by Karina Halle
“Delilah,” my mother calls out, wiping her hands on her apron. “Get back in here and help.”
I give Fox a pathetic pleading look.
“Fine,” he says. “I’ll help.”
We head back into the kitchen and the three of us finish up the roast. Now that Rachel is severely pregnant, we all chip in with the cooking. It can get a little crowded in the kitchen. Especially when Conan is around.
“Hey,” my mother says, shooing him away as he tried to take a carrot. “Del, Fox, what did I say about not letting him loose in this house when we’re trying to cook?”
Conan makes a tittering noise of disgust and then does an impressive leap off the counter and onto Fox’s arm where he scrambles up and sits on his shoulder.
“Well it ain’t your house, Jeanie,” Dick says coming around the corner. “And I love this little bugger, even if he doesn’t love me.”
He leans in to pet Conan but the squirrel literally runs up over Fox’s head and onto the other shoulder. Conan doesn’t like too many people and he’s especially afraid of Dick for some reason. I think because he tries too hard.
Dick grumbles. “One day I’ll win you over. You’re just a rat in a good suit.”
Or maybe it’s because he’s always calling him a rat.
Then Dick heads into the living room, taking a seat beside Rachel on the couch.
I share a warm smile with Fox and we go back to cooking.
Everything is just about ready when suddenly we hear Rachel cry out softly and then Dick say, “Jumping Joseph, Rachel I think your water just broke.”
We all run out of the kitchen just in time to see Dick pass out right on top of Rachel’s belly, completely asleep.
She looks at us with wide-eyes. “The baby is coming. Dick feel asleep!”
It’s hard not to laugh at the sight. We quickly get Dick off of her so he can snooze away in his narcoleptic state, and then help Rachel to her feet.
Her water definitely broke.
Everywhere.
“Oh my god!” Shane exclaims, pretty much yelling, pressing his hands into the side of his head. “It’s finally happening!” He jumps up and down. “It’s finally happening!”
“Get their bags!” I yell and Vernalee comes running toward us with their overnight bags in her hands.
“Got it!” she says, starting to jump in the same way that Shane is, freaking out.
“Who is driving?” Hank asks, not freaking out.
“I will,” Fox says. “I’m the only sober one.”
I glance at my mother and she says, “I’ll watch Emily. And the squirrel. Just go.”
As quickly as we can we rush out to the Jeep, Shane and Rachel in the backseat, me and Fox in the front. I know the others won’t be far behind.
“Are you okay?” I ask her as we roar off.
Rachel nods. “Yes. Yes. Definitely having contractions.” She winces.
“You’re having a baby, we’re having a baby,” Shane says excitedly.
“Shane, really, it’s not a big deal,” Fox says, smirking at him in the rearview mirror. “People have babies all the time.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Shane says but he can’t stop grinning.
“This is so exciting,” I tell them. “I can’t remember Emily’s birth so it’s like I get to live vicariously through you.”
“I know I’m going to wish I was passed out through the whole thing,” Rachel says, starting to hunch over. “This fucking…” she groans loudly. “Fuck.”
“Remember your breathing,” Shane says, holding her hand.
“Taking your breathing and shove it up your ass,” Rachel snaps.
Fox and I look at each other with raised brows. Whoa. That escalated quickly.
And it does.
It goes very quickly.
We get to the hospital and there’s no waiting around with her. The baby is coming and fast so they get Rachel into the delivery room pretty much right away. Within four or five hours, the doctor is coming out to us all in the waiting room and telling us that there’s a healthy baby girl that’s been delivered.
“And the name?” Fox asks him.
“Raven,” Shane says as he appears from around the corner, looking proud as fuck to finally be a father. “Raven Tabitha Angelina Nelson.”
“That’s quite the mouthful,” Maverick mutters under his breath.
Riley elbows him.
Hours later, we’re all allowed in to see her.
Rachel is lying on the hospital bed, looking worn-out and pale but still glowing and gorgeous all the same. In her arms is a pink little newborn with a shock of dark hair, just like hers.
Raven suits her all right.
Fox leans across the bed and hands Shane a cigar. “Welcome to the club, brother. Glad to have you.”
I hoist up Emily into my arms so she can get a better view of the baby.
“That’s your baby cousin,” I tell her. “Her name is Raven.”
Emily smiles gleefully. “Do you think we’ll be best friends?”
Everyone laughs. Some people are still crying. Definitely Vernalee.
“You’ll be the best of friends.”
“Do you think she’ll like my Flutterby and the ponies?”
“I think she’ll like all those things, sweetheart.”
“Do you think she’ll like adult beads?”
Riley snorts. So loud.
Dick asks, “What on God’s green earth are adult beads?”
“I have a feeling you don’t want to know, grandpa,” Fox says.
Dick shakes his head. “Sometimes I wonder about all of you. How did we all even get here? What a crazy clan of loons I have.”
Everyone looks at each other and smiles. A crazy clan of loons? I think that’s about right.
Otherwise known as the Nelsons.
Acknowledgements
This book could not have been possible without the love of Scott Mackenzie, the understanding of Bruce, and the patience of Roxane LeBlanc. Thank you guys so much for helping me make this book happen.
To my anti-heroes, you have my back. I couldn’t ask for better readers, fans and friends.
To my IG and Twitter families, you all rock. Thank you for your support. Also shout-out to my favourite squirrels I follow on there :D
To Nina at Social Butterly - you’re my rock!
To anyone reading this, thank you so much for taking a chance on me and this book. I really appreciate it!
Remember to thank all the unsung heroes of this world! We need them now more than ever.
Also by karina halle
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Where Sea Meets Sky (from Atria Books)
Racing the Sun (from Atria Books)
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The Play
Winter Wishes
The Lie
The Debt
Smut
Heat Wave
Before I Ever Met You
Rocked Up
After All
Bad at Love
Wild Card (North Ridge #1)
Maverick (North Ridge #2)
Hot Shot (North Ridge #3)
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Dirty Deeds (Dirty Angels #2)
Dirty Promises (Dirty Angels #3)
Black Hearts (Sins Duet #1)
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Horror Romance
Darkhouse (EIT #1)
Red Fox (EIT #2)
The Benson (EIT #2.5)
Dead Sky Morning (EIT #3)
Lying Season (EIT #4)
On Demon Wings (EIT #5)
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The Devil’s Duology
Donners of the Dead
Veiled