Page 131 of Caught in the Axe
Her eyes filled with tears. “You scared the shit out of me. You promised me you’d be safe.”
“I know.” My heart ached at the fear in her tone. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” She sniffled. “I’m just feeling a lot at the moment, and seeing you in a hospital bed isn’t helping.”
“Then I’ll get out.” I braced my elbow against the mattress and pushed up.
With a huff, she put her hand on my chest. “Don’t you dare.”
Obliging, I pulled her down toward me instead, guiding her head until it was resting on my chest. It hurt like hell, but I didn’t care. I needed this moment with my girl.
As much as my ribs ached, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know,” I said, kissing the side of her head, “all I wanted was to casually tell our friends and families we were together. I certainly didn’t expect you to break into a hospital ward and nearly get tackled by security trying to declare your love for me.”
“I’m a mess,” she murmured. “But I do love you. I’ve got a lot of stuff to work on. A mature, adult relationship is new for me.”
“Me too. We can take it slow and figure it out together. Because that’s all I need, to enjoy every day with my girl.”
“I love you,” she said into my chest.
“I love you too,” I said back, closing my eyes and letting the euphoria of saying those words wash over us. Despite my aches and pains, this was a major achievement. One I’d never take for granted. Because whether she liked it or not, I was going to love this woman forever.
Our beautiful moment was interrupted when Jude burst through the door.
“Guys,” he said, more excited than I’d seen him since he was a kid. “The baby is here. It’s a boy!”
Lila sat up and smiled. “Look out world, the next generation of Hebert boys is upon us.”
“We can go up to see him in thirty minutes. Do you want me to steal a wheelchair and smuggle you out of here?”
“Why don’t we call the nurses and just ask them?” Lila, apparently back to being a rule-follower, suggested.
Knowing it wasn’t worth arguing with her, I nodded once.
Then, after another vitals check, a visit from the doctor to review my injuries and treatment plan, and the arrival of two nurses who had to move all my lines and wires so I could be transported in a wheelchair even though I could walk just fine, we made our way to the maternity ward.
When Lila pushed me into the room, Adele was propped up in a bed, holding a tiny baby wrapped in a plaid blanket.
Finn was hovering nearby, snapping photo after photo.
My mom sat in a rocking chair, beaming at all of us.
“Ready to meet him?” Finn asked, almost bouncing as he took the baby from Adele’s arms. “This,” he said, bringing his son over, “is Theodore Francois Hebert.”
The baby was tiny but had chubby cheeks and tufts of golden-blond hair.
“Ten and a half pounds,” his father bragged. “He’s a big boy.” He rounded his shoulders, pulling the infant closer to his chest, and kissed his head. “You’re such a big, strong boy.Daddy’s gonna get you such a cool plane. What’s that? You like trucks too? It’s fine, mommy’s got you covered there.”
Adele snorted. Her eyes were tired, but her smile was blinding. “The kid’s only three hours old, and he’s already promising him his own baby ATV.”
Gus snorted. “In fairness, that’s the Maine equivalent of promising your kid a pony.”
“Touché,” Adele admitted, shaking her head at our ridiculous family.
“You’ve only got a couple of minutes before my crazy family descends,” she said. “And when Merry gets here, she gets her baby time, okay?”
The room was filled with grunts of affirmation. Finn stood in the middle of us all, chest puffed, looking so happy and confident, holding his son. A year ago, he’d been a mess, angry and unemployed and searching for his purpose. And he’d found it in the most unlikely of places. Lovewell.
He had the most impressive capacity to grow and evolve. And maybe I could follow his lead. Maybe I, too, could make peace with my past and my father and grow into the man I wanted to be.
