Page 114 of Take My Heart
Nick smiles a little, like he thinks that means I’ll be going to see Kate. ‘I’ll see you down there.’ He walks to the door. ‘I’ll text you the address for the hospital.’
When he’s gone, I take a quick shower and get ready. As I’m driving to Chicago, I go back and forth about seeing Kate. Do I want to see her? Hell yeah, but I agreed to leave her alone. Seeing her will just make it harder to get over her, if that’s even possible. The way I’m feeling now, I can’t see myself ever getting over Kate. There was something about her that had me hooked from the moment I met her. Maybe it’s because she’s so different than any other girl I’ve ever gone out with, or maybe it’s us being opposites that drew me to her. Whatever it was, I’ll never forget how it felt to be with her and I’m not sure I’ll ever feel that way again with someone else. I didn’t want to admit this to Nick, but I really do love her.
‘There you are,’ Mom says when I arrive at the hospital. I was walking down the hall when I saw her coming out of a room. ‘Come see the baby before they take her back to the nursery.’
‘Her? They had a girl?’
‘Yes, and she’s absolutely beautiful!’ Mom gushes. ‘I’m heading over to Mitch’s house to make Sunday dinner. You’ll be there, right? We’re eating at noon.’
‘Yeah, I’ll be there.’
‘Your cousins just left, but you’ll see them at the house.’
‘Martha, you coming?’ my dad says from down the hall.
‘I’m on my way.’ She gives me a quick hug, then whispers to me, ‘Go in there and see how happy Nash looks. That could be you someday.’
Is she crazy? I’m not even close to having a kid. Out of all my brothers, Nick will be the first to have a kid, then maybe Sawyer, although he’s never talked about having kids. But I know Gina wants them so I’m sure it’ll happen. Jason will be next. He loves kids, which is why he’s a teacher. As for me? I’ll probably be a bachelor forever. The only girl I ever saw myself having a future with was never mine, and never will be.
‘Hey, Brody,’ Nash says, a huge grin on his face as I go into the room. ‘Thanks for coming down.’
My brothers are already there, along with Lyndsay and Gina.
‘Congratulations,’ I tell him, walking over to him and Callie.
‘Her name is Addison Rose,’ Callie says, smiling as she looks at the baby in Nash’s arms.
‘Nice name,’ I say, immediately thinking of Kate. Her middle name is Rose. I swear, every time I turn around I’m reminded of her.
‘You want to hold her?’ Nash asks.
‘No.’ I put my hands up. ‘I’m not good with babies.’
‘How would you know?’ Jason asks. ‘You’ve never been around them.’
‘Yeah, so I don’t know how to hold one. I’m not going to try and risk dropping her.’
‘I’ll take her,’ Lyndsay says, going up to Nash. He hands her the baby and Lyndsay’s face lights up. ‘Look at her tiny little nose. She’s so adorable.’ She smiles at Nick. ‘I can’t wait to hold ours.’
‘You guys are pregnant?’ Sawyer says to Nick.
‘No.’ Nick laughs. ‘But we’re hoping it happens soon.’
‘Did you pick a date?’ Jason asks.
Nick walks over to Lyndsay. ‘You want to wait or tell them now?’
‘Go ahead,’ she says, rocking the baby in her arms.
‘We were going to announce this at dinner so act surprised so Mom doesn’t get upset we told you before her.’
‘Yeah?’ I say. ‘So what’s the date?’
‘May 15th.’ Nick smiles at Lyndsay. ‘We’re going to get married at the orchard. Lyndsay loves the apple blossoms in the spring and that time of year is usually when they’re at their best.’
‘It’ll be gorgeous,’ Lyndsay says, smiling up at Nick. ‘I can’t wait!’
‘I think it’s time we let Mom got some rest,’ a nurse says, coming into the room.
