Closing Time (28 page)

Ryan relaxed slightly now that his wife defended him.

“He just put on tanning lotion instead of sunscreen,” Janice explained. “I told him he was using the wrong bottle but he insisted I didn’t know what I was talking about.”

Cortland smirked while he looked at Ryan. “Looks like the joke is on you.”

“I’m this close…” Ryan threatened him with his eyes.

“Is the baby here yet?” Flynn asked when he walked inside, pulling Hazel with him. He practically jumped out of his skin when he saw Ryan. “Holy shit!”

The nurses outside the room looked through the door, surprised by the outburst.

Flynn grabbed Hazel’s hand and stepped back. “Whoa, dude…did a radioactive spider bite you?”

“If it did, I’d wrap you up in a web until the bugs came for your body,” Ryan threatened.

“This is getting dark…” Sean kept his place beside me.

“Did you wipe shit all over you or something?” Flynn asked.

“I’m just tan,” Ryan snapped. “You’ve never seen anyone have dark skin?”

“Um…” Cortland looked at Monnique then turned back to him. “Monnique is dark and she doesn’t look freaky like you.”

“Well, I’m sorry I’m not model material,” Ryan jabbed.

Hazel looked at him curiously. “Do they not have sunscreen in the Caribbean…?”

“I’m officially done talking about this.” Ryan walked to the opposite corner and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” I said with a smirk.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Ryan asked. “Is that a riddle you learned from Harvard that I’ll never understand?”

Cortland took the lead. “If you throw something when you live in a glass house, people can see you throwing whatever you’re throwing. So, don’t condemn people for throwing stones when it’s pretty clear you are too.”

Ryan looked at him blankly. “Was I supposed to understand that?”

“I’m just saying what goes around comes back around,” I said.

Ryan cocked an eyebrow. “Again, what?”

“You make fun of me all the time and now it’s your turn to be made fun of,” I said irritably. “Damn, you are dumb, Ryan.”

“You’re one to talk,” Ryan snapped. He spoke in a feminine voice to imitate me. “Oh, my best friend just got dumped by his fiancé five minutes ago and now he slept with me. Obviously, that means he loves me and we’ll be together forever.” He rolled his eyes and
his voice returned to normal. “Idiot.”

No one thought that
was funny.

“Not cool, dude,” Cortland said.

“Not even a little,” Sean said.

“Whatever.” He sighed and leaned against the wall. “Don’t battle fire with fire.”

“Wow, you actually know one,” I said with a laugh.

“I guess I’m not so dumb,” Ryan said with a shrug.

“We aren’t too late, right?” Diane came in, her glasses skewed on her nose.

“No, Mom,” Mike explained. “We still got some time.”

“Good,” she said with a sigh. “That’s good.”

Andrew came in behind her. “I’m so excited to see my second granddaughter. She’ll be just as beautiful as Trinity.”

“She will,” Cortland said.

“Nah,” Mike said. “My baby will be cuter.”

Cassandra hit his arm. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s true.” Mike grabbed Trinity from her arms and held her. “How can anyone be more beautiful than this?” He looked down at his daughter fondly.

I smiled while I watched him love his daughter so completely.

Andrew squeezed between Janice and Monnique. “Geez, it’s crowded in here.”

“Yeah,” Flynn said. “Maybe someone should leave…” He looked at Ryan.

Andrew followed his gaze then watched Ryan. Then he extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Andrew, Sean’s father. I don’t
think we’ve met.”

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. And unfortunately, a little pee came out. Sean’s eyes leaked from the fit of laughter he experienced, and Janice was laughing uncontrollably.

Ryan glared at Andrew then left the room, too embarrassed to stick around.

Everyone kept laughing, unable to s
top.

“What?” Andrew asked, confused.

“That was Ryan,” Mike said.

“Oh.” Realization came over his face. “What disease did he get?”

“He just got really, really tan,” Janice said.

“Oh. I thought that was hair.”
Andrew shrugged.

Everyone laughed again, unable to stop.

Hours later, I still didn’t have my baby. The contractions came and went, and they were getting closer to each other every time. The pain level increased with each one, and soon I was practically breaking Sean’s fingers.

“I have to be ten centimeters by now,” I said irritably.

“The doctor will let us know,” he said patiently.

“I’ll check.” Mike said as he walked to the end of the bed.

Sean gave him a look of hatred that would scare the shit out of the devil.

“Joking.” Mike walked back to Cassandra, who was sitting in a chair while she breastfed Trinity, a blanket covering her chest.

Sean calmed down slightly but he was still irritated.

“Geez, get a grip,” Mike said as he rolled his eyes.

“Look who I found in the cafeteria.” Janice pulled Ryan into the room.

We all agreed to stop making fun of him after he walked out. So everyone was silent, keeping their promises.

Ryan looked at everyone, waiting for someone to take a jab. When nobody did, he relaxed. “That baby still in there?”

“Sean, take her out.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “How? You want me to reach in there and just pull?”

“Yes, please.” I couldn’t stop sweating. I was so uncomfortable. “Cassandra?”

“Hmm?” she asked while she held Trinity.

Mike was watching her breastfeed, his eyes lustful.

“Does it really hurt as bad as they say…?” I asked.

Cassandra smirked. “Get the needle.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “So, it didn’t hurt after the drugs?”

“No, it did,” she said with a nod. “So I can’t imagine how painful it must be without the drugs.”

My spine shivered. “I’m definitely getting the needle.”

“But it’s so worth it.” Cassandra held Trinity close to her.

Mike peeked under the blanket, watching his daughter suck on her breast.

“Um, do you mind?” Cassandra asked.

“No.” Mike kept staring.

“Mike, there are people here,” she growled.

“So? I married you so I can stare at your tits all I want,” he argued.

Cassandra pulled the blanket back down so he couldn’t see. “Go get Scarlet something.”

“She said she doesn’t want anything,” Mike said. “I already asked.
”

“Well, just go away,”
Cassandra said irritably.

“You like it when I stare at your tits.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Yes, in the privacy of our own home, not when your sister-in-law is about to have a baby and she’s nervous about it.”

“If it makes you feel better, Sean stares at my chest all the time,” I said. “All. The. Time.”

“I’m not going to refute that.” Sean said as he looked down my gown.

I hit his shoulder playfully. “I’m about to have a baby.”

“And how did that baby get there?” Sean countered.

“Your parents are listening,” I argued.

He shrugged. “My parents know I like your tits. So what?”

I covered my face, mortified.

Andrew smiled. “My boys are smart, confident, and very loveable. But they sure as hell don’t have any proper manners.”

“No, they don’t,”
Cassandra said firmly.

The doctor knocked then walked inside. “How are we doing?”

“Get this baby out of me,” I blurted. My forehead dripped in sweat so Sean patted it dry.

She smiled. “Let me see how far you’re dilated.” She looked at the crowd in the room. “Having a party?”

“Something like that,” I said in irritation.

“Well, please leave the room.” She sat on the stool then pulled on her gloves.

Everyone left without protest and shut the door.

The doctor measured the dilation. “You’re ready, Mrs. Preston.”

“Oh.” I was excited but scared as hell at the same time.

“I thought you would be more excited?” she said with a smile.

“I guess I’m just scared,” I admitted.

“It’ll be over before you know it. A small period of pain for a lifetime of happiness,” she said as she threw her gloves away.

I just hoped that time would be extremely short.

“We’ll take you to the delivery room. It’s time.” She walked out to get the nurse.

“It’s really happening…” It suddenly hit me. Skye would be here soon.

“It is.” Sean grabbed my hand and kissed it. “I’m so happy.”

“Me too…ish.”

He laughed. “Baby, you’ll be fine. I’ll be there the whole time.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” He kissed my forehead despite the beads of sweat covering it. “Now let’s do this.”

The nurse and daughter came back then unlocked the wheels of my bed. They took me out and down the hallway.

Everyone’s eyes widened in excitement.

“It’s really happening?” Flynn asked. “Awesome!”

“You can do it, Scarlet,” Cortland said. “You’ll kick ass.”

The doctor looked at all of them. “I sincerely hope you don’t expect them all to join you.”

“No,” I said. “Just one. Ryan, come on.”

“What?” he asked. “You want me to be there?”

“Yes,” I said. “Now shut up and come on.”

“Is he family?” the doctor asked.

“My brother,” I said. “And I want him there.”

“Okay.” She pushed me down the hallway while Sean walked beside me, still holding my hand.

After I was in the room, Ryan and Sean dressed in their gowns then joined me. Sean was at my side, his hand locked in mine. They already gave me the shot and I felt the numbing sensation.

“You’re doing great, baby.” His thumb trailed over my knuckles.

Ryan stood on the other side of me. “I’m staying way up here by your head.” He eyed my open legs. “And I’m not moving.”

“Please don’t,” I said.

He grabbed my hand. “Now bring Skye home, Scar.”

“It’s time to start pushing,” the doctor said.

“Okay…” I took a deep breath and began.

Yikes, it really was as painful as everyone said. I grabbed Sean’s hand so hard I thought I might have broken a few fingers. Sean didn’t complain or wince. He supported the back of my neck while I pushed. His lips were near my ear, giving me the support and encouragement I needed.

“She’s almost here, Scarlet,” Sean said.
“Imagine holding her in your arms.”

That thought gave me more motivation to keep pushing.

“Through your nose and out your mouth,” Sean commanded.

I squeezed his hand again as another bout of pain came through.

“Damn, you’re going to break my hand, Scar,” Ryan said.

I kept squeezing it, trying to get through the pain.

Sean never pulled his hand away.

When I suddenly felt the emptiness inside me, I knew Skye was out. Silence stretched before crying echoed in the room. I breathed hard, trying to catch my breath. I felt like I just ran three marathons in a row.

“We’ll give her to you after she gets cleaned up,” the nurse said.

Ryan patted my face and forehead with a rag before he tossed it.

“You did great, baby.” Sean pressed his face to mine. “She’s here.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I whispered.

“Yes, you could. But we’re better when we work together as a team.”

The nurse came to me with the bundle in her arms then she extended Skye to Sean.

“No,” Sean said. “My wife deserves to hold her first.”

The nurse smiled then placed my daughter in my arms. She was still crying, but it was such a beautiful sound.

“Oh my god…” I couldn’t believe I was holding her. She was here. She was real.

Sean sat on the bed beside me and
put his arm over my shoulder. “God, she’s beautiful.”

The hormones weren’t responsible for the emotional I felt. Unable to control how amazing it was to hold my baby girl, my eyes broke down in tears and I cried while I held her in my arms. I sniffed while I looked at the face that was still slightly red. She had blue eyes just like
me and Sean, but the curve of her eyes reminded me of Sean’s. Her lips were thin like mine, and her face was thin and curved too.