As it turned out, my brother was the epitome of calm. He was an unyielding source of support for his wife throughout her relatively short but intense labor.
It wasn’t until my niece came screaming into the world, the top of her head a mass of dark hair that I saw him take a shaky breath, his mask of calm slipping.
“She’s gorgeous,” his voice rasped with emotion as he looked down at his daughter in awe.
“What’s her name?” I asked as I peeked over his shoulder at my niece. I was biding my time until I got to hold her.
“Wren,” he answered, winking at Kat.
“That’s so perfect,” I clapped my hands together. Sal had affectionately called Kat “birdie” for as long as I’d known them as a couple. No one could say how it started. It was just one of those things. It was perfectly fitting that they’d name their daughter after a bird.
It wasn’t long before it felt like the entire club was filling the room, everyone waiting their turn to meet the new arrival.
When Axel walked in, I beamed at him wanting to share this incredible moment with him.
“She’s so beautiful,” I announced proudly after he’d pulled me into his arms and kissed me soundly.
“Oh, yeah?” he grinned.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Mad?”
“He’s with Ry,” he replied, his gaze turning to the littlest member of our extended family. “Look at that hair,” he chuckled.
“There’s a lot of it,” I agreed with a grin as Sal finally placed her in my arms. I’d been waiting, rather impatiently, since she’d been born.
“She looks so much like you, man,” Axel said, looking down at the tiny bundle nestled in my arms.
“You think?” Sal grinned, practically bursting with pride.
“She’ll be gorgeous just like her mama,” I winked over at Kat who was smiling tiredly at us all. “I think we should let these two ladies get some beauty sleep,” I added, noticing exactly how exhausted Kat looked. It was a lot of commotion after having just given birth.
“Good idea,” Sal nodded. “You’ll stay?” he asked Jill as she swept by checking on Kat.
Jill had been amazing throughout the whole birth and I didn’t blame Sal for not wanting her far. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to convince her to move in.
“I’ll stay awhile longer,” she assured him, grasping his hand briefly with a warm smile.
She was completely in her element. I was so proud of her.
“We’ll be by tomorrow if you’re not discharged by then. Otherwise, we’ll bring some food by the house,” I told Sal, giving him a quick hug. He wasn’t typically much of a hugger but I couldn’t help myself. “I’ll buy some prepared food,” I added with an eye roll when I saw the look of apprehension on his face.
“Thanks, sis,” he replied, hugging me back briefly before turning his attention to his family.
I looked at Sal and marveled at how much he’d changed from the brother I’d caught glimpses of as a kid. He was still gruff and at times distant, I had no doubt that would always be the case to some degree, but he was also centered in a way I hadn’t seen before. He was happy from the inside out; he just showed it in his own way. Love had done that for him. It had done the same for me.
“Want to go home?” I murmured to Axel as he wrapped an arm around me.
“Yeah, baby,” he nodded. “Let’s take the bike. Someone can bring your car back later,” he added.
“Sounds perfect,” I replied with an exalted grin. I freaking loved that bike and the man who rode it.
“I think we should start the expansion project on the house,” I mused as we walked down the hospital halls toward the exit.
“Oh, yeah?” he cocked a brow.
I shrugged innocently, knowing my suggestion resonated with him. It meant my letting go of the past and moving toward our future.
He stopped me as we reached the parking lot, stooping to look into my eyes. “You lettin’ it go?” he asked.
