First Kiss Last

by Sara Miller

  Leah didn’t want to answer. She briefly tried to wait him out but soon gave up.

  “Well, yes, but I rescheduled.”

  “You rescheduled,” he repeated her words back.

  “I was sick.”

  “You were sick?” his voice was mildly concerned but then he chuckled. “You’re a terrible liar, hun.”

  “Okay, fine! I put them off. I didn’t want to take them with Lily and I didn’t want to take them alone. I kept thinking if I waited long enough—” Leah closed her mouth. She should not have said anything. She felt stupid putting off something so important just in case Cade would change his mind and want to be involved.

  “I’m an idiot,” he said. “I was mad and stubborn but I should have—”

  “Cade!” Whatever he was going to say was lost when she gripped him tightly, “I think my water just broke.”

  “Wake up!” he said. “Wake up!”

  Cade shook her.

  “Leah, wake up!”

  But it wasn’t Cade, it was Robert. She was sitting on the bench. The porch light had been turned on and Robert was in her face shaking her.

  “I’m awake,” she told him. Leah did not need to look down, she could feel the wetness. She looked just to be sure.

  “I think it’s time,” she told him.

  “Should I text Cade?”

  “He knows.”

  Robert looked at her skeptically. He took out his phone, wavering. Leah sighed.

  “Text him if it will make you feel better.”

  He smiled but before he could do anything his phone pinged. Leah wanted to laugh at the expression on her brother-in-law’s face.

  “Um . . . he says he’ll meet us there.”

  Leah did laugh then. She started and couldn’t stop. She was still laughing when Lily popped her head out the screen door.

  “There you two are! What is so funny?”

  “Robert’s face,” Leah managed to say. “Oh and hey, my water broke.”

  Leah then laughed at Lily’s face. Laughed until she cried. Laughed until another contraction hit and her sister jumped into action.

  Chapter 43

  “My God, I make beautiful babies,” Cade boasted proudly, holding a tiny bundle in his arms. Lily was pouting because her turn holding the baby was already over.

  “Hey, I did a lot of the work, mister!” Leah teased. She thought her voice sounded tired. No, she’d passed ‘tired’ eight hours ago. Or was it longer? Leah didn’t even know. She was exhausted. And sore.

  Leah tried not to think about the pain. Or the fluids and various substances. She shuddered. She felt like her body had been turned inside out.

  “Are you okay?” Cade was instantly at her side.

  She grimaced, remembering.

  “Don’t think about it,” he told her soberly.

  She tried not to but her body throbbed as a constant reminder.

  “You were freaking amazing, love.”

  Leah thought Cade was the amazing one. He was at her side the entire time. Lily had stepped aside and let Cade be completely involved. Completely present.

  Real life.

  In the flesh.

  Cade Emerson.

  This version was somehow even better than the dream-Cade and she loved him so much more.

  “How’s the ice pack?” the nurse asked.

  “Helping a lot. Thank you.” Leah was not used to people being up in her business but that ship had sailed hours ago. So when they cleaned her up and put ice between her legs, she was grateful. Giant granny panty, diaper, ice pack combo and all. It was exactly what she needed.

  “Robert texted,” Lily interrupted Leah’s thoughts, bringing her back to the present. “He’s getting the girls ready. Then he’ll pick up Sky and Liam on the way.”

  “Oh my gosh, I’m a mess!” Leah panicked.

  “You are beautiful,” Cade insisted.

  Lily scoffed and dug through the bag she brought. She pulled out a hair brush and a makeup bag.

  “Bless you.” Leah let her sister wash her face, apply a little makeup, and attempt to do something with her hair. She felt marginally better.

  Leah closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds and heard the tiny cry of her child. Her body felt so foreign to her right now but also somehow it naturally knew what to do. It felt surreal.

  Cade laid their baby to her breast. Tiny pink lips found her nipple and sucked. Leah knew she was lucky. Not all babies latched on so quickly. Thankfully, their child knew what to do.

  Leah watched, absolutely fascinated. It might get old later but right now it was beautiful. She looked up and saw Cade was equally transfixed.

  “Sky and Liam both took a bottle,” he said.

  Leah looked back down. She watched Cade gently stroke the tiny hand at her breast. Long fingers, still tinged purple, flexed and grabbed on to Cade’s thumb.

  “Good grip,” Cade said proudly.

  Leah smiled. She could not believe her life right now. She was a mother. She had a living, breathing child. And she had Cade at her side. It was almost more than she could fathom.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Lily broke the moment. “Robert just called from the van. All the kids refuse to eat breakfast and demand to be brought here immediately. He’s about ten minutes out.”

  “Good,” Leah and Cade said at the same time. Leah was ready for the rest of her family to be here.

  “I’ve been here all night,” Lily reminded them.

  Leah just smiled sweetly. She knew where her sister was going with this. She wanted to know the gender of the baby, but Leah and Cade were waiting to tell everyone at once.

  “I even left the room for the delivery. I’ve been accommodating and done everything you’ve asked of me . . .”

  Leah looked at Cade. He merely smiled at Lily as well.

  “You seriously aren’t going to tell me?!” Lily made a rude noise that startled the baby. Hands on her hips, Lily waited a few more seconds before giving up.

  “Fine. I’m going for coffee,” Lily pouted her way out of the room.

  And then they were alone. Just the three of them. Leah continued to marvel. Cade apparently was not going to stop smiling. She did not remember ever being happier.

  “So, do you have any names picked out?” Cade asked as he pulled the chair up as close to the bed as possible.

  Leah shrugged.

  “Do you?”

  This time it was Cade who shrugged.

  “Speaking of names though . . .” Leah broached the subject carefully. “I have a question. Something Nicole said.”

  “Okay . . .” Cade’s whole demeanor changed. He seemed guarded.

  “Did you name Liam yourself?”

  Cade looked down at the baby, not meeting her eyes. Leah thought he looked guilty. She waited patiently. Finally he spoke.

  “Yeah, I picked out his name. It just seemed right,” he looked up at her then. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. Naming Liam after you, as close as I could, was a way to always have a piece of you with me.” He shrugged and his hard jaw jetted out, “I’m not sorry.”

  “I’m not sorry either. I am honored. And I love Liam’s name,” she squeezed his hand and hoped he could see how much it meant to her.

  Cade touched her face and she leaned into his palm.

  After a few moments she asked, “Got any other great name ideas?”

  “I was thinking about your grandma or my grandpa,” he confessed.

  “Me too,” she laughed lightly. They looked at each other then down at their baby. “What if . . .” Leah thought for a second before saying more.

  She quickly explained her idea. Cade just as quickly agreed. And just like that, their child had a name. Leah decided this was now her new happiest moment.

  There was a soft knock on the door. Lily entered and peeked around the privacy curtain. “They’re here,” she said excitedly. “Last chance to tell me first!” she teased.

  Without waiting for an answer, Lily pu
shed back the curtain and arranged the extra chair with a pillow for a baby holding station. Leah watched her sister keep herself busy. Last, she came over to the bed and made sure Leah was covered and decent.

  When the kids entered, Leah had never heard them be so quiet. She listened while the water ran as everyone washed their hands. She heard splashes and hushed whispers.

  Leah held her baby and waited. Sky came forward first and Cade wrapped her in a hug. They had a quiet exchange before Sky approached and peeked at the baby.

  The look of awe on Sky’s face was priceless. Leah could tell the teen was smitten. She’d seen that same look when Sky smiled at Liam. Maybe this was her newest happiest moment. She was quickly getting overwhelmed by the emotion of it all.

  Liam popped up next to the bed. His little eyes were round with wonder. He stretched, trying to get a better view. Leah laughed and Cade picked him up.

  “Whoa,” Liam said.

  Cade chuckled at his son’s reaction and set him back down.

  Allison and Emmie were next. Robert and Lily offered to lift the girls up, but both just stood and stared.

  “Cool,” Allison declared.

  “Very cool,” Robert agreed. He gave Cade a hardy handshake then moved in to give Leah a careful hug, “Congratulations, Mom.”

  Leah beamed. Her smile slipped slightly when she caught an odd expression on Cade’s face. It was gone so quickly, she thought she imagined it.

  Robert moved back and put his arms around Lily. They stood together smiling happily. Everyone was smiling. The joy in the room was palpable.

  Finally Emmie moved in. She climbed up on the bed before anyone could stop her. The adults, Sky included, took a step forward. Leah shook her head and they all relaxed.

  “Hi baby. Hi sweetie. I’m your cousin,” Emmie touched the baby ever so gently. She grinned. “Oh, Aunt Leah, she’s beautiful!” Her words came out as a breathless whisper but everyone seemed to have heard.

  “So it’s a girl?” Lily asked.

  Leah and Cade exchanged glances. They wondered how Emmie knew. But there was so much about their experiences that had no explanation, they just accepted Emmie’s knowing.

  Lily’s patience ran out. “Oh, just tell us already!” she demanded.

  Realizing she had spoiled the surprise, Emmie’s little face fell. Leah handed Cade the baby and wrapped Emmie in her arms. She had to shift to do it and it hurt. A lot. But Emmie was crying and she had to comfort her niece.

  “It’s okay, princess,” Cade also tried to reassure her. Leah shushed and soothed and Emmie slowly recovered. Finally, Leah looked up at Cade and gave a nod.

  “I guess it’s time for an introduction!” His voice was rich and warm and very proud.

  Lily would have been bouncing if Robert hadn’t been holding her tightly. Allison and Liam were. Even Sky could not stand completely still.

  “Dad, you’re killing us! Come on already,” Sky pleaded.

  Lily stomped her foot.

  Cade laughed. He took a deep breath and began, “Leah suggested we name our child after my Grandpa Henry, because she knows just how special he was to me.” His voice cracked with emotion and she reached out and took his hand. He squeezed it and continued, “So we’d like you all to meet Hen—”

  “I have a brother?!” Liam whooped, fist in the air.

  Everyone laughed.

  Except Emmie.

  “But . . . but . . .” Emmie’s face was scrunched up in confusion.

  Leah could not help but smile. She touched her niece on the nose and told her to listen. Cade tried again.

  “We’d like you to meet Henley Grace Emerson!”

  “I have a sister!” Sky put out her arms and Cade let his daughters officially meet. “I’ve never had a sister,” she mused, eyes glued on the bundle in her arms. “She looks a lot like Liam, except her face is rounder. Like Leah’s.”

  Leah turned her attention to the rest of the room. Everyone was reacting well to the news. Liam did not seem upset to not have a brother. Her nieces looked happy too. Lily was beside herself with joy.

  “Grace! After Gigi! Leah, it’s perfect!”

  “Thanks, Aunt Lily.”

  Lily beamed at her sister. She came over and hugged her, completely overcome by emotion.

  Meanwhile, Robert and Cade both had their phones out and started taking pictures. All the children had a turn holding the baby. Allison and Emmie sat together for theirs. Robert took his turn last.

  “You sure you don’t want another one?” he teased his wife.

  Lily shook her head and laughed. “No way! It’s finally my turn to be the aunt!”

  They passed the baby back to Leah. Cade, Sky, and Liam moved in for their first family photo. Leah decided this was her favorite moment instead.

  The nurse came in and frowned at such a large group. She made noise about maybe taking turns in the room or coming back later. It did not sound half bad. Leah wondered if she could get a bit of sleep.

  “Just a few more minutes, please. I have something really important I need to say,” Cade said.

  The nurse gave him a look but did not kick anyone out. Instead, she stood with her arms crossed, clearly making her opinion known.

  Cade looked at Sky and she handed a small package to her dad. Leah had seen it before. Was this really happening? She watched Cade get down on one knee.

  “Leah . . . will you marry me, love?”

  “Yes!” This time her voice worked. This time she could answer freely with her whole heart. Cade slipped the ring on her finger and the diamond twinkled. Everyone was talking at once. Liam was whooping it up.

  Leah peeked at the nurse and even she was smiling. When things calmed down, the nurse tried again, “Anything else?” she asked, her tone more friendly.

  “Actually, yes.” Cade looked surprised when Leah spoke but she had officially waited long enough.

  “Cade, I just had your baby. I love you. I can’t wait to be your wife, but I have been waiting for something since I was fourteen years old . . .”

  Leah watched recognition dawn on Cade’s face.

  “As you wish,” he said leaning in, their faces only a breath apart.

  Cade kissed her for the first time ever in real life.

  After all they’d been through, they shared their first kiss at last. Even though it was over twenty years in the making and done completely out of order, it was literally everything she had dreamed and then some. It was also probably quite inappropriate for the smaller children to witness. But Leah did not care and Cade did not break the kiss.

  The kids squealed. Leah heard Lily promise to explain to Robert later. It didn’t matter if no one else understood. It was absolutely perfect.

  This was it. Leah was now two hundred percent sure: this was her happiest moment ever.

  Epilogue

  Leah stood in Cade’s bedroom holding their daughter. She looked around in confusion. When she saw Cade, she couldn’t help but smile.

  “What are we doing here?” she asked. Cade came up and wrapped them both in a hug. He kissed Leah then kissed their daughter.

  Little Henley was still dressed and wrapped in the hospital-issued garments. Even the generic pink and blue hat was still on her head.

  “You know,” Leah gently chided, “We don’t have to keep meeting like this anymore.”

  “We have three kids, love. We’ll want to take our privacy anywhere we can get it.” He kissed her to show what he meant.

  “Besides,” he added, “I couldn’t wait any longer to show you!” Cade did look very excited. Like Liam on Christmas.

  “Show me what?” she laughed.

  Instead of telling her, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bedroom. Leah moved easily and knew in real life even taking these few steps would hurt.

  Cade led them down the hall and opened Liam’s door. Inside was no longer the room of a small boy. All the boy paraphernalia had been removed and in its place was a soft neutral palette.
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  Leah stepped inside and rocked her daughter in her arms as she turned a full circle. She took in a storybook nursery.

  “But where? How?” She tried to ask too many questions at the same time. “It’s beautiful,” she said instead.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it. It’s perfect! But you didn’t have to get all this. I already have most of it. And where is Liam’s stuff?” She panicked thinking of Liam being displaced.

  Cade led her over to the glider rocker. She sat down, still stunned.

  “First of all, most of it is your stuff. I . . .” he rubbed his head in a guilty fashion. “I might have convinced Robert to bring it over. You did say yes, and I want you both here. Lily and the kids all pitched in as soon as they left the hospital.”

  Leah tried to wrap her brain around what he had orchestrated. They had worked fast! She was impressed and blessed. She thought about Liam again but before she could ask, Cade was ready to answer.

  “Secondly, Liam took Sky’s room.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

  “Okay, then what about Sky?” Leah cringed as her words came out more of a demand than a question.

  Now Cade looked confused. “She moved into the basement.”

  “You have a basement?”

  “We have a basement,” he corrected with a chuckle. “When you get out of the hospital you need to come see the house in real life. I’ll give you a tour.”

  Cade helped her up and once again encircled her in a hug as if he could not keep his hands off her. Leah did not mind. She felt the same way.

  “Side note,” he said, “No more hugging Robert.”

  “Cade Emerson, you were jealous!” she accused with a laugh. “Robert has always been a big brother to me. You know that.”

  “I know. He’s a good guy too,” Cade chuckled. “I just can’t help myself. Old habits die hard. I waited a long time for you, love.”

  “I waited a long time for you too.” They gazed at each other for several heartbeats. Leah could barely believe all that had brought them to this moment.

  “Did you see the crib?” Cade asked, breaking the silence. His voice sounded unsure.

  Leah stepped over to the crib. It was absolutely gorgeous. She had never seen anything so beautiful. With the woodgrain and the detailing, the craftsmanship was impeccable. None of the store-bought cribs Lily had been pushing on her could even compare. She ran her hand along the edge of the polished wood.