Mabel digs around in a drawer full of random items and pulls out a pen and some paper. I take them from her and sit down in the dining room to jot out a quick message.
Sam-
I know I hurt you and I’m sorry. I would like the chance to talk, just one chance to tell you how I feel. Please come over tonight when you get home. I only need a few minutes.
Love,
Olive
I fold the note and put it on top of my box of pumpkin muffins before heading back into the kitchen. I set the box on the counter and look at Mabel meaningfully. She doesn’t have to say anything, I know she understands what to do. As I grab my bag and turn to leave, she stops me with a hand on my arm.
“Come here, Olive.” Mabel pulls me into a hug and I melt into her. “It’s going to be okay, I promise,” she says, stepping back and offering me a small smile.
“Thanks, Mabel. I hope you’re right.”
thirty-four
Sam
A Baby and a Little Magic
“How much longer do you think it’s going to be?” Bridget asks, standing to pace the waiting room for the millionth time.
“I have no clue. I think it can take a while when it’s the first one.” I shrug and sit back in the pleather torture device otherwise known as a hospital chair.
“Are we planning to just camp out here forever, or is there a cutoff to this?” Max asks, yawning into his fist.
“We’ve been here all night and all day. You really want to tap out when we have to be getting close?” I ask, looking at him like he’s lost it.
I didn’t ask either of my siblings to sit here with me, but they insisted. Max because he said he didn’t want me getting emotional and calling Olive without sleeping on it, and Bridget because she said she cares about Xavier as much as I do—that one’s a lie, but she does look at him like a big brother. Either way, at least I’m not waiting alone.
Sitting here going on twenty-four hours has given me time to think. I understand why Olive was scared, but I am pretty disappointed that after everything she still wasn’t honest with me. I told her how much honesty meant to me, yet she was too afraid to admit that she felt like I was using her tattoo, to admit that she felt vulnerable and manipulated until the very end.
Max and I talked briefly about what Howie said. It does make sense, but it still hurts. I love her so much, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t hurt me. It doesn’t give her a free pass on not believing in me.
The doors whoosh open into the lobby and out walks Xavier with a big grin on his face, pulling me out of my thoughts. He looks happy and tired, and I’m relieved.
“It’s a girl!” he shouts gleefully.
“Oh my gosh, yes. I bet she’s perfect,” Bridget gushes, running up to give him a hug.
“She weighs nine pounds, eleven ounces and has a full head of hair.”
“That’s a toddler. No wonder it took so long,” Max huffs before chuckling to himself.
“How’s mom doing?” I ask, pulling my best friend into a tight squeeze.
“She’s good, man, so tough. You holding up okay?” Xavier asks, gripping my biceps and looking deep into my eyes.
“Yeah, I’ll be alright.” He knows about what happened with Olive. I talk to my best friend every day.
“Give her another chance if she asks for it, okay? Promise me,” Xav says sternly.
“I don’t know if that’ll happen, but okay,” I respond hesitantly, questioning why he would say such a thing when all he should be thinking about is the newborn baby and wife he has to take care of.
“I think it will be before you know it. Just trust me. Now, do you want to meet your niece?” He slaps me on the shoulder and leads us back to the room where Cami is lying in bed, holding a beautiful bundle of joy.
I never was sure I wanted to be a dad, but the moment I lay eyes on this little girl, she looks right at me and my heart melts. I love her, and I’ll do anything she asks for the rest of my life. The thought makes me laugh out loud.
