybe the tightest one I’ve ever given someone. “Forever.”
We let go and Shelby steps out of the room as Ainsley pulls me aside to get me gowned up.
“You ready, Daddy?”
