Gravel Road
Page 31
With my free hand, I gave Wyatt a reprieve from the tickle monster and clapped Austin on the shoulder. “Take care of my little girl.”
“Always.” Austin responded the same way every time I said it. There wasn’t a fiber in my being that didn’t believe him, either.
It was hard to let the door close behind us, but I followed after Sarah. Unable to carry Wyatt for any great length of time, I set him down and took his hand. “You hoping for a brother or a sister?” I asked him.
Wyatt pulled his thumb out of his mouth long enough to answer. “Neither. I don’t want one.”
“Nonsense. You’ll be a great big brother.”
With his thumb back in his mouth, he glared up at me. A smile erupted on my lips. I didn’t envy Austin and Randi having to deal with this. This kid was severely unhappy about an addition to their family.
When we reached the cafeteria, our choices were limited. I did manage to find him a cup of chocolate ice cream, and together with Sarah and her kids, we waited it out. I wasn’t sure which one of us checked our phone more often, but when the text we were waiting on came through, it took monumental effort not to run through the hospital, back to Randi’s room.
The newest member of the Burin family had arrived, and none of us could wait to meet the baby—except Wyatt. And of course, he was the one who would get the honor first. I knocked on the door to her room. Austin opened it enough to come out, but not enough for any of us to get a glimpse or even a hint at whether it was a boy or a girl.
Austin squatted in front of Wyatt, meeting his son at eye level. “You ready, buddy?”
Wyatt bounced from foot to foot. He wanted his mama, but to get her, he had to get a sibling, too. I chuckled to myself when he finally reached out to take his daddy’s hand. The two of them disappeared, and the door closed again.
I leaned against the wall. Sarah and her kids hung out in the hall with me. They’d quieted down, but I think it was the crash after a sugar rush and not that they’d actually mellowed out.
“Daddy, how long do you think it’s going to be before they let us in?” Sarah was more excited about this baby than Randi, and that said a lot. “This is so silly. Wyatt doesn’t even care about meeting his brother or sister. And what’s with them not finding out the sex of their children before they’re born? It’s like torture for the rest of us.”
My chest rumbled with the laugh that formed. “Sugar, they do things their way. They always have. Ain’t nothing you say gonna change that.”
Sarah crossed her arms and let out a little humph. “I’m going to go call Charlie.”
“Why don’t you call Austin and Randi’s friends, too? Brock and Charity first. I’m sure they’d like them to know.” Thank God Randi had managed to mend the fences I’d torn down in her life. Charity had been the hardest and the longest one to heal, but once she came around, those two had been thick as thieves, just like in high school.
“And tell them what?” she scoffed. Her hands moved wildly as she spoke. “There’s a baby here, but I can’t say whether it’s a boy or girl. Do I know how much it weighs? Oh no, don’t have that information, either. How long was the child? Not a clue. I can’t even tell you if it has all its fingers or toes because my sister won’t let anyone else in the room.” She threw her arms in the air, exasperated.
I raised my brows and stared at her.
She shooed me off with the wave of her hand. “Fine… I’ll go call them.” Sarah looked down at her three kids sitting on the floor. “Come on, guys.”
And then it was just me. Alone in the hallway. Nurses passed by. Doctors appeared randomly. But all in all, the floor was rather quiet. When the door to Randi’s room finally opened, it wasn’t Austin who invited me in…it was Wyatt.
“Hey, Papa.” His smile was bright, and his eyes danced with excitement. They glittered the way Randi’s did as a little girl. “Wanna meet my sister?” Gone was the unhappy child who didn’t want to share his home or his parents.
A lump formed in my throat that I struggled to swallow around. Tears threatened to fall. Joy was one of the strangest emotions. “You have a little sister?”
He puffed his tiny chest out with pride. “Yep. Her name’s Winnie.”
Operation Build A Bag
www.OperationBuildABag.com
In the midst of writing Gravel Road, a guy I’d followed on Instagram for quite some time posted a picture of himself that screamed “Austin.”
On a whim, I reached out to him and asked if he’d be interested in doing a shoot for my cover, and the rest of that is history. But there’s more to Steve Kalfman than just a pretty face. He’s a First Lieutenant in the United States Army, a devoted father to a beautiful little girl, and has a heart for the homeless.
He, along with other veterans, founded a non-profit organization dedicated to combating one of our nation’s biggest problems, homelessness. Operation Build A Bag is in its early stages, but together, this group of veterans has committed to delivering bags of necessities to homeless men, women, and children, and eventually, they hope to spread their project nationwide.
You can make a donation and see what they’re all about at www.operationbuildabag.com. Each bag is filled with basic necessities to get people through some of the toughest elements out there. I ask you to consider making a donation of ANY amount to help further their cause.
Operation Build A Bag Donations
Operation Build A Bag on Instagram
Steve Kalfman on Instagram
Acknowledgments
On my way to the Asheville airport at o-dark-thirty, a Lee Brice song, “That Don’t Sound Like You” came on the radio. The moment I heard the chorus, I had to pull over and download the song. I listened to it on repeat the remainder of the drive, and as soon as I got to my gate, I pulled out my computer. Austin and Randi’s story began to pour onto the screen, and the more I wrote, the more I loved them. So while I’m quite certain Lee Brice will never see this note of thanks, his song inspired this story. Thanks Lee!
As with every story an author puts out, there are countless people who help make it happen. Gravel Road is no different.
Leddy. Good Day. #GFY. For reals though, you’re the bestest wobbie a girl could ever have. Thank God for you, otherwise 2018 would have completely sucked donkey balls.
Linda—I’ve lost count of how many releases you’ve been through with me, but I’m fairly certain this makes ten. Double digits and all that jazz. Your endless support and countless hours of work behind the scenes are priceless. Thank you for all you do!
Angela—You keep me entertained and one step away from the edge of the cliff.
Kristie—without entire conversations in GIFs my world would be bleak. #bestie
Carina—My cheerleader.
Steve Kalfman—Thank you for being open to a new idea. You made this process so easy and seamless. It’s been a pleasure working with you.
And finally, M. Your pride in me makes me want to be the best I can be. I love your sensitive heart and your gentle spirit. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. I love you more.
About the Author
Stephie is a forty-year-old mother to one of the feistiest preteens to ever walk. They live on the outskirts of Greenville, South Carolina, where they house three cats and two dogs in their veritable zoo.
She has a serious addiction to anything Coach and would live on Starbucks if she could get away with it. She’s slightly enamored with Charlie Hunnam and Sons of Anarchy and is a self-proclaimed foodie.
Also by Stephie Walls
Bound
Freed
Redemption
Metamorphosis
Compass
Strangers
chimera
Beauty Mark
Fallen Woman
Girl Crush
Unexpected Arrivals
Label Me Proud
Family Ties
Co-written as Stella with Leddy Harper
Third Base
> Home Run King
Dr. Fellatio