One Good Reason
Page 24
“She was swearing like a trooper because she was in pain. But if she’s not in pain anymore, that’s probably a good sign, right?”
“I guess.”
He looked so worried. She placed her hand over his heart.
“Everything’s going to be all right,” she said.
Her hand looked ridiculously small against the breadth of his chest but Jon lost the tight look around his eyes.
“I just want everything to be okay.”
As always she was touched by the depth of his feeling. He had a big heart and she knew Tyler’s happiness meant a great deal to him.
“Hey.”
They both spun around to face the bedraggled, worse-for-wear figure standing in the doorway.
“Tyler. Is everything okay?” Jon asked, taking a step toward his brother.
“Yeah. We’re all good.” Tyler’s face lit with a slightly dazed, beatific smile. “We had a little girl. She’s so tiny. Ally wants you guys to meet her.”
Jon didn’t say a word, simply stepped forward and threw his arms around his brother. For a moment they held one another, fists thumping on each other’s backs.
Gabby sniffed away the threatening tears. Maybe one day she would get over the fierce sense of satisfaction and rightness she felt whenever she saw these two men together, enjoying one another, loving and appreciating one another. But not yet.
The brothers parted and Gabby stepped forward to offer her congratulations. She could feel the damp fabric of Tyler’s T-shirt as she hugged him.
“Hard work, huh?” she said.
“If you want to know what the definition of useless is, stand around while your wife gives birth. Come on.”
He gestured for them to precede him to the birthing suite. Inside, Ally lay propped against a pile of pillows, one hand resting on the tiny pink and red body lying on her chest.
She looked exhausted, her hair matted to her forehead, dark circles beneath her eyes. She gave them both a weary smile.
“Hey. Come and meet our little girl—Alana Rose Adamson,” she said.
“Oh, that’s so beautiful,” Gabby said.
“We think so,” Ally said.
Tyler went to his wife’s side, sliding his arm around her shoulders. Gabby and Jon approached tentatively.
“She doesn’t bite,” Ally said.
“We don’t want to overwhelm her,” Gabby said.
Her gaze was glued to the small figure curled on Ally’s chest. The baby’s face was creased, her eyes shut. Her hands were clenched into tiny fists, her legs pulled up tightly. A shock of dark hair covered her head.
“Hello, Alana Rose,” Gabby said.
“She’s so tiny,” Jon said.
“No, she isn’t, trust me,” Ally said drily. “She has a head the size of a bowling ball.”
“Can we touch her?” Gabby asked.
“Of course,” Tyler said.
Gabby reached out and ran her finger ever so gently across the baby’s shoulders. The baby moved in her sleep.
“She’s beautiful,” Jon said, so softly that Gabby almost didn’t hear him.
He reached out and touched one of the baby’s hands. The hand unfurled, tiny fingers wrapping themselves around Jon’s much bigger index finger.
A bemused smile broke across his face. Gabby met his eyes and couldn’t help but smile in return.
The past seven months hadn’t been perfect. There had been highs and lows. Jon’s court case where he’d been sentenced to a good behavior bond, as his lawyer had predicted. Teething pains when he’d moved into her apartment and she’d had to adjust to sharing her space with someone. And, much to her frustration, Jon was still resisting talking to a professional—although she hadn’t given up hope on that one yet.
But through it all they’d kept talking and sharing, and her respect and love for the man standing beside her had only grown deeper and more encompassing.
Her heart expanded yet again as she watched him gently caress his new niece.
Jon Adamson was a keeper. A gentle giant. A loving brother. A good friend.
And he was all hers.
Some girls really did have all the luck.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0973-2
ONE GOOD REASON
Copyright © 2011 by Small Cow Productions Pty Ltd.
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