Page 99 of Tattered Souls
“Wait. It’s Garrick. Hang on. Well?” my mom asked.
A tear trailed down my cheek, my voice cracked, “I need you.”
I heard her inhale a breath, and then I heard her stand up. And as everyone was asking what’s wrong, I knew that my dad had gotten up to follow her when she said, “No. Stay here.”
“Like fucking hell,” he growled.
“Mom. I need you.” I said with emphasis.
My mom said with a growl, “Take your behind back to that chair, sit down and wait. I mean it.”
And the moment I saw my mom, another tear slid down my cheek.
She saw it and rushed over to me, wrapping me in her arms.
Didn’t matter that I was a foot taller than her, didn’t matter that I was a hundred pounds heavier than her.
Her arms, other than Tatum’s, were the only ones that felt right.
Minutes later she whispered, “What happened?”
“When they got the baby out, the doctor started yelling. She was bleeding internally.”
My mother winced, and then she said, “She’s going to be just fine. So is your baby. You married a strong woman, sweetheart.”
I kept repeating those words in my head as my mother led me to the waiting room.
She moved me to a chair and shoved at my shoulder for me to sit down.
I heard her telling everyone what was going on.
About fifteen minutes later, Talia sat down beside me and said, “Come on, let’s go see your baby.” Talia said.
I shook my head, “Not without Tatum.”
“Garrick,” Talia said softly.
I shook my head. “Nothing before her made sense. She’s my one. We made that baby together. We’re going to see him or her together.”
“Want us to go see, make sure the baby is okay?” my dad asked.
I shrugged as I stared at the door. “Can if you want. Don’t want to know about its gender. Me and Tatum will find out together.”
They nodded, but it was Everly who came and sat down beside me, placed her hand on my shoulder.
I bent forward, and her hand fell. “Nothing against you, darlin’. But right now, I just want Tatum’s touch.”
I saw her grin from the corner of my eye, and then she said, “I get that.”
Three hours later, my eyes felt like dirt had been in them. I’d been awake for thirty-nine hours now.
My family had all come back, but Dom didn’t.
Bronson jerked his chin up. “Said he was staying. Making sure your baby stayed safe.”
Tatum and I had already picked out the godfather and godmother of our baby.
Dom didn’t even know yet.
