Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
There’s some rustling, and then his mom’s voice comes over the speakers. “How was the appointment?” she asks.
“Good. Both babies are growing as expected. Momma is healthy, too.” He reaches over and laces his fingers through mine.
“Macklin McBride!” his mom scolds.
Macklin laughs. “We also found out the genders.”
“Macklin!” His mom laughs, and so do the rest of us.
“We’re having a little boy and a little girl,” I tell them, my voice cracking.
“One of each! Honey, did you hear that? Oh, my goodness,” his mom cries.
“I heard. Congratulations, you two.”
“Thank you. We’re thrilled,” Macklin says.
“We have to plan a shower—oh, and the nursery. Baylor, sweetheart, you tell me when, and we’ll go shopping. We’d love to buy the baby beds.”
“And she’s already been shopping,” his dad chimes in.
“There are two of them, Rick.”
“I know, Janie. I know,” he says, and you can hear the smile in his voice.
“Janie, I’d love that.”
“You can invite your sisters if you want, or we can do a mother-daughter day. Whatever you want.”
Tears coat my cheeks, and I nod, smiling. “Th-That’s perfect,” I manage to tell her. I’m missing my parents extra hard today, but I’m so grateful that my babies are going to be loved and have grandparents who are still here and are going to spoil and adore them.
“You tell me when, and we’ll make it happen.”
“Thank you.” My voice cracks.
“We love you both. We can’t wait to meet them,” Rick says.
“Love you,” we chorus, and end the call.
“Now, where does my family want to eat lunch?”
“Don’t you have to get back to the stables?” I ask. I know he has staff, but I don’t want to cause him extra work. I also love that he doesn’t mention the way my voice cracked and the tears swimming in my eyes from his mom’s words.
“No, Jake, the kid I hired for the summer, has it under control. You and the babies get me for the rest of the day.”
“Mexican.”
He smiles. “Mexican it is.” He leans over the console and kisses me quickly before putting on his seat belt and pointing the truck toward the Mexican restaurant in Harrison. It’s the town over from Magnolia Ridge. It’s where my doctor is, and the hospital where I’ll be delivering. It’s only about twenty-five minutes from us, so it’s a short drive.
I stare out the window, my hands on my growing belly, and stare out at the clear blue sky. It’s a beautiful day, and as I stare at the clouds, I hope my parents are watching. I hope they see that I married a good man, and I hope they’re proud of the life I’m living.
Epilogue Macklin
Macklin
* * *
Sunday morning at four minutes after four in the morning, my life changed. That’s the moment my little girl took her first breath, and just three minutes later, her brother took his. That was over five hours ago, and I can’t stop staring at them.
My kids.
I’m holding a piece of me and a piece of my wife in my arms, and it’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt. My heart is too big for my chest, because there’s an ache there, not a pain, but a happiness I never knew existed. I love my wife—she’s my world—but as I stare down at two tiny people, a product of the love we have for one another, it’s all overwhelming. My love for the three of them is so great that I don’t know how to contain it or even describe it.
My wife is sleeping after twelve long hours of labor. The waiting room is filled with family, waiting to meet our babies, but Baylor needs her rest. I went out to see them, told them all that Momma and the babies were healthy and that they could all go, as Baylor was exhausted, but they’re still there. Waiting patiently to hold two pieces of my heart that are beating on the outside of my chest.
“Cowboy daddy,” Baylor says, in a sleep-laced voice.
“You keep talking like that, Mommy, and we might have two more of these little cuties before you’re ready,” I tease her.
She gives me a tired, breathtaking smile as she moves to sit up in bed. I stand to help her, but I have a baby in each arm.
“I’m fine.” She waves me off. “You know if you keep holding them both like that, you’re going to spoil them.”
“They’re new to this world, Bay. They need to know that Mommy and Daddy love them more than anything, and that we’re glad they’re finally here.”
“How can I argue with that?” she says with a smile, tears welling in her eyes.
“You can’t.” I flash her a grin.
She chuckles, then grimaces at the pain.
“Can I get you anything?”
“No. But, I should call my sisters and tell them they can come meet them.”
“They’re still here. The guys, my parents, Sophia, even Kinzie, Kelly, and Lorna are here. Hank and Brad are heading this way. They’ll be here later tonight.”