“You told me one day, Beebs, when you were four and in the sandbox, that someday, you’d marry Weston.”
I bring my hand to my mouth, desperately trying to hold back the tears as I lean down to kiss my dad on the cheek.
“You also said you were going to be an astronaut and bake moon pie on the actual moon. At least you got something right.”
“I love you, Daddy.” He lifts my hand as Weston reaches out to take it from him. They shake hands heartily, and both become instantaneously glassy-eyed.
I turn and soak in the man in front of me. He’s always had my back, watched out for and looked after me, encouraged me to follow my dreams and be the very best version of myself. He’s a master in the bedroom and makes my knees weak every time he smiles at me.
“Crosby, you look dangerously gorgeous. How am I supposed to make it through this ceremony?” Weston says. His voice is heavy with emotion.
His love is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. To spend my life with Weston is an honor and a privilege. To have and to hold, from this day forward.
Weston
My parents are in India traveling, of course, during the week when Crosby’s water breaks. We get to the hospital around midnight, and as soon as they get her into a room and stabilized, I rush out to call Diana and Asa.
Asa arrives first, running in the entrance looking like a madman, an approximation of how I feel, a combination of useless and frantic.
“I was spending the night with Callie. I came as soon as I heard the message.”
Callie became Asa’s girlfriend after she graduated from being his nurse, and he’s completely in love with her. He just hasn’t yet realized it yet.
“They’ve got her sleeping now, trying to conserve her energy. She’s only dilated two centimeters. I probably should have waited to call. I was just so excited.”
Asa claps me on the back and yanks me in for a hug. Even though we both have desk jobs now, Asa is still a solid wall of muscle.
“Naw, man, you did good. Is Mom coming?”
“She’s on her way.” We both worry about Diana, and she’s the reason Asa is living at the house for the time being. We don’t want her to feel alone or like her family has abandoned her. “Pretty soon she’s gonna have her hands full with a grandchild. I was heading to the cafeteria for a coffee. Walk with me?”
Asa and I have recovered from the day I told him about my feelings for Crosby and he knocked me out cold and broke my nose. We’re still best friends. Although I will admit that ever since he found out I was in love with Crosby, there’s been an underlying tension. It lessened after the wedding, but it’s never faded entirely.
I pay for two large coffees and a few bottles of water.
As we stir in cream and sugar, I shoot nervous glances at my watch.
“You ready for this man? To become a father?” Asa looks at me with genuine concern in his eyes. He’s been giving me that same expression for the last twenty-seven years—before a big game, before we jumped off the train bridge into the lake, before my first tattoo, and on my wedding day. On the same day I become a father, my best friend will become an uncle.
“I thought the day I married her was the happiest day of my life. But I think this surpasses even that. I couldn’t be more ready to become a dad. Crosby is gonna be one hell of a mother.”
“Christ, can you imagine if it’s a girl and she turns out like Crosby? You’re gonna have your hands full, man.” Asa shakes his head and throws an arm around my shoulder.
When we get back to the room, Diana is waiting outside. I leave Asa to bring her up to speed and go in to see my wife.
Crosby is on her side, arms cradling her huge belly. I’ve never seen her look more beautiful than she does in this moment.
“You brought me Gatorade, Professor Abernathy? I’m gonna need something stronger. They serve gin in that cafeteria?” Her joke is broken by a huge contraction. I set the drinks down and run to squeeze her hand.
“Just breathe, baby.”
Three hours later, I’m nearly on the verge of collapse as Crosby, with one heroic last push, brings our baby girl into the world. Our daughter screams with a healthy set of lungs until doctors place her on Crosby’s chest and she calms right down like magic.
Holding both of them in my arms is heaven on earth. Her tiny face looks just like Crosby’s, but she’s got a dark head of hair like mine. Miniature fingers wrap around my pointer with a grip like steel. Our girl is feisty like her mother when they pull her away to measure and then swaddle. Words don’t suffice as Crosby and I look at one another, eyes brimming with tears.