Authors: Bec Botefuhr
“Should I go after him?” Janelle asks, pouting.
I don’t think she will ever get over Ryder, part of her will always want what she can’t have but after her efforts with the child pulling stunt, he will never be the same with her. He hardly gives her the time of day, and slowly, she has come to realize she will never mean anything to him again. I don’t doubt that she will still annoy the crap out of he and Maya for the rest of their lives.
“Daddy?”
I look down to see my beautiful daughter smiling up at
me; I scoop her up into my arms and kiss her little cheeks.
“Hi baby.”
“Why is everyone crying?”
“They are just sad, it will be ok.”
“I should get her home.” Janelle says, her eyes still searching for Ryder.
“Don’t go near him
Janelle; he doesn’t want to see you.”
Maya looks over at Janelle with a glare, and I take her hand.
“I knew a lot about his family…”
“He doesn’t need you, understand it and move on.” I say, in a hard but gentle voice.
She nods, biting her lip. “I do have to go.”
“Can she stay tonight?” I ask.
She thinks a moment, and then nods. “Ok, I have an appointment first thing so it will be good.”
“Yay!”
Jasmine cries.
“Hey Jazzy,” Maya forces a smile, “Why don’t you come and help me prepare some food?”
“Can I daddy?”
“Go for it.”
I put her down and she kisses her Mother goodbye, before leaving. Janelle turns to me and smiles.
“She likes her.”
“So do I,”
She narrows her eyes, “Nate, I only want to help him.”
“He doesn’t need your help; he has a fiancé for that.”
“I was his fiancé once.”
“We aren’t going over the past Janelle, it’s over. Ryder doesn’t love you and you are only hurting yourself waiting for him to change his mind. Move on.”
She frowns. “I have!”
“Well why are you here then?”
“For respect, I knew Jenny.”
“You have paid your respects, it’s time to go.”
“Careful Nate, you are playing with fire.”
I give her one hell of a look. “Don’t threaten me; you know you won’t come out the other side.”
She straightens, but doesn’t continue. Every now and then she tries it on with me, threatening to take Jasmine, but she never does. She knows it wouldn’t be worth her time and effort. When she’s in her car and driving away, I finally turn to head back inside. I scan the trees once more, and I hope to hell he is ok. He deserves happiness.
CHAPTER 18
MAYA
“Oh…God,” I whimper, doubling over.
I have been getting pains now for over twenty four hours, and they are increasing. We have rung the hospital, who continually tell me they are just preparation cramps, but suddenly it doesn’t feel like it.
Ryder settles me down onto the couch, while he rings the hospital again. I don’t feel right, it hurts. I am only eight months pregnant, so it isn’t time yet.
“Ryder, it’s getting worse!” I cry, gripping my stomach.
“Come on, we will go.”
I stand, and water pours everywhere and I am hit with the biggest pain I have ever felt in my life. I crumble and drop to my knees. My screams fill the apartment. Nate comes rushing out of his room, his hair disheveled.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think the baby is coming!” I scream.
My body heaves and the pressure between my legs is massive.
“Call the ambulance, Nate, now!” Ryder orders.
He drops to his knees beside me, and goes to lift me but I scream again. Something is happening, I can feel it.
“Yes, we need an ambulance, she is in labor and I think she is having the baby.” I hear Nate shout.
“Shhh, we will get you to the hospital.”
“It’s too early!” I scream.
“Ryder, you need to check…”
Ryder’s head snaps up, and his eyes widen. “What?”
“Check, if the baby is coming…”
He carries me to the lounge quickly and uses a sheet to cover my body. I scream again as the pressure becomes so intense I can’t focus. Ryder removes my shorts quickly and gasps.
“Holy fuck, I can see a head.”
“He can see a head!” Nate cries.
“What do we do?”
“Oh
God!” I scream, my body lurches forward and I am forced to push.
“You need towels, you need something clean to cut the cord…they are on their way but they might not make it.” Nate calls, his voice panicked.
“Go and get that stuff for me, I can’t leave her.”
Nate runs out, still talking on the phone. He is back a moment later, and he hands Ryder some towels. He sits beside me and puts my head on his lap, and strokes my hair.
“How far out is the head?” Nate asks.
“It…I can see hair, heaps of it.”
“Please!” I wail, pushing harder, “Please.”
“It just came half way out, fuck, Nate…”
“It’s halfway out,” Nate cries down the phone.
“Ryder, you have to deliver,” he calls a minute later, “they are nearly here but they might not make it.”
“I can’t!!”
“You have to!”
I scream again and push, my body is panting and heaving. It hurts, oh God it hurts.
“Fuck…I don’t…”
“When she pushes, take hold of the head and ease it out. Don’t pull, just guide,” Nate instructs, he is repeating what the phone operator is telling him.
“But…”
“Ryder you have no choice, just do it.”
Nate strokes my hair, and soothes me while I scream and pant. Soon, I know I am ready and I crunch over once more. Ryder is there, his hands easing our baby out. When I hear the tiny crackle of a cry, I slump back into Nate’s lap. Ryder wraps the tiny baby in a towel, and tears thunder down his cheeks.
“It’s….a boy.”
“Put your finger in his mouth,” Nate croaks, tears thunder down his cheeks also, “And make sure nothing is blocking the throat. Wipe his eyes, nose and mouth and just wrap him. They are two minutes away.”
He hangs up the phone and we watch as Ryder wraps the tiny dark haired bundle and hands him to me. He is so small and his little fingers clasp mine. Ryder slides beside me and his eyes are red and puffy. Nate strokes my hair, and we all reach out to touch the little boy’s hair.
“Oh, he’s beautiful.” Ryder croaks.
“Well done bud, you delivered your own baby.” Nate whispers.
“We all did it, together,” I whisper, pressing th
e little baby to my chest, “He’s perfect.”
“He is beyond perfect, he is us,” Ryder whispers and we all nestle together and peer down at the beautiful creation we made.
~*~*~*~
“Give me that beautiful baby,” Nate smiles, pulling little Josh out of my arms.
We came home two days ago, and we decided to name the baby Josh in memory of Ryder’s Grandfather and NOT his Father, or so he says. Our little boy is truly gorgeous, with dark locks of hair and creamy skin. Ryder dotes over him, helping me get out of bed at night to feed. We are happy. Everything is as it should be.
“I love him!” Sandy coos, leaning over Nate’s shoulder.
“He’s mine!” My Mother cries, knitting a pair of booties.
Mark hugs me close, “Well, I will claim you considering they are all in love with my stunning little nephew.”
“Thanks, you are loyal big brother.”
He laughs. I call him big brother because he was born two minutes before me. He doesn’t let me forget it either.
“Well done beautiful, he is gorgeous,” my Father smiles.
“Thanks dad, let’s hope he’
s a good boy.”
“He will be
, he is like Uncle Nate.” Nate grins, bouncing Josh in his arms.
“Oh, Lord
help us,” I laugh.
“You have to come and visit every day, promise me,” My
Mother smiles, taking the baby from Nate’s hands.
“Aw, G
randma is a hog!” he groans.
I laugh and shake my head, curling myself into Ryder’s side. He hugs me close and we smile at our family. Old and new, they are all here just as they should be and for the first time in a long time, everything is truly perfect.
EPILOGUE
MAYA
“She loves him,” I smile to Nate, as we watch Jazzy rock Josh on the couch.
“She is a natural, unlike her
Mother.”
“Well, how can she not be when she has you as a
Father?”
He grins and hugs me
close; we turn and walk outside to find Ryder sitting on the patio. We both sit beside him, with me squished in the middle, just as it should be.
“Who knew we would be here?” Ryder asks, taking my hand.
“Yeah, who knew?” Nate responds, taking the other.
“I never thought I would end up so happy with you two, but who knew you would change that?”
They both laugh, “We go alright.”
“We have been through a lot you know, and here we are.”
Nate smiles down at me, “Bubba, you keep us strong.”
“Don’t start your soppy shit Nate,” Ryder snorts.
“Aw come on, say something nice, you know you want to.”
Ryder laughs and wraps an arm around me. “She knows how much I fucking love her.”
“Oh yeah?” I smile, “Maybe you need to tell me again.”
“I fucking love you, my little sandwich.”
I shove him hard and laugh, “You haven’t called me that for a long time.”
“You are too good to be a sandwich
now; you’re more like a gourmet roll.”
Nate roars with laughter and also wraps an arm around me. “He’s a charmer.”
I smile and snuggle into them. These two men are my glue, though they will swear that I am theirs. We all stare out at the sunset, and I know we are all happy. How can we not be? Everything is perfect. We have the kind of friendship that goes beyond normal expectations, we complete each other. Each and every one of us has a place in each other’s lives and that’s just how it will stay, forever.
“I love you guys,” I whisper.
They both respond at the same time, “Yeah, well, right back at ya.”
THE END!