He chuckles. “Okay, okay, you’ve convinced me. We’re totally going to kick ass at this parenting thing.”
“Yep!” I say, sounding more positive than I feel, but someone’s gotta be the strong one right now and since Noah held me together through the delivery I figure I can try to return the favor for him. Besides, it’s fucking adorable to see this big strong man fall apart over his tiny little girl. She already has him completely wrapped around her finger and I love it. I know he’d do anything for her and the thought causes my heart to swell in my chest.
“Alright, I’m going to pop down and pull the car around to the door so we don’t have to walk her too far outside. I want to double-check that the car seat base is nice and secure again anyway.”
Thankfully Piper and Aidan had retrieved the SUV from his parents’ place for us.
“Of course you do,” I smile tolerantly.
He leans in and gives me another quick peck, this time on my lips, and turns for the door meeting Gemma on the threshold. The two of them feint side to side in an awkward dance trying to let the other pass, before she finally reaches out with a chuckle to grab his shoulders and move him out of her path. He nods at her in thanks and I giggle as he crosses through the doorway.
“Take care of my girls for me while I’m gone, Gemma. I won’t be long.”
“Will do!” she calls to his retreating form, before bustling further into the room. “You’ve got a good one there, honey.”
“I know,” I say softly.
“Well, I’m just here to bring you your discharge papers,” she announces, handing me a thick manila envelope. “And to say goodbye,” she adds as she leans over my daughter, her voice rising in that way that people do when they speak to babies or animals. “You are such a pretty little lady, you know that?” she asks, grabbing onto her tiny hand and giving it a little shake. “You be good for your mommy and daddy, now, okay?”
I watch the interaction, amused. She leans in further and whispers something to my child as though the two of them are old friends who share a secret, and I’m overcome with fondness and gratitude for the woman. Not just her, but for Angela, and Doctor Lee, and freckles too–though I never did catch her name–and everyone else that’s taken such good care of us here.
Gemma straightens and turns to me, and I fight the stinging in my eyes as I take her hands in mine. “Thank you,” I whisper. “For everything.”
She nods, offering me an encouraging smile. “You’re going to do just fine.”
Noah returns a few moments later to find me seated on the edge of the bed and staring down at my slippered feet.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, drifting over to check on our daughter first. I seriously have all the heart eyes for this man.
“I need to put my shoes on,” I murmur. I’d been about to bend over to do just that when I’d felt a sharp pull at the site of my incision reminding me that I have to take it easy for the time being. It’ll be an adjustment accepting that I can’t just do everything myself right now, but it’s one that I know I’d need to make regardless of whether or not I was still recovering. Because I’mnotalone anymore, and I don’thaveto do everything myself. And because before our fight, Ihadbeen leaning on Noah. Ihadbeen letting him in more and more. It was time now to really go all in and trust in us and what we’ve built. We’re a family now and we both need to have faith in that and in each other.
Not everyone leaves.
Noah won’t.
“Ah,” he says, dropping to the floor at my feet. “I can take care of that for you.”
He pulls off my slippers and grabs my running shoes, slipping them on my feet one by one and tying the laces snuggly.
“Good?” he asks, but I’m still caught up in the sight of him kneeling before me, imagining things I never thought I would, but now want so desperately. Somehow, as if reading my mind, Noah says softly, “I will, kitten.”
My eyes flare at his words. He …will?
Then he’s getting to his feet, and I’m shaking my head to clear it.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Let’s blow this joint,” I say with a smile.
He strides over to where our daughter is just quietly watching us but hesitates before grabbing the arm of her carrier. “Do you think she’ll be warm enough in this? Maybe we should put that cardigan on under her jacket.”
I move to intercept him when he reaches for the diaper bag. “Nope. She’s fine, Noah. The sweater’s packed away. Besides, you literally just brought the car around so that she won’t even have to experience more than a second of the outdoors.”
“Right, okay.”
“Let’s go,” I say taking his hand in mine. He nods, giving it a squeeze, then picks up our girl in her carrier in the other, and the three of us make our way out of the room together.
???
