Page 74 of The Devil's Detail
That’s it. game over.
Jackson
My fiancé has just fainted at the slightest drop of blood. He’s an A-list actor, battled aliens, taken down the bad guys. But clearly none of them bled. And to be honest, they probably don’t look like they are in actual agony. Or sound like it. Not like my sister, who is about to give birth in her own living room.
“Jackson, please, I need to push.” She’s begging me, as I step towards the prostrate man who looks asleep on the floor. “Leave him, I need to push.” She’s gritting her teeth, settled into a squatting position.
“So ruthless, Kitten.” I grin at her. Can’t help it. “Right, my military training should get me through this.”
Tarron Barclay has made his way back into the room and is trying to wake up Carter. Maybe best to leave him there. It’s only likely to happen again.
“Kasey, hang onto me please. I need you to hold me up here.” Evie is commanding everyone around her. She would have made the best military leader ever.
Kasey has gone from a doctor in a drama to a rabbit in the headlights. But he nods obediently and gently threads his arms under Evie’s, holding onto her with everything he has. His face next to hers, I can see every emotion in it. I give him a look, and he shutters what I saw written there. I’m not sure he is going to survive my sister either.
“I’ve got you, Kitten, always.” He kisses her forehead, and smirks at me. He’s playing a dangerous game. But I don’t think he actually cares what anyone thinks of him. Then I hear him whisper to her, “Let’s do this, my love.”
I glance at him, so he knows I’ve heard him, but again he just smiles. Kissing her hair, talking to her, telling her how great she is, breathing with her—I actually think he’s doing really well. He seems to know the breathing patterns, and is panting out and counting.
I get the briefest glimpse of the jet black hair of a little Barclay, and my nephew plops into my arms. He opens his eyes, and I gasp. They’re sky blue. He looks directly at me, and into my heart. I’m transfixed, the flow of love and protective feelings oozing from me is incredible.
A heartbeat later, our newest addition proves he’s certainly got a great pair of lungs. The baby’s newborn cry seems to wake Carter up. Carter looks like a newborn himself, staring around in surprise. But he makes a great recovery as he helps Tarron direct the arriving paramedics. I hold the boy up, and am about to hand him to Evie, when one of the paramedics pushes his way in and tells me we need to cut the cord.
“Jackson, you and Carter do it.” I look up to see Evie smiling at Carter, who looks like he might faint again. But he steps valiantly forwards as I hold the boy, the paramedic handing me what looks like scissors and showing us what to do.
Carter holds the scissors as I hold the baby, and I place my hand over his. We cut my nephew’s tether to my sister, I kiss the boy's head, and hand him over to Carter. Who looks like he’s been struck by lightning.
“He’s so beautiful, Jackson,” he breathes out. “Hey, sugar, I’m your Uncle Carter. Let’s get you taken care of, honey,” he coos at the baby, and moves with him towards another paramedic who’s about to check his vitals.
“Should we move to the ambulance?” Kasey asks as he brushes Evie’s wet hair from her forehead. “Can you move, Kitten?”
We’re answered by a gritted response from Evie. “She’s coming, I don’t think we’ll have time.”
“Just like her mama,” I grin. “Never wants to be left out.”
I want to deliver my niece, so join the paramedic now squatting at Evie’s side. “You ready Kasey? You got her?” I ask the Hollywood A-lister—who’s looking a little pale now—and I can see the tears drying on his face. He takes a deep breath and nods at me.
Bending his head down, he infuses confidence into his tone. “Right, my Kitten. Last one and then we’re done.” He kisses her forehead again, he can’t seem to stop.
As he holds my sister up, we deliver her second baby, twin sister to the little boy. The same jet black hair, but when she opens her eyes, it’s my sister looking back at me. Eye colour exactly the same as Evie’s. But in her daddy’s face. She announces herself with a healthy cry, and I hand her to her mother, Kasey Becker crying tears of pure joy as he holds them both up.
“Kasey, would you like to cut the cord?” My sister looks up at the man, who clearly is head over heels in love with her. He looks like he might die of happiness.
“I’d be honoured,” he manages to gulp out. With much ceremony, he cuts the baby girl’s tether. “I’ll never forget this, Kitten.” He looks down at the baby in his arms. “She’s so beautiful, and she has your eyes.”
I stand and help my sister. We sort out the afterbirth, with both twins being held by Carter and Kasey. They both look shell-shocked. They’ll each dine out on every chat show in America with this drama.
The paramedics have clocked who they are. And although they’re trying to play it cool, it’s not every day you have two Hollywood A-listers delivering twins.
“I think we should call this little beauty Beau, as it’s the start of a beautiful life,” Kasey states, warming up to his idea.
Evie smiles at him, totally indulgent. “Beau it is then. Will you be godfather, Kasey?” Evie is clearly overemotional. Her husbands are always trying to get rid of him, not include him more. He nods, for once at a loss for words.
“Carter, will you be godfather with Jackson for my boy?” Evie asks him.
She’d already asked me to be godfather for them both, and I’m incredibly honoured, but being in this with Carter… So fitting, so special.
Carter’s eyes fill with tears. My man is so emotional, I go over and put my arm around him, kissing his face.
