“Oh my goodness,” Gia gushed, peeking under the blue striped blanket. “He’s gorgeous, you two. Look at all that dark hair.”
“Sit down,” Rhett instructed, pulling out a chair for Gia so she could sit next to Briar and the baby. “You need to take it easy, hon.”
She patted Rhett’s hand when he squeezed her shoulder. “I’m fine, thanks.” She looked at her best friend. “More importantly, how are you doing? Long labour for the second one, wasn’t it? Your mom said fifteen hours. Yikes!”
“I managed.” Briar grinned at Rhett. “Thanks to this guy. He’s getting to be a pro at this.”
Rhett winked at his wife. “Yeah, by the time we have the next one, I’ll have being a labour coach down to an art.”
“Do you believe him?” Briar asked Gia. “I just popped this one out and he’s already talking about having another. Typical man.”
Gia laughed. “Right?” She leaned in, stage whispering, “But I know you’ll be ready and willing when the time comes for baby number three.”
“Don’t tell Rhett that,” Briar whispered. “I have to make him work for it.”
“You guys are too much,” Rhett said, smirking at me.
“You want to hold him?” Briar asked Gia.
“Oh, I’d love to.”
Gia’s arm was sore after her fall and I wanted to step forward and help her, but instead I hung back, curling my hands into fists as I fought the urge.
“Have you decided on a name yet?” I asked.
“Carson James,” Rhett said. “We considered family names, but decided it would be impossible to choose so we settled on two neutral names we both liked. That way no one gets their feelings hurt.”
“Smart.” I was distracted, watching Gia with Carson.
She was holding him close, brushing her lips against his forehead.
Watching her love on her godson made me wonder what it would feel like to see her holding our baby. Would I ever get the chance to witness that? Or was I setting myself up for another fall, even imagining it was possible, given how far apart we were?
“Would you like to hold him, Joel?” Briar asked.
“Sure.” I didn’t have a lot of experience with babies. I’d had a couple of friends in L.A. who had kids, but that was the extent of it.
Gia shifted her chair, making it easier for me to take him out of her arms. “Just make sure you’re supporting his head,” she said softly, as our eyes connected.
I wondered if she was thinking the same thing I was.Could we share a moment like this someday, welcoming our own baby into the world?
“You’re a natural,” Rhett said, standing beside me as he brushed his finger over his son’s cheek. “You guys thinking about starting a family anytime soon?”
Briar shot her husband a warning look before clearing her throat. “Mind your own business, my love.”
“What?” he asked, wide-eyed. “They’re married. It’s a reasonable question.”
“And you know,” Briar said, between clenched teeth. “That they’re working through some things right now.”
“Maybe getting pregnant is exactly what they need to get their marriage on track.” Rhett shrugged when his wife gave him the stink-eye before palming her forehead.
I knew better than to think a baby could save our marriage. But if Gia decided she was still willing to give our marriage a chance, I’d do anything to prove to her that having a family with her would be my top priority.
“Sorry,” Rhett muttered. “Didn’t mean to make you guys uncomfortable. I just don’t want to see you do something stupid, like end your marriage before you’ve given it a chance.”
That made two of us.
* * *
