Either way, I didn’t care. I was done with Nico and that world. I pulled open the text and hit the block button.
I’d come to Colorado to start a new life. Sitting there in my office, however, my daughters just down the hall, I couldn’t shake the notion that my old life wasn’t done with me.
Chapter 17
Georgia
It was three days later, and I was back at my condo.
Iwasn’thappy.
The hospital had told me that they’d only need to keep the girls for another couple of days, but that hadn’t ended up being the case. They’d wanted more time to make sure they were eating well and thriving. It made sense, but that didn’t mean I was pleased that my girls were at the hospital instead of at home.
I wanted to be there with them. And that’s just where I had been since being released. Mom and Dad, however, had insisted that I take a break. But it was impossible to relax. Being apart from my little girls was unbearable, and I was right on the verge of sayingscrew itand driving back to the hospital. Only the fact that Mom and Dad and Alex were there with them kept me in check.
I’d tried to get some writing done over the last couple of days, even with my publisher telling me to take as much time as I needed or wanted. Normally, work was where I retreated when I wanted to get away from things. This time was different. Being a mom, as I was learning, meant that you couldn’t justturn offthe “mom” part of your brain. I’d make my tea, do some stretches, then sit down at my laptop only to be immediately consumed with thoughts of the girls.
I needed to be with them.
My phone shook on the counter, and I wasted no time running over and snatching it up. A call was coming in, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw that it was from the hospital.
“Hello?”
“Is this Georgia Lang?”
I closed my eyes and focused, not wanting to get too excited at the idea of my girls being ready to be picked up.
“This is she.”
“This is Anne over at Pitt Medical Evergreen. Just wanted to give you a call to let you know that the results for the paternity test came in. Would you like me to read them to you over the phone?”
Disappointment ran through me. “Sure, go ahead.”
“The blood test indicates that the man testedis, in fact, the father.”
We’d had to jump through a few hoops in order to test Alex without the rest of the staff finding out that he was the father of the twins.
“Great. Thanks for your help.”
“Of course! The results have been emailed to you, as well.”
“Hey, I’ve got a couple of newborns there, twin girls. Is there any news on when I might be able to bring them home?”
“Hmm, unfortunately, that’s not my department. I’d be happy to transfer you over, however.”
“No, that’s alright. I’ve got the doctor’s number. Thanks.”
The call ended, and I tucked my phone into my robe’s big front pocket. Alex had meant what he’d said about the paternity test, that he felt it wasn’t necessary, that he trusted me. It meant a lot. All the same, I’d wanted to do it and put any doubt to rest. Mission accomplished. I made a mental note to screenshot the email and text it to him when I got a chance.
Once that was decided, I went right back to pacing. It was still white outside, the snow from the day of the twins’ birth still piled high.
I had to go to the hospital. I’d been away long enough, and I didn’t care if Mom and Dad and Alex were holding down the fort. After a quick shower and change, I bundled up and headed out into the cold.
The Rockies loomed to the west as I made my way to the car, their tops snow-capped against the slate gray of the sky. As I slipped into the driver’s seat, all I could think about was how much I wanted the girls to be home with me.
I kept my cool as I drove, heading through downtown toward the hospital. There were lots of cars parked in the front lot, suggesting that it was a busy day.
I strode in through the doors, making my way over to the newborn care unit.