They keep Willow in the hospital overnight, and the next morning Axel and Emelie are there with food.
"We figured you weren't leaving until she did, and hospital breakfasts are horrible, so we brought some food for both of you," Emelie says, handing over the bag.
It's great to have friends that know you sometimes better than you know yourself.
Willow
I'm finally being released from the hospital, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Honestly, I'm looking forward to a solid night of sleep without being constantly woken up by a noise in the hallway or someone coming in to check on me.
Of course, Bennett has been super careful of me. He insists on taking me out in a wheelchair to the front door where he has this truck waiting. Then he won't even let my feet touch the ground, lifting me from the wheelchair into the seat and buckling me up.
Even though I love that he's so caring and gentle, I hope he doesn't plan on being this way the entire pregnancy. Otherwise it's going to be an extremely long nine months.
All the way home, he holds my hand, never letting go. When we arrive, he tries to stop me from getting out of the truck. But that’s when I have to finally put my foot down.
"I feel fine and while I do, I would like to walk on my own two feet. Though I promise if I don't feel good, I’ll let you carry me wherever your heart desires. But right now, I would like to walk, please." I say it's gently as possible and I can see the conflict in his eyes before he finally nods.
Trying to offer him some comfort, I slip my arm through his so I can use it as support. Not that I need it, but I know it makes him feel better, so I will do it. Once I'm safely on the couch with more blankets and pillows than I could ever want, he heads to the kitchen to make me lunch.
Returning, he says, "Here are the prenatal vitamins the doctor told you to take, but Emelie said they taste gross, so there's some juice to take with it. I’ve made your lunch with fruits and vegetables, everything that the doctor recommends that you need to eat." Then he sets a huge plate down on the coffee table in front of me. There’s more food than I'm pretty sure even he could eat in one sitting.
"You’re going to help me eat all this, right? Just because I'm eating for two, it doesn't mean that I'm going to have anywhere near your appetite."
Sitting down next to me, he holds the plate for both of us to slowly eat our lunch. Though he only takes one bite for every two of mine, but it's something. When we’re finished eating, he cleans up the mess and sits next to me, resting his head in my lap. Then, turning to face my nonexistent baby bump, he places a kiss there.
"Now we should start thinking about baby names," he says, and I just laugh.
"We have no idea if it's a boy or a girl, and we just found out I'm pregnant. We've got time."
"I can't wait to decorate the baby’s room." He smiles and takes my hand in his.
As we make plans, he slowly runs his thumb over my wedding ring. Bennett started doing that in the hospital and I don't think he realizes he does it, but it's a little thing that I love so much.
"Are you happy? Is this what you truly want now that your aunt and uncle are out of the way?" he asks.
I turn his head to make sure he’s looking at me.
"This is absolutely what I want. Yes, I ran from them, but without realizing it, I was running toward you. I fell in love with you, and I'm not going anywhere unless you push me away."
"I'm not pushing you away. I plan to hold to you as tight as you will let me."
"As tight as you want. I love you," I whisper.
"I love you too, sweetheart. Always."
Epilogue
Willow
Fuck,I'msore,butin the best possible way. Having just given birth to our son a few hours ago, this is the first time that I've had a moment of rest. When I doze off for just a bit, I wake up to the most beautiful sight. Bennett is lying on the couch with our son on his chest fast asleep.
This big, burly bearded, tattooed mountain man is snuggling with our tiny, innocent little baby, and it's just the sweetest sight I could ever imagine. Luckily, the cell phone is on the table beside my bed and I'm able to snap a few pictures before he looks over at me.
"We need to get several cameras to keep around the house because we're going to need them," I tell him.
After taking more than a few more pictures, he has a big, goofy smile on his face.
"Anything you want, my wife," he says, turning to kiss the top of our son's head.