“Keep pushing,” Dr. Blaine said. “Perfect. You’re doing perfect, Avery.”
Almost an hour later, the whole thing was finished. Donavan watched as Anya was cleaned.
“Let me see her.” Avery’s raspy voice wasn’t sultry as usual but seemed tired. The words were at the tip of his tongue to tell her to get some rest, but Donavan stopped himself. She needed to be in the here and now throughout the entire process. They both did. This moment had been stolen from them the first time.
He tore his gaze away from the baby and headed over to give Avery a kiss.
“She’s beautiful.”
“She is?” Avery’s chocolate brown eyes warmed.
“Yes, all ten fingers and toes.”
“I love you so much, Donnie. What does she look like?” Avery’s aura brightened with excitement. “Bring her here.”
“Just a second. But she has my eyes.”
“Aw, man,” Avery’s body shook with a chuckle. “Hazel eyes aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.”
He planted a kiss on her mouth then stood up straight to sign, “Guess whose hair?”
“My thick, lustrous . . .” Avery began to play with her hair and then frowned. “Yuck, I look like—”
“The prettiest site in all of the Carolinas. But she has my hair.”
“Oh no, she’s going to be a badass just like you.”
“Mr. Hardy, Miss Castle.” Doctor Blaine caught Avery’s attention. “While I’m unable to confirm or deny how badass your daughter will become, I’m highly honored that I can present her to you both.”
The door opened. Alexander peeped inside. “Good, I stepped in at an appropriate time.”
“Well, your granddaughter is a looker.” Dr. Blaine turned the baby toward him. “But the little lady is rather an impatient one. She’s hungry.”
“Dad, just come sit over here. It’s the safest area.” Antonio ushered him over to the couch. “I recorded the entire thing—sans scary stuff.”
Avery gasped.
13
Avery
The light from the hallway cast a faint glow into the hospital suite. The mattress shifted. Avery groaned, eyes closed as she felt Donavan’s strong arms move from around her waist. He gave her bicep a soft squeeze as if he wanted her to continue to sleep, but she told herself that no matter how comfortable she just felt, she had to wake up. She rubbed her eyes, opening them slowly. It took seconds for her to adjust to the dark and for her to realize just where they were as Donavan lifted Anya from the bassinet stationed right beside her bed.
Anya’s tiny mouth was open wide, gums showing. Though she could not here it, Anya’s cry spoke to her mother’s soul. She pressed the buttons on the left railing beside her bed, and a dim light turned on.
“You’ll learn to differentiate a cry which implies you should change baby’s diaper or feed baby.” The Lamaze coach had said with a beam while glancing around at the sea of soon-to-be mothers, before offering a look of apology to Avery.
As Anya gave a pout, Avery silently begged God to hear her daughter for just one minute. Sixty seconds was all she needed to learn the sound of Anya’s voice and treasure it forever in her heart.
“Go back to bed, sweetheart,” Donavan mouthed. “I think she’s just wet. You’ve got milk duty. I’ve got poop duty.”
“But I don’t want to go back to bed.” Avery pouted, feeling ridiculous for arguing when she had a situation most women dreamed of, which included a man who took charge over a poopy diaper during the midnight hour.
He made quick work of changing Anya while glancing at Avery after every few words to drive his point home. “Babe, you just gave birth. You need rest. Trust me. In another hour, I won’t be of much use.”
“Yeah, I wish,” she murmured, gazing at their daughter.
Once he finished with Anya, Donavan climbed back onto his side of the twin-sized bed that was only useful when they spooned. His fingertips skimmed Avery’s cheek until she gave him her attention. “You wish I’d stop helping? I distinctively recall you picking up Carly’s ‘men ain’t shit’ theme, but damn.” His attempt at a joke fell flat.
Avery closed her eyes instantly, rubbing a hand over her face. After a cleansing breath, Avery began to sign. “I apologize. That was definitely taken out of context, Donnie. Not the man bashing, it helped to a certain extent while in the moment, but the wish. What I was trying to say is that I wish I was of more use to her and you.”
“What do you mean?”
“How will I mother her when you’re not around? If I’m not staring at Anya 24/7 and she begins to cry or when she crawls, she could get hurt—”
Donavan clasped his hands over hers, stopping her anxious movements. He kissed each of her palms, and then the soft patch of skin at her wrists, setting her pulse on fire with wanting him. Donavan planted his lips on Avery’s forehead and readjusted the bed until they’d returned to a parallel position with her wild hair feathering out around the pillow. He leaned on his elbow, looking down at her. “AC, we walk by faith.”
“Oh, I love that.” She giggled. The suffocating feeling of not being able to raise Anya as any other mother would fade. The desire of being loved totally by him and craving him flew to the backburner too as Avery smiled. “I couldn’t say it better myself, Donnie.”
The left side of his mouth cocked up, and damn, but he looked sexy. “Damn straight. That’s all the inspiration I have for you right now, Avery. I’m tired as fuck. Now, you’re my heart, so if you want to keep saying crazy stuff, I’ll keep refuting it. But I promise that in the next few hours, that little baby will scream bloody murder for some mommy milk. We could get some rest, or we could have a lil’ bit of fun, but not too much . . .”
He pressed his lips against her neck, his tongue darting out, signing his initials at her vulnerable pulse. Like an avalanche, the desire she felt a few moments ago returned. He nipped softly at Avery’s neck, his lips trailing to her earlobe, forcing a feline purr from her lips. When Donavan’s erection slammed against the apex of her hips, Avery laughed. “Get behind me, Satan.”
Donavan stopped nibbling at her ear and placed the side of his head on the pillow, so they could talk. “What? I thought I’d just taken you to heaven then you mention Satan?” Donavan arched an eyebrow as his hand tugged beneath her night gown, his thumb caressing over her nipple. The laughter on her face was doused by a scorching desire. Avery licked her lips. Yearning sparkled in her eyes, and she settled on torturing herself by biting down on the inside of her cheek. The pain lessened the aching desire of tasting him. It was not much, but it was something.
“Donavan Hardy, I know for a fact that I’m not a sight for sore eyes or anything else in between with my Medusa hair and these crumply bed clothes,” she began, only to be interrupted by his mouth on her lips again.
“Just one taste,” he begged.
“No! Earlier, when my breasts were engorged, and I begged for help, you refused.”
“That’s because you were creeping me out,” he mouthed and signed the words for emphasis. Donavan placed his hand back beneath her gown to touch her achy, pebble of a nipple. His thumb trailing over the moistness until they began to leak.
Chewing on her lip, Avery glanced from the crib to the door slightly ajar and back at him.
“One taste,” she murmured, cheeks flaming with embarrassment. “A taste, nothing else.”
* * *
Junior and Joshua sat on the two-seater tan-colored couch beside the hospital bed with plates of pancakes that Carly had brought. Carly and Donavan were at the hospital Starbucks getting orders for everyone.
Avery held Anya in her arms and smiled at her son. “What did the two of you do last night? Did you take care of your grandpop?”
They mentioned the latest video games and spoke with lackluster about Greg, who didn’t make an appearance from his bedroom last night.
“Why does Anya,” Junior stopped signing to make sucking movements with his mouth. “Why
does she do that, Mommy?”
Grinning, Avery’s hand grazed along his soft cheek and she said, “I’m not entirely sure how to explain it, Junior, but it’s a reflex. Sucking makes your little sister feel comfortable.” She glanced at where Donavan stood by the door watching them. There was a light in his honey gaze that she’d never noticed before, and it made her feel warm as he watched. He not only looked like a man in love, but maybe just maybe he wanted more than the milk he couldn’t stop tasting last night. “What are you doing? And where is my decaf caramel macchiato?”
He licked his lips then spoke. “Carly elbowed me when the barista she was flirting with seemed a bit hesitant and asked if we were a couple, so me being me, I know when I’m not wanted. I hit the road. Now, I’m just standing here, falling in love with you all over again.”
“Oh,” she snickered. “I’m glad to see your priorities are straight. You’ve got six weeks.”
When Donavan wasn’t looking at her, and the heat from his eyes transformed into to something friendlier, Avery glanced over at Junior.
“Where are we going in six weeks?” The excitement on their son’s face was too much to bear.
“I wanna go too,” Josh said.
Avery turned back to Donavan who had started to laugh. His straight white teeth were perfectly framed by pleasing lips. How sexy does Donavan sound laughing? The thought popped in her head rather swiftly. Avery hadn’t put much consideration to sounds since she started playing the piano as a child. Shoving those thoughts away, Avery cocked her head at Donavan
“No, you explain it, you brought it up.”
“Um,” she began noticing that Joshua, being a few years older, was beginning to catch on as he glanced back and forth. Avery stuttered, “That April festival. The one that’s held very soon. Your dad can’t wait for it.”
“Me either.” Junior said, and she dared not glance back at Donavan knowing he had to be enjoying himself. Carly entered, hefting a container of drinks for the adults. When Donavan took it from her hands, she pulled out two chocolate milks from the pockets of her leather jacket and tossed them to the boys.
“Thanks, Mom,” Joshua said.
“Thanks, Auntie,” Junior added. “Hey, can Josh be my brother?”
“Huh?” Carly’s eyebrow rose. She took the cup Donavan handed her. “You guys are cousins, DJ, whaddaya mean?”
“Like Maggie. Maggie is my sister. Anya too. Can Joshua be my brother?”
“That would be cool,” Josh shrugged. “But . . .”
“But?” Junior’s shoulders slumped. “We’re always hanging out together.”
Donavan kneeled before him. “But he’s your cousin, Junior.”
Just as her son spoke the words, Avery noticed the Carlsons stepping into the room with bright beams on their faces.
“Then how is Maggie my sister? You’re my parents, not Ted and Jess—”
“What’s going on here!” Jessica Carlson stood at the door. She shoved the balloons that she was holding into Ted’s hands. Water sloshed out from the vase of daises he held onto his polo shirt. “Are you turning him against us?”
“That’s not what he meant.” Donavan held up a palm.
Avery tried to smile. “I don’t believe he meant it to sound so negatively, Jess. Junior will always see you as his mother, and the two of you have done a great job with him this far. He is frustrated about . . . Joshua.” As she attempted to explain, she felt daggers of anger from Jess. Avery knew if the situation were reversed, she’d have been brought to tears. She could hardly stare at her because Jess had raised her son for years. Now, Avery was celebrating another birth when Jess would never have the opportunity.
“Are you sure getting rid of us isn’t what you wanted? The last few weekends, Maggie and Junior have asked to spend the night with you all!” Jessica fumed, glaring at Avery.
Unaware of the argument or the cement-thick tension in the room, Junior stopped his side conversation where Josh was attempting to cushion the blow of them not being brothers. He glanced up, noticing the Carlsons for the first time and ambled to his feet.
He popped into Ted’s arms, who had set everything down. “Hey, buddy,” Ted said, and then under his breath he added, “Jess, let’s just squash this argument until we all have a Sunday dinner.”
“I agree,” Donavan said.
Junior bounded toward Jessica. Her arms were anchored at her sides, and she glanced down at him with a frown, gripping his chin. “Son, are they turning you—”
“Hey,” Donavan grabbed her arm, “Don’t question my son like that!”
“Let’s not start anything,” Ted began.
“Oh, let’s start something.” Jessica pointed a finger at Avery. “You came into my house and stole my son from right under my nose. I was the bigger person. I chose not to go through litigations and tear out Donavan Junior’s heart because I’m his mother. And because I respected Agnes Hardy—by some seed of faith, I named my son Donavan. Now, you,” she pointed to Donavan Senior, “aren’t going to tell me how to question my son!”
“Jess, they have that right now,” Ted said.
“Because you’re weak and . . . and I just . . .I just.” Jessica stopped speaking, noticing Donavan Junior breathing in heavy spasms as if he were about to cry.
Avery held Anya closely as she started bawling. “Donavan take Anya. Jess, will you just come sit down so the two of us can chat.”
“We haven’t had Sunday dinner in almost a month. Why chat now?”
It almost hurt to say it, but Avery did. “Because of our son.”
Avery knew she was some of the cause for the iceberg creeping up between them. Jess had a history with Junior and what mother wouldn’t be jealous of it? On the other hand, the time Jess and Junior had together was not Jess’s fault in the least. And no matter how much she felt like hating her mother in this moment, it wouldn’t help.
Today, she’d brought another child into the world, and she didn’t want to be ashamed of it. Donavan seemed ready to kick everyone out. So she said again, “Please. I have photos of Maggie and Junior dancing at my parents’ house,” she said meekly, aware that Jessica had been too sick to visit on Valentine’s Day. Motioning to Donavan where he held the baby, Avery said, “And you can talk to Anya. Donavan nicknamed her Honey Bun already. She can throw down on some mommy milk.”
Jess’s gaze darted toward Anya for a fraction of a second. The aura of animosity crashed down only to be revitalized when she grumbled. “You don’t even know Junior like I do!”
Silver tresses swished before Jess’s enraged face as she stormed out of the room. Donavan placed Anya back in Avery’s arms then turned to go to Junior.
Ted was visibly weary, shoulders slumping. He placed a hand on Junior’s shoulder and Donavan clasped an arm around him from behind, placing his chin on the top of his son’s forehead as he silently cried.
“I’m sorry,” Avery mumbled, genuinely feeling bad for Jess. “I know the two of us have only connected for the sake of Junior. But I can’t even begin to imagine how she felt coming here today to see my new baby. Then the misunderstanding.”
After biting his lip, Ted spoke. “That’s quite alright, Avery. I’ve said it a thousand times that Jess can be hard to talk to.” He squatted down to Junior who still seemed to be in shock. “Maggie’s at baseball practice, Junior. She told the entire team that you had a baby sister. You know your mom . . . your other mom, has always been a tough cookie. Mind your manners, alright?”
Carly took Junior over to sit. Avery assessed that she was trying to convince him to try a few more pancakes with Joshua, but she turned to watch Donavan and Ted. The men exchanged a few silent words before Ted patted his shoulder and left.
Avery didn’t know she was crying until tears were streaming down her cheeks as she patted Anya on her shoulder. Avery turned to Carly. “Can you take the boys out of the room for a few.”
After they shuffled out, Avery asked her fiancé, “What did he say?”
“The four of us need to talk We both know that’s one cranky old lady, but she loves the hell out of our son.”
“She does.” Avery sighed.
“Ted also said Jess has been depressed. It increased when Junior moved in permanently at the beginning of the school year, and with Maggie spending weekends, well that just keeps adding to it.”
Avery leaned back onto the elevated bed, placing Anya onto her chest. For a few moments, Avery concentrated on the strong, steady beat of her daughter’s heart. Her tear rimmed eyes met Donavan’s. “How could she say we don’t know our son?”
14
Donavan
She cocked her head to the side, beautiful brown eyes staring at him. Her gaze was glossed with tears. Too many tears while she begged him for an answer that he had. He could tell Avery at this exact second that Donavan Junior had decided he wanted to hear. In the past, Donavan had chosen not to bring it up because Junior had made the statement while in a moment. And he didn’t want his son growing up, deciding things with emotions tied to them.
Donavan sat down, wide legged at the edge of the couch, head dipped, he rubbed the back of his neck. All things considered, this would be the worst time to break it to Avery that everyone else knew that Donavan Junior wanted to hear.
This was Anya’s day, and it didn’t need to be overshadowed with the shock of Jessica’s claims.
With his gaze still cast toward the ground, Donavan groaned. “Jess is just a bitter old lady. Shit, if I hadn’t met my parents, she’d probably had made an obedient little whipper snapper outta me too. So I want to respect her.” Then Donavan shook his head, realizing she hadn’t heard. He sat up, met Avery’s gaze and repeated himself.
Make Me Stay II: A Second Chance Romance Page 9