Page 35 of Then Comes Baby
“Mom, she’ll probably lose her baby hair so it’ll be a while before she’s gonna need bows,” Cruz points out.
“No, no, she’s right, we have to be ready for our girls to look their best,” Nonna states, causing Dex to groan because Abuela adds her two cents as well.
I look at Jolie and we both burst out laughing watching our husbands attempt to corral the incorrigible trio made up of Cruz’s mom, Abuela, and Nonna. It’s a lost cause, I fear, and honestly, the world is a scary enough place for kids, so if these three women want to spoil our girls, I’m going to let them. They won’t live forever, after all.
“Can we see the babies now?” Arya asks since the grandmother and great-grandmothers have been hogging the two little girls.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Nonna says, as though they’re her daughters.
I roll my eyes at my best friend and she repeats the gaze to me. Between Dex and Cruz, they manage to get pictures of each of our family members holding the girls, then Dex takes one of me, Cruz, and Violet, before Cruz gets one of him, Jolie, and Antoinette.
By the time everyone decides to head back to our house, I’m beyond exhausted. Thankfully, Cruz had my hospital bag in the truck ‘just in case’ because once everyone leaves, he’s going to help me take a shower and get into something more comfortable than this sweaty hospital gown.
Brock leans in and whispers, “You did good, sissy.”
“Thanks, Bubba,” I tease. There’s a small part of me that still feels guilty that I never shared what happened, but right now, seeing him smile as he holds his niece, I decide it’s worth it.
Cruz looks at him and asks, “Do you mind taking Sadie back to our house? My folks already left, and Nonna’s car is full of all of them.”
“Not a problem,” Brock replies.
I hide my grin because both he and Sadie have been making eyes at each other tonight. While I won’t get involved in my brother’s love life, I kind of think it would be cool if they got together.
As they all say their goodbyes, which have been going on now for the past thirty minutes, the nurses return to get the girls and take them back to the nursery since both Jolie and I need to take showers. Not together, of course, because that would be weird, but we’re both in dire need of one. Since my family is still here, Dex and she just slipped into the bathroom. While they’re occupied, another nurse comes in and changes Jolie’s sheets and I shiver in anticipation.
Hospital beds aren’t the most comfortable to sleep in, but with fresh sheets and a warming blanket, I think I’ll manage. “You’re thinking about one of those blankets, aren’t you?” Cruz teases once Brock and Sadie finally leave.
“Absolutely. If you play your cards right, I bet there’s enough room for you on my bed,” I reply.
“Not if it’s going to hurt you,” he says. “You went through a lot tonight, kitten. I can sleep on the recliner right next to you.”
“I know, but I’ve gotten used to you being right next to me.”
After a wonderfully warm shower, I’m ensconced in my bed once again, a warmed blanket tucked around me as Cruz holds my hand. “It was a good day today,” I murmur, sleep pulling me under.
“The very best, next to the day we got married,” he replies. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We fall asleep holding hands, separated from my bestie and her husband by a privacy curtain. I never see the text that pops up on my phone from my brother.
Brock: HOW COULD YOU KEEP THAT FROM ME???????
The End… for now
