Page 27 of Behind the Cascades
She huffs at me but takes a seat at her new desk. "Whatever."
I make eye contact with Dan and wink. His shoulders visibly relax, and he pinches the bridge of his nose. He’s stressing himself out, watching her stress out.
One a.m., and my phone starts ringing, startling me awake from a nightmare that Carter was in my bed again. Only this time, to add an extra layer of horror, it was my bed in Three Sisters. I don’t have nightmares that often but when I do, my entire day is ruined. Shaking off the vivid dreams isn’t an easy feat. Especially because the threat is still there. Someday, Carter will get out of prison and I highly doubt he isn’t going to be looking for revenge, or even worse, still be obsessed with me.
I see Dan’s name on the caller ID and immediately answer.
“Char, it’s time. Pop is staying with Ben, and we are almost to the hospital. Olivia wants to know if you’ll meet us there.”
The emotion from the dream must still be coursing throughmy veins because all of a sudden I’m crying as I throw my shoes and winter jacket over my pajamas while rushing out the door.
In such a short amount of time, the Turners have become my family. Inviting me to see the birth of their new child feels like the biggest blessing I’ve had in a long time. Since I first met them, really.
I made it to the hospital in Bend in record time, practically skidding into the parking lot. Levi follows suit, backing his behemoth of a truck in next to my car.
He jumps out, wearing sweatpants and a short-sleeve tee. Apparently, he was in the same rush that I was to get here.At least I grabbed a jacket, though.
He flings my door open and gasps in pretend shock. “Thought I was the only one invited to this shindig!”
“I can’t believe you were even invited at all!”
He laughs, “Technically, I was invited to wait in the waiting room. Total B.S., if you ask me. I’ve delivered babies before, and I know how all the parts work.” He hints suggestively.
I roll my eyes as we walk up to the hospital. “Yes, that’s exactly what your sister-in-law wants to hear.”
“Told her the same thing when Ben was born but she wouldn’t let me in then either.”
Levi greets the staff by first name as we walk through the sterile halls. Everyone here loves him, smiling and waving, congratulating him on being an uncle again. He’s got a big heart, hidden beneath all that sass and sarcasm.
“Think you’ll settle down? Maybe have kids someday?” He’s a few years from thirty, but his brother has been married for almost five years.
He gives me that signature lopsided grin and wink. “You offering?”
Chuckling, I shut him down with ease. “You’re too old for me.”
“True and you're still wrapped up in that ex of yours.”Isn’t that the truth?
Levi’s always been a flirt, but he flirts with everyone. He’s like a golden retriever that wants to be loved, but the second he gets attention, he’s on to the next. Almost like Everett. Matter of fact, that's probably why I like him so much. He’s just easy to be around.
“To answer your question, though, probably not. I’ll leave the marriage and babies to Dan. At least we knowhewon’t fuck it up.”
I almost get a chance to question him on what that means, but we get to labor and delivery and he takes a seat in the waiting room.
Knocking once, I open the door to Olivia’s dark and quiet room.
She’s bouncing on a large ball next to the bed and gritting her teeth. “Why the hell don’t I want the drugs again?”
Dan places his head into his hands before groaning. “Don’t answer that. It’s a trick question.”
Walking up to her, I gently put my hand on her shoulder. “You said that you want to have the most natural birth possible, but if that’s changed, we can grab the doctor and get that needle jammed right into your spine.”
She looks at me with horror in her eyes and then sighs. “No, I’ll be fine.” Right as she gets the last word out, a contraction hits, and she doubles over in pain. A slew of curse words that would put my brother and Hayes to shame are released from her. I glance at Dan, who looks both amused and terrified.
The nurse comes in, helping to guide Olivia back to the bed and check her dilation.
“It’s time!” The nurse sings songs as she takes off the gloves that she just put on. “Let me grab the doctor and we can deliver this little girl.”
Within fifteen minutes and a couple pushes, a tiny baby is placed into Olivia’s arms.
