“Yes. It was Karessa’s idea. I know she was thinking payback but I was just so grateful I didn’t let myself be bothered that you’d be pissed when you figured out you’d been had.” He wiped her face with tissue he had in his pocket.
“You planned for everything, huh?” She sat there while he worked on her.
“I tried to channel my inner True and thought of everything I’d need to give me the best chance to woo you.”
Karessa came around the corner looking very worried. “We’ve got to get to Gemmi. She was supposed to be waiting for us to get there but she thinks she went into labor. She can’t get Camden on the phone and she knew we were all out here. Red is taking her to the hospital.
“What? Camden is going to have a fit if he misses this. Red has the best timing ever.” Alec yelped out. “I’ll call Cam on the way to the hospital.”
“Come on True. You can ride with us.” Karessa said looking at True.
“We’ll meet you there.” Alec said before they all took off for their cars.
Chapter 19
Alec thought he had lots of emotions running through him for the last few months but it had nothing on what he’d felt within the last day. Shit the last few hours had been power packed. He was trying to get to the hospital while True placed calls to Beau and Camden.
“That man is going to go crazy if he’s there for the delivery or if he misses the delivery.” True said as she tried to call Camden’s phone again. “Give me your phone. Maybe I can call with both of them. It’s possible it will be a long time before the babies but I’d like for the man to be there for the deliveries.”
Alec brought out his phone and handed it to her. The words of Joni ran through her mind but she knew now wasn’t the time to check to see if she had a special ring tone but she did take the phone off silent.
Her phone rang and it startled her. “Hello.”
“I got Camden on the phone and Karessa got Beau. The guys are on their way to the hospital so we’ll all meet there.” Rosy said sounding very calm and collected. True was glad someone was. She didn’t want anything to happen to Gemmi and the babies for everyone’s sake. The Haught Boys needed some good to come to them. All this loss and heartache from their past was so hard for them to deal with.
“Okay. Drive safe.” True disconnected the call and looked at Alec.
“So everyone is in route. Great. Now we just need Gemmi and the babies to deliver without a hitch.” Alec blew out a breath. “I have one last thing for you but we got interrupted before I could get to it.”
“What was it?” True wanted to take her mind off Gemmi in the hospital in labor all alone. Well, not all alone Red was there and if she recalled correctly he was a doctor. She was in good hands just not in her hands and that is bothering the side of her that liked control. “I’d appreciate you telling me because my mind is going crazy thinking about Gemmi and we have another half hour before we get there. Take my mind off of that.”
“This isn’t the place or setting I thought this would happen but—” Alec reached into his pocket and pulled out a white handkerchief that was filled with something and pulled into a ball of some sort. He handed it to her. “When we were younger you were always popping out with snacks for everyone wrapped like this. It was usually a paper napkin but it always had something special in it for me. You didn’t have much but you’ve always had the power to make me happy, no matter how hard I tried to fight it.”
True was slightly confused. He was giving her a snack? Well, maybe it made sense they were outside maybe he thought she’d need something to eat while they were outside. It was tied with a pink ribbon and she took out the knot before she opened it. Her heart was beating so hard and fast. She wanted to slow it down. Taking a few breaths she picked up her phone and called his cell.
Maybe I know, somewhere
Deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways
To make it alone
But keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable, distance
And up until now
I had sworn to myself that I'm content
With loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
But, you are, the only exception
You are, the only exception
You are…
The phone cut off and True wasn’t sure what to think about what she’d just heard. The song was from Paramore one of her favorite groups but the words touched her heart. “Is that your ringtone for me because I dragged you to that movie or because it’s my favorite?”
“While I knew that song was one of your favorites, as soon as I left the theatre I looked it up because that song was you for me. I always knew the woman I’d love too hard was you. You were the only exception for me. You always have been.” Alec took her hand and kissed it while keeping his eyes on the road. “We are a very unconventional couple. We’ve known each other forever but I feel like we’ve just gotten started. I know you have a chance to take your art around the world and I’d not want to stop that. Hell I’d even come with you if you wanted me to.”
“You’d leave your family for me?” True was beyond shocked. She knew how much he wanted and adored being with his family.
“I’d never leave my family,” Alec said quickly looking over at True.
“I didn’t think so. How would you come with me if I wanted to tour then?”
“True you’re part of my family too.”
She was grateful she had cried her eyes out at the sunflower field because she only had enough juice for her eyes to get watery before she could pull herself together. “Thank you, Alec.”
“For what? Loving you? It’s my pleasure.”
The hospital was in sight and True put her little package in her purse as Alec pulled up to the front of the hospital.
“Go in and see what’s going on. Call me and tell me where you are while I park.”
True handed him back his phone, gave Alec a quick kiss on the cheek before hopping out of the car.
When she got to the front desk she found out how to get to the maternity department and met Karessa and Rosy just coming in the door.
“We have to go up to the maternity department. That’s where Gemmi is.” True told the ladies as she pressed the elevator button. When they got on she texted Alec the location so he could find her.
The three of them practically ran to the nurses station after leaving the elevator and saw Camden and Beau coming from another direction but headed their way, but the ladies got to the station first.
“We’ve come to see Gemmi Haught.” True said and didn’t like the look in the woman’s eyes.
“Is the father with you?” The nurse said after looking on the sheet in front of her.
“I’m the father.” Camden said. His face was white and he looked like he was going to pass out. “Is Gemmi alright?”
The nurse looked at the entourage like she was weighing what she was going to say. “I’m going to need you to come back with me. She’s in the operating room now having a c-section I’ll see if I can get you scrubbed in.”
“A c-section?” Beau really looked like he was going to crumble. “Is Gemmi going to be alright?” His voice broke on the last word.
“Sir she’s in with the best group of doctors we have. She actually came in with a doctor who is in with her now. You look a bit unsteady. If you don’t want to go in for a bit you could wait until it was over.” The nurse waited for Camden’s decision.
“Of course I want to go in.”
His brothers patted him on the back and offered words of support and encouragement as Camden walked through the doors. The nurse stopped to hand him a plastic package and waited as he put on the yellow coverall and shoe covers. They all watched him walk down the hall until they couldn’t see him anymore.
“This is terrifying.” True said to no one in particular.
> Alec grabbed her hand as another nurse directed them to the waiting room. There was complete silence in the room while they all struggled with their own thoughts.
Red came in and got a cup of coffee from the machine before everyone surrounded him.
“What’s going on in there?” Alec asked in a gruff tone that was filled with his frustration.
“Baby A was breech so they tried to get him to turn around but there wasn’t enough room, then the manipulation to get the baby turned made baby B’s heart rate drop forcing the doctor to do a c-section.”
“Is Gemmi going to be okay?”
“I believe so.” Red took a sip of coffee while he stood under everyone’s gaze. “All we can do is wait now. I’m glad Camden got here in time. They were just starting the incision.”
True wasn’t medical and just thinking about them cutting on her friend was enough to make her gasp. Alec pulled her hand into his and walked them back to sit down.
“I’m sure this is not a good time for this but I think we are getting ready to get real busy real fast and I don’t want this to get lost.” Alec turned to her in the hard hospital seat. “I want you to share your future with me and I want to give my everything to you. What I’m asking doesn’t have to happen soon but I want us to be tied together in each and every way possible.”
She was confused. It sounded like he was asking and then he moved in front of her on his knee.
“Will you marry me? We’ve had the good times and the bad times so I think we should be able to make it through almost anything else.”
True blinked at him feeling like she probably was still asleep on the beach after a few too many drinks. Alec reached for her purse and pulled out the ball of snacks he’d handed her in the car, completely undid the knot as he watched her. When he opened it there were only pink conversation hearts in the bag. She picked up one and plopped it in her mouth but when she looked back down at the candy she saw a flash of something.
“I’ve waited forever for this. It’s like a dream.” True loved the smile on Alec’s face. It was bright and happy. One of the smiles she’d have done anything for in the past. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
He waited until she ended it and looked through the candy producing a large pink solitary diamond with a white diamond band. Alec held the ring out and she splayed her hand so he could place it on the appropriate finger. It wasn’t until then that she heard all the people around them. The little bubble that seemed to encompass them must have broken because she could hear everyone more than she could before.
“I’m hoping this means yes?” Alec said as he watched her stare at the ring on her finger.
“How is that even a question? Of course I’ll marry you. I’ve chased you my entire life because I’ve loved you my entire life. Thank you for loving me back.”
“Thank you for waiting for me to get my head out of my ass and realize that I was going to be miserable without you in my life.” Alec stood up and pulled True up with him and pulled her into a kiss that made her almost forget they weren’t alone.
“Hey…hey, lovebirds. We want to see the ring too.” Beau moved between them and picked up her hand with the ring on it. He whistled long and low. “That’s some shiner.”
Red came over and looked over Rosy and Karessa’s head. “Congrats guys.”
“Thanks Red.” Alec said glancing over at the man quickly.
That’s all True heard because she was pulled away to have her hand tugged and her body squeezed from Rosy and Karessa.
Camden walked into the waiting room still dressed in his yellow suit and the room silenced again. He looked dazed when he looked at everyone in the room.
“Well?” Alec asked in a loud and impatient voice. Not that she could blame him.
“I’m the father of two and everyone is doing well. They are taking her to the recovery room and I just wanted to come out here to tell you that we are all fine.” Camden walked over to his brothers. “Can you believe it? We are all fine.”
Alec pulled Camden and Beau into a hug and there were some decidedly wet eyes all around when they finished. Even Red looked a bit weepy. The man stood in the background looking like he’d have loved to join in on the hug but he held himself back.
“I’m going to get back there but thanks everyone for standing by us through all of this.” Then he turned to Red. “You really came through. During this pregnancy you’ve helped me ease my mind and you were here for Gemmi when she needed you. I’ll never forget that. You’ve earned family status for that.”
“That’s what family is for,” Red said as he beamed at Camden.
Camden went back in and we all sat down in the waiting room. The mood was full of peace and anticipation.
“I’m so glad everyone is okay.” True sat in the chair next to Alec still reeling from the weight of the ring on her left hand.
“It looks like it was a good day for us all.”
“Thank you Alec for going through all that to show me how much you know me. I don’t think I’d have believed you’d ever put in so much effort.”
“For my only exception? I’d give you the world…just you wait and see.”
“I don’t need the world Alec Haught. All I want and need is you.”
“Awwwww.” The whole waiting room said practically in unison.
“Remind me not to get sappy in front of all these people in the future,” True said to Alec.
“I adore it too much to agree to that.”
“Look at you all cute and sappy? Who knew?” True laughed. “I’m joking…I know deep down inside you’re a cuddly, snuggling fool and I love you so hard for showing me that side.”
“I love you too.”
True held up her hand. “Not another ‘awww’ from any of you.”
Alec pulled her onto his lap and kissed her.
And the crowd said. “Awwwwwww.”
Epilogue
“Glasses up,” Alec called out to the family and close friends in attendance as he tugged True to a standing position. They were in the best bar in town, the original Haught Spot. “I’d like to make a toast to the newest Haughts Grace and Gavin. I also want to thank the woman I love and chased like I trained in the Olympics to do so, True, for this night.” He saw the questioning looks on the faces he held so dear and chuckled.
“What are you talking about, bro? We are celebrating the twins baptismal and giving the newish mom and dad a night out on the town,” Beau frowned and sipped his drink. “If this is going to be some long ass toast I’d rather drink during it.”
Red had gotten a refill at the bar and was returning to the table. He’d shaved his beard down low and it had been hard not to look at him strangely. There was something about him. The ultra cautious way he spoke and…he just couldn’t put his finger on it. Maybe he’d met him somewhere before because he just looked so familiar. He waited until the man they’d seemed to bring into the fold sat down.
“What did I miss?” Red lifted his drink along with everyone else…beside Beau who seemed to be sipping his beer and not waiting for the toast.
“Nothing, man. You should have stayed a little longer at the bar. When Alec gets all boozed up he has the spirit of a long winded old man.”
“I’d love to hear what the old man has to say.” Red had maneuvered himself into a place of high regard among all of them and Alec considered him a friend.
“I was just thanking True for getting all into your business and fulfilling a dream of mine to see my brothers attached. We didn’t have the happiest beginning but it looks like we are on our way to a happy ending.”
“We can all hope for that,” Camden said.
“To us all. May we keep growing, learning and loving.” Alec took a sip of his dark Guinness and didn’t know when he’d felt so complete. He waited until True was done with her sip of bourbon and had her gaze on him before he leaned in to kiss her. Her full lips flavored with sweet bourbon made Alec want to forgo this celebration with t
he family and spend some quality time in the horizontal position with True.
“All right…all right. Get a room or something.” Beau clinked on his glass with something as he belted that out. Alec gave True one last peck before he let her go and they both sat down.
True called out. “I’d also like to toast Rosy. We are going to be the best kick ass co-Godmothers ever.” Alec laughed and clinked glasses with both Rosy and True.
“You are genuinely a changed man, Alec. It’s almost amazing.” Gemmi rolled her Shirley Temple around in her hands. She’d been given extra cherries in her non alcoholic beverage because she was nursing two babies…at least that’s why she said she deserved the extra cherries.
“Well, I almost lost someone very special to me. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was going to be heart broken whether I took a chance with True or not. Being that my father died of heart break I had some decisions to make. So however my story ends I’m glad True agreed to be a main character.” Alec couldn’t help looking over at the beautiful woman on his left. Her smile typically made him think of lots of things but in this one he saw his forever.
“Your father didn’t die of a broken heart.”
Alec’s head whipped hard as he turned to look at the man who’d been in their presence since he saved Gemmi from a bad fall at the bar. “What did you say, Red?”
The man cleared his throat and sat up a bit straighter in his chair. “I said that your father didn’t die of a broken heart.”
Alec looked around the room at his brothers and their significant others before returning his gaze to the man who had his head whirling and his heart pounding hard. “What do you know about it? Do you even know my father’s name?” Alec knew he sounded gruff but it was hard not to get up and shake the snot out of this guy. Coming in a place where there were good vibes and happy times bringing doubt and confusion.
“Look I’m sorry I blurted that out. I’m going to just call it an early night.” Red stood up like he was going to leave.
“You don’t get to say shit like that and then tuck your tail and leave. Explain yourself.”
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