Page 131 of Lone Star Longing
By the time they got to the hospital, the contractions had started, and Beck’s nerves were shattered, watching Lacey in pain and not being able to do anything about it, not even able to comfort her. But she’d had Poppy and her mom and Tanya alternately comforting her, coaching her and terrifying her.
“Guess we won’t be getting married before the babies come,” Lacey said once they were in the delivery room and she was changed, waiting for Dr. Fredrick to come check on her.
“Yeah, well.”
“They’re going to be your children, anyway, you know. Package deal and all that.”
“What?”
“That’s what you were thinking, wasn't it? Wanting to get married before? That we’d be married and they’d be your children?”
He admitted that was close to the truth, though he didn't say that what he was worried about was Jesse coming back into her life at the last minute, claiming her and the babies as his.
Could still happen. But he wasn't going to bring it up.
“I want to give them my name,” was all he said.
“I’m going to get in touch with Jesse as soon as this is done. I want to do this legally, get him to surrender custody so you can adopt them legally. If that’s what you want to do. I know it costs money.”
“Worth it,” he said, settling in beside her and taking her hand, bringing it to his lips. “Absolutely what I want to do. I want it to be legal, and forever. Both the babies, and you.”
Her eyes teared up when she met his gaze. “What did I ever do to deserve you?”
“Ha. Don't ask my mother that question, or she might pull out a list. I’m the one who’s lucky here.”
“This has been a busy day,” she said with a laugh. “When I came out to ask you to be in the delivery room with me, I didn't think we’d be here in just a matter of hours.”
“Yeah, but think about the great story we’ll have to tell the kids.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her knuckles and smiled at her, but the smile dropped away when a contraction hit.
The next few hours wrung him out. Her dad and Marianne arrived shortly after they did, and the tension between her dad and mom was palpable, so he sent them all the hell out of the room. Lacey didn't need that added stress. Poppy and Tanya stayed by her side, and Beck was grateful for them distracting her, making her laugh, cheering her on. He could see her relaxing, and he in turn relaxed.
His entire body tensed as her body curled up over her belly, and Poppy coached her through the breathing. Beck didn't breathe at all. It was only until his eyes got blurry did he realize it, and he took a breath as Lacey dropped back against the pillow.
Suddenly he wasn't sure he needed to be here. He couldn't help her. Seeing her in pain was destroying him. And, well, things were about to get really personal as the labor progressed.
But she’d asked him to be here. He’d power through. Damn, it seemed the least he could do, since she was doing the hard work.
Dr. Fredrick came through the door then, in a cap and wearing a gown over her scrubs. “Let’s see how we’re doing. They’re about two minutes apart?”
“Not even that,” Beck said, since Poppy had given him that job, and even though he was flustered by every contraction.
“Thinking it’s time to push.” Dr. Fredrick took her position at the foot of the bed, gave Lacey a quick exam, and met Lacey’s gaze. “Time to push. You ready?”
“I guess no isn’t an acceptable answer?” Lacey asked breathlessly.
Dr. Fredrick smiled warmly. “Not even close.”
Lacey nodded quickly. “Okay, let’s go.” She wrapped one hand around Beck’s and the other around Poppy’s.
He knew it would sound cliche, but she’d never looked so beautiful as she strained to bring her babies into the world, first her daughter, then her son.
Their cries were lusty and high as the nurses carried them away to waiting bassinets where they cleaned the babies up, wrapped them in blankets and brought them back to Lacey, whose pain and exhaustion washed away when she took her babies in her arms, and oh God. Watching the woman he loved fall in love took his breath away.
“You did good, Mom,” Dr. Fredrick said, rising and rubbing a friendly hand over Lacey’s ankle. “Nothing to it, right?”
Beck choked out a laugh, and she patted his shoulder, then smiled adoringly at the twins before she left the room.
“I never thought they’d be so beautiful,” Lacey murmured, not knowing where to look, turning from one to the other.
