Christina groaned and Ali rushed to her side. “Let’s count,” she suggested taking her friend’s hand and holding it like they were about to arm wrestle.
Watching Ali with Christina made me so proud. I knew she was scared, but was keeping calm and focused for her friend. For a moment I imagined the roles were reversed; that Allison was the one laying in the hospital bed and having our baby. My heart sped up and my skin felt damp. Not because the thought terrified me, although I’m not going, to lie it kind of did. It was, but because I realized that it was something I wanted. I wanted to make a baby with my wife.
Ali was still counting and helping Christina breathe when she looked up at me. Was she picturing the same thing? Her dark brown eyes seemed to sparkle as her cheeks pinked up a little. A smile tugged at her lips and I knew she was. The sudden blare of my phone interrupted the moment between us, causing everyone in the room to jump.
I didn’t recognize the number, but I still answered. “Hello?”
“I left my phone in the car on accident,” Sean said without hesitation. “I saw all the missed calls and texts, so I freaked out and dropped it. It’s broken.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “Is Christina all right?” His voice tightened at the question.
“She’s fine, she’s in labor,” I told him as calmly as I could manage.
“I’m not fine,” Christina yelled her voice hedging on hysteric. “Where is he?” Her voice shook and the fight was leaving her eyes. “I need him.” Ali comforted her friend who now had tears streaming down her face.
“Oh shit, Coop,” Sean was close to tears. “Can you come get me? I don’t think I can drive.”
“Absolutely, where are you?”
“At work. This is my friend Darian’s phone. He’s going to stay with me until you get here. I’m kind of a mess.” I could easily hear the stress in my friend’s voice.
“I’m on my way.” I looked up to find a set of chocolate brown eyes and a set of grass green eyes locked onto me.
“Is he all right?” Christina asked
“Yes, I’m going to get him at work and bring him right back to you.”
She smiled, but it looked like a smile of a predator right before it eats its prey. “Good, I’m glad he’s all right because I’m gonna kill him.”
Ali nodded to the door, giving me silent orders to flee while I could. I raced to Sean’s work and found him waiting outside with a few co-workers who were trying to comfort him. He looked like a wreck. His tie was undone, along with the first few buttons of his dress shirt. His hair was standing in every direction as he kept running his fingers through it. As soon as he saw me he was jogging toward my car. I could hardly stop before he was getting in.
“Go,” he demanded.
I silently retraced the route I had I had just traveled, while Sean wrapped his mind around the situation. His sandy green eyes held unshed tears and the corner of one eye twitched with stress. He let out a long breath and put his hands over his face.
“She is doing well. A real champ,” I assured him.
“She’s going to kill me,” his words muffled from behind his hands.
I let out a short laugh. “She did mention that.”
We didn’t talk the rest of the drive. At the nurses desk we went through the routine of verifying ourselves then Sean hit the hallway at a sprint to get to Christina. Within seconds he was flying through the door and to her side. He didn’t give her time to protest. He pulled her the best he could to his chest and kept on kissing her. Her hair, face, mouth – anything he could. He was crying now as he held her face in his hands.
“I’m so sorry, Kitten,” he whispered. “I love you,” he kissed her nose. “I love you.”
Christina wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t do this without you.”
“Oh baby you aren’t going to. I’m here and not going anywhere.” He pushed some of her loose hair behind her ear. “You are so beautiful.”
She smiled and rested her forehead against his. “I’m not going to kill you.”
As she finished saying this she grabbed his hand and twisted it backward. Sean gritted his teeth but didn’t move. After a moment she loosened her grasp.
“Unless they don’t get in here soon with that epidural, then I will kill you.” A promise was in her words.
Luckily for Sean, they showed up with the epidural and Christina went back to her charming, sweet and feisty self. I had to pull Ali from the labor room when it was time for her to deliver. She didn’t go without a fight.
“What if she needs me?” she challenged, defiance lacing her words.
“She has Sean in there with her,” I told her as comforting as I could.
She rolled her eyes. “I should be in there.”
I smiled and pulled my wife into my chest. “You need some rest so you can properly love on our new little niece or nephew as soon as she or he gets here.”
Ali yawned and smiled at the thought. “You might be right.”
And with that we settled into the waiting room where Ali put her head on my shoulder and almost instantly fell asleep. I held her as best I could in hospital chairs, letting my mind wander. I thought back to our first date. I had loved how animated she would get when talking about books, and the way she enjoyed eating and wasn’t ashamed about it. I remember how Sean had shown up at dinner and how we had ended up at the bonfire. We had our first kiss that night, a kiss that shaped our future. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for this woman. I kissed the top of her head and she snuggled in closer to me. I closed my eyes and settled in to wait.
Ali sighed and snuggled into me. I knew today must be emotional for her, harder than she was letting on. Of course we would love to have a family, but I almost lost her once. I wouldn’t risk her again. The thought broke me. I wanted Ali to have every dream she had, but I just couldn’t do this one thing for her. This one huge thing.
Chapter Thirteen
Allison
“He is absolutely perfect,” I said for the hundredth time in the past hour. Joel Ryan Harper-Grattan was born at 12:59 in the morning weighing eight pounds five ounces and stretching twenty inches. The name Joel was from Sean’s Grandfather, the only father figure he had really ever known, and Ryan was from Cooper Ryan. Cooper had been beside himself when they told him. I sat next to Christina in her hospital bed cooing over Joel as she held the sleeping baby boy. Cooper took Sean to the cafeteria to get us some coffee and give Sean the chance to get some fresh air.
Christina’s labor had lasted nearly twelve hours after her water broke. The first epidural didn’t take so they had to reinsert it. Sean never left her sight, and happily so. He held her hand and encouraged her through the whole process. He cut the umbilical cord after the baby’s birth, crying the whole time. Christina told me later she’d never seen a more precious moment. Now the baby was snuggled into his mother looking more like a ninety-year-old man than an infant. A nurse entered to check on Christina and Joel, so I reluctantly left the bed. Then came Christina’s breakfast.
“Auntie Ali,” she called. “Can you hold your nephew so I can eat?” Like she even had to ask.
I took the blue bundle and made myself comfortable on the couch that was in the room. I didn’t have a whole lot of experience with small children, especially newborns, but I instantly loved this little boy. I couldn’t help running my fingers lightly over his features and kissing his chubby cheeks. Sean and Cooper entered the room, Sean going straight to Christina but not before looking for his son. Cooper’s eyes were soft, the color of worn denim, as he watched us. He sat silently next to me and touched one of Joel’s cheeks.
“Get cracking guys,” Sean said from across the room. “Joel needs a buddy.”
“Shut it Sean,” Christina winked at me. “If they don’t have a kid they will be able to babysit for us more.” My friend was artfully taking the pressure off of me. She knew my fears of having a child, that I was concerned it would weaken my heart. That’s what had happened with
my mom and explained why I never had any siblings. Sure, I wanted a baby, especially holding this little miracle. However, I didn’t know if I could risk it, possibly leaving Cooper forever.
Cooper wiped a tear from my cheek that I didn’t know had spilt over. “When timing is right for us it will all work out sweetheart,” his hand cupping my face and kissed me gently.
“Knock knock,” a familiar voice said from the doorway. My dad stood holding a bouquet of white lilies, Christina’s favorite.
“Mr. Starr,” Christina smiled at the sight of my father. He kissed Christina on the top of her head and handed her the flowers.
“You look beautiful, darling,” he told her. And she did. Unfairly so. Her blonde hair pulled into a soft braid at the nape of her neck, her skin a perfect balance between flushed and glowing, her eyes clear and sparkling. She looked soft and fierce; she looked like a mother in love with her baby.
My father looked toward Cooper and I, his eyes bouncing between the two of us and the baby in my arms. For a moment he didn’t say anything or even move. He just stood, blinking slowly as he absorbed what he was seeing. Cooper and I were holding a tiny baby, a baby that could have been ours in his eyes. Cooper stood offering my dad his seat. My father took it and put a hand on my arm.
“It looks good on you Ali-Oops,” he said, tears brimming his eye lashes.
I smiled. “Want to hold him?”
“Of course I do,” he answered, his voice rough as he extended his arms. I handed him baby Joel and stood to be with Cooper. My husband wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed the side of my head. I watched my dad tenderly kiss the newborn’s head and whisper things only he could hear. Sean sat on the edge of Christina’s bed holding her and kissing her hand. It was a picturesque moment. Sweet and peaceful, until my dad spoke again.
“Honey,” he said in a low and ominous voice. “I have been meaning to tell you something, but I didn’t know how. So, now is as good a time as any.” The hairs on the back of my neck and arms stood up.
“Yeah?” I swallowed hard.
He didn’t look at me as he continued. “I’ve been dating Laura Comstock and it is getting pretty serious between us.”
I heard him, but his words weren’t making any sense. Cooper’s hand tightened on my shoulder and I heard an intake of breath hiss through his teeth.
“Laura Comstock, the surgical nurse from my heart surgery?” Laura had been the one to bring Cooper back to the operating room so I could say yes to his initial proposal. We had kept in touch over the years and she had even come to our wedding. Ah yes, the wedding.
“We started talking at your wedding and just, well, hit it off,” he smiled at the memory. “I never even thought to look for someone after your mom. Laura understands that, but she is a special woman. I guess she broke through my barriers without even trying.”
Joel Ryan started to cry at that moment. Yeah baby boy, I understand how you feel.
“Someone is hungry again,” Sean said, standing to bring the baby to Christina.
“All right, sounds like you guys have some things to talk about. Love you all, but time for you to go,” Christina said cheerfully as she took her son in her arms.
Cooper, my dad and I all shuffled out of the room after saying quick goodbyes to the new parents. Sean followed us to the door giving us each a hug before shutting the door for privacy.
“Go easy on him Book Girl,” Sean whispered in my ear. “He deserves to be happy too.” I pulled back to look Sean in the face. I’ve known him for a few years now and I still can’t tell when he is being serious or sarcastic. But, at this moment, I could see he was very serious. He gave me one last smile then the door shut.
He was right. My dad had been alone for years and must crave that sort of companionship. I turned to face the two men I loved most. I smiled at Cooper and took my dad by the arm.
“So, tell me about Laura Comstock, the surgical nurse,” I said cheerfully.
My dad wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head. “She is a wonderful woman and really likes you, of course.” He started to ramble on about the woman he’d been dating. Something about the way he spoke about her made me feel almost calm. Maybe it’s because, for the first time since my mom died, he didn’t sound so lonely.
Cooper’s phone rang and he looked at the screen before he answered. “Do you two want to ride together and I can meet you at home?”
“Sure thing,” I answered him.
He gave me a quick kiss then turned the other direction to answer his phone. His voice was low and I couldn’t hear what he was saying. My dad and I watched him walk swiftly in the opposite direction. My eyebrows pulled together and I wondered what was making him act so strange. Who wouldn’t he want me to know he was talking to? Ice could uncertainty clenched my stomach. He wouldn’t be leaving to meet a student would he? I took an unsteady breath. Could that be Whitney calling?
Once in the car my dad continued to tell me about Laura, but I didn’t really hear him. I was lost in my own thoughts about Cooper and his mysterious phone call.
I started dinner when we arrived home, inviting my dad to sleep in the guest room despite the fact that he insisting on getting a hotel room. I wouldn’t hear of it. Dinner was made and on the table before I received a text from Cooper.
With my mom. Everything is all right, but I’ll be home late. Don’t wait up.
I tried to call him, but it went immediately to voicemail. I texted him back and asked him to call, but he never did. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that had settled into the pit of my stomach. My dad insisted on staying up with me, but I eventually sent him to bed. I sat on the couch reading and waiting. Cooper still hadn’t called and a cold sweat beaded over my skin. I picked up a book and tried to lose myself in it, but the hours kept changing on the clock and I still hadn’t heard from him. Where the heck was my husband?
Chapter Fourteen
Cooper
It was after two in the morning when I finally returned home from seeing my mom. Ali was bathed in the soft light from the lamp next to the sofa. Her legs bent at the knees and a book resting on her side. I pulled a blanket over my wife and clicked the light off. I wanted nothing more than to grab a drink and sit outside in the cool ocean air to clear my thoughts. I pulled a beer from the fridge and slipped outside, settling into a chaise lounge that faced the ocean. Taking a long pull from my beer, I rubbed my hand over my jaw. The patio door slid open and closed quietly. I didn’t think I was ready to talk with Ali, but I guess now is better than never.
Robert Starr took a seat next to me with a beer of his own. He was wrapped in a bathrobe and his eyes were tired. He didn’t say a thing as he took a drink from his bottle. We sat silently in the light of the moon for what felt like hours.
“You want to talk about it son?” he asked, finally breaking the silence.
I swallowed hard. Did I want to talk about it? “My mom asked me not to renew my contract at school. She wants me to take a step up in the company.” Apparently, I did want to talk about it.
Robert nodded and took another drink. “Is that what you want?”
I sighed. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you want. Duty trumps desire when it comes to destiny sometimes.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“No, it isn’t what I want.” Saying it out loud took some weight off my shoulders, but didn’t remove it. “At least right now it isn’t. But, I do need to step up.”
Robert nodded. “It is a big step son, one you really need to consider.”
Silence covered us again. The sound of the waves crashing into the sandy shore replaced our conversation. My mom had called as we were leaving the hospital and said she needed to see me right away. When I got to her office she was a little frantic. I had never seen her like that before.
“Martin was in an accident,” she stated as she took a seat behind her large cherry wood desk. She motioned for me to sit in the chair across from her. I did.
/>
“When?” I asked.
“Today. He was hit by a car that ran a red light. He made it through surgery, but just. It was pretty bad.” Her dark eyes were rimmed red and fresh tears sprung into them.
Martin Ramirez had been with Los Jalapeños since the very first restaurant opened thirty-five years ago. He had started by bussing tables and over the years earned his position as Head of Operations. He was my mom’s right hand man. I couldn’t picture him not being involved with the day to day decisions. I couldn’t picture him not being in this building.
“Oh man,” was all I could come up with. He had sometimes been a surrogate father to me. I couldn’t picture him being hurt and in the hospital.
My mom tapped some papers on her desk. “It came as quite the blow to me, but we need to talk about it, Mijo.”
I shook my head trying to clear the cobwebs. It had been a long night. “We need to talk about what?”
“It is time Cooper, now more than ever. Martin has been thinking about retiring for quite some time, and this accident has finalized his decision. He has offered to mentor you to take over in his place. This position will groom you so one day you can take over for me, too.” She took a deep breath. “He’ll be in the hospital for some time and we can have you start your training with him there.”
There was a buzzing in my ears, all the blood had rushed from my head. Sure, we had talked about this being my responsibility in the future, but the future always seemed so far away. I swallowed hard. I looked at my mom, the woman who’d has been my hero for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t about a job or my wants and needs. This was about the woman in front of me and the life she’d built us. She needs me.
“When?” I knew there was no use arguing my position at the college with her. I loved my job, I loved teaching, but I belonged here..
My mom sighed as she stood up and circled around the table. She gently took my face in her hands. “I know you love your job at the school,” her voice was soft. “But this is your legacy.”
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