“The babies are here. They arrived a few hours ago, and now that mom and babies are settled in, Jess told me to call you.”
“Me?” I press a hand to my heart and bite my lip, because I’m an emotional crier, and she’s going to undo me. “Why did she want you to call me?”
“Because she knew you’d want to meet them. She said you’ve been insanely interested for months, and you made her promise to share the news when she was well enough to make calls.”
“I did say that.” My heart pounds. Heavy, singular thumps that slam against my palm and make me smile. “I said that, but she didn’t have to call me. This is a time for family. Tell her to call me in a few days. Or, ya know, a week or whatever. Tell her to call me when she’s home and comfortable. I’ll bring her oatmeal cookies and a heat pack.”
“So you’re saying you don’t want to meet them right now?” I swear, I imagine her twirling hair around her finger and fighting her smile. “There are two of them, and I can only hold one at a time. Are you seriously telling me you’re passing this up?”
“Of course I want to meet them!” My eyes pop wide at my outburst. “Are you insane? I’m totally on my way if Jess is okay with it.”
“She’s totally okay with it. Come on down. They’ve been moved to the wards. Everyone is healthy and happy, seeing as they were forty weeks overdue and fully baked.”
“Oh my gosh. Okay! I’m on my way. Do you guys need me to bring anything? I can drop into the store on the way.”
“Oh, sure. She’s dying for a candy bar right now. Snickers. Those are her favorites.”
“Okay!”
“And chocolate milk. She’s trying her hand at breastfeeding two Bishop babies at the same time. She needs to stock up.”
“Okay. I’ll be there in half an hour. I promise.”
I swipe a thumb across my screen and hang up, then I press my hands to my chest and do a dance. A real bouncy, weirdo-jumping-on-my tiptoes, squealy dance. Then I turn back to my brothers and cackle.
“The babies are here!”
Mitch studies me as though I’m a stranger to him. His brows are lifted, and his lips pulled into a smirk as he turns to Nix. “Is it too late to send her to rehab?”
“Oh, shut up!” I snatch up my bag and pull my keys out. “Who wants to come?”
“I have to work,” Nixon grumbles. “I’m starting in an hour. You guys go.”
I rush forward and snag Mitchell’s hand and try to pull him to his feet. He’s far too heavy for me to even budge, but he takes pity on me and climbs off the couch with a grunt. “Guess I’m going to see babies. Yippee.”
“Be quiet, grouch. Luc is your friend, and he just became an uncle. Let’s go celebrate!”
* * *
I tiptoethrough the doorway of Jess’ room with a plastic bag in my left hand, my handbag slung over my shoulder, and my brother’s reluctant hand clutched in my right. He was ready to run, but I really,reallywant to see the babies, so I drag him forward and swallow my nerves at the muted buzzing that comes with a dozen people in one small room.
The curtain has been pulled closed, and the sun has already dipped below the horizon, so the room is shadowed as I try to quietly finger the curtain open, only for the plastic bag to noisily crinkle and draw everyone’s attention as I peek into the room.
Jess lays back in her hospital bed with a scarily pale face and wires connected to her arm, but her brand-new husband lays right beside her, with his head on her shoulder and his fingers playing with hers. He doesn’t get up when I enter, nor does he get up when Mitch drags his feet and reluctantly enters behind me, though he does lift a quizzical brow.
The visitor’s chair is occupied by Laine. Laine’s boyfriend, Angelo, sits on the arm of the chair, looking down while she holds one of the babies. My lips quiver at the tiny, pink bundle wrapped in a tight blanket while she sleeps. But then I let my eyes wander until I find Luc, the twins’ blond brother, while he holds a second pink bundle.
“Two girls?” My voice cracks, which is so dumb. But happy tears are always better than sad tears, so I accept them and smile while I run a hand beneath my nose. “You got baby girls?”
“Hey.” Jessie doesn’t move a muscle. She looks entirely too comfortable lying beside Kane Bishop, but her smile helps ease my heart when I think of her paleness and the possibility that she lost a lot of blood while giving birth. “You made it. I wasn’t sure if you would.”
“Of course I made it.” I leave Mitch at the door and move across the small room. Kane is closest to the door, but the other side of the room is crowded with people, so instead of trying to tiptoe through everyone, I come to Kane’s side and lean over him to give Jess a hug. “Congratulations, Mommy. I’m so happy for you. Here.” I lift the bag and pull out the Snickers. “I brought you–”
“Actually, that was for me.” Even with the baby in her arms, Laine jumps up and snatches the candy from my hand. “She needs protein, not sugar. I’ll take care of these for you.”
Laine passes the bag to Angelo, and when she asks without words, but with a flutter of her lashes, he tears the wrapper open with a sly smirk and hands it back.
“Thank you, Abby. I was starving.”