I heard my mother tell my father to call Heather’s cell.
“Josh, stop and take a deep breath. Will you do that for me?”
I jumped out of the truck and took a deep breath. I closed my eyes, picturing Heather and the first time we had made love next to the river. I remembered everything—how her body had reacted to my touch, every sound she’d made and look she’d given me, every time she’d whispered my name. My breathing slowed, and my hands stopped shaking.
“Better?”
“Yeah. Better. It’s just that I love her so much, Mom. I don’t want anything to happen to her or the little ones.”
“I know, baby boy. I know. Your dad is talking to Heather now. She said her contractions are about twenty minutes apart. Honey, go back into the house and help your wife to the truck. We’re on our way, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay. But, Mom…”
“Yes, Josh?”
“Hurry. Please hurry. Heather needs you, Mom, and I…I need y’all, too.”
“We will. Don’t worry. Women do this every day. You’re married to the strongest woman I know. She’s got this.”
“Thanks, Mom! See ya soon.” I tried to walk calmly back into the house.
The moment I saw Heather standing there, taking deep breaths, I almost lost it again.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get in the truck and head over to the hospital, okay?”
“Oh, wait! Can you grab some watermelon?”
I just looked at her. “Really?”
“Hey…I remember both Ari and Ellie complaining how hungry they were. I don’t want to be hungry, Josh.” Tears began building in her eyes.
No! Oh no! No, no, no! Don’t cry! “Okay, princess. Look, I’m getting it right now!” I walked over, got the watermelon out, and handed it to her.
She took the watermelon, and then she started to walk toward the back door.
Holy hell. Who is this person?
She turned and smiled, so I smiled back at her. I decided the best thing for me to do was to do whatever she told me.
Chapter Fifty
I listened as Dr. Johnson talked to Josh about what to expect during the C-section.
When I looked up, I saw Ari and Ellie walking in. I glanced over at the time. It was five in the morning.
“Hey, sweets!” Ari smiled at me.
I looked down at her huge belly and smiled. She’s next.
“How are you feeling, hon?” Ellie asked.
“Better…now that I’ve had the epidural!” I said with a laugh.
After chatting for a few minutes, Dr. Johnson walked in. “Heather, it’s time.”
Ellie let out a little, “Eeeppp.”
Ari smiled, but it faded as she put her hands on her stomach. “Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”
Dr. Johnson looked over toward Ari and raised his eyebrow. “Ari?”
She glanced up at him and nodded.
“Oh my god, Ari,” I said with a smile.
Ellie looked between the three of us, and then she let out a small laugh. “This just keeps getting better and better.”
Dr. Johnson laughed and turned back to Ari. “You better let your husband know and then check in.”
“Ah hell, here we go again.” Ari turned and walked out of my room.
I glanced over and winked at Josh. “Ready?”
He laughed. “Ready.”
The moment I looked at Josh holding our son, I knew my life would never be the same. I glanced down at our daughter and smiled.
“So, have y’all decided on the names yet?” Elizabeth asked as she stood next to Josh.
Greg was sitting on the bed with the sweetest smile on his face.
I looked over at Josh, and we both grinned.
“Well, Josh picked a name, and I picked a name.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Go on.”
“This precious little girl’s name is Isabella Gemma Hayes. Isabella is short for Elizabeth, and Gemma is after my mother.” I smiled at Elizabeth as she began crying.
“And this future all-star football player’s name is William Gregory Hayes. William for Heather’s dad, and Gregory for you, Dad.”
Greg stood up, leaned down, and kissed my forehead. “I’ve never been so honored in my entire life, baby girl.”
I felt tears rolling down my face. I peeked over, and Josh was crying also. There was a knock on the door, and then Gunner and Ellie poked their heads in. Alex was wide-awake, and she smiled the moment she saw Josh.
“I still say that girl knows a good-looking man when she sees one,” I said.
Josh laughed and showed Alex the baby. “Alex, meet William Gregory. You can call him Will.”
Alex started laughing and buried her head into Gunner’s chest.
Ellie rubbed Alex’s back and turned to me. “Oh my god, they are so tiny! Her name?”
“Isabella Gemma. Libby for short.”
“Beautiful names.”
“Ellie, how is Ari doing?”
Ellie smiled and shook her head. “She’s doing good, but Jefferson is freaking out.”
Gunner and Josh both started laughing.
I snapped my head over at Josh and just looked at him. “Really? You’re one to talk!”
Josh instantly stopped laughing and looked at his dad. “Oh, um…uh.” Josh turned back to look at me. “Princess, have I told you how beautiful you look?”
“Nice,” Gunner said, laughing.
As I looked around, my heart started to feel tight, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
My parents should be here. They should be holding my two beautiful children right now. My mom should be making plans to come and stay at my house for the first week, so she could teach me everything she knows about babies and diapers and no sleep.
Oh god! How am I going to do this alone? Take care of two babies? I’m going to drop one. Or what if I forget to feed one? Holy hell.
I looked at Josh. He must have seen the panic on my face.
Ellie must have noticed it, too. “I’ve washed my hands twice. May I hold Libby?” she asked with a wink.
I handed her the baby as Josh handed Will to his mother. He walked over and sat on my bed. Leaning down, he kissed me so softly and sweetly that I let out a small moan.
He moved his lips to my ears. “Don’t make noises like that. I’ve been told no sex for six weeks,” he whispered.
I giggled, and he kissed my nose. When I looked over at Elizabeth holding Will, my heart got heavy again.
“Breathe, princess. They’re with you, with us. I don’t think it was an accident that we both came up with your parents’ names for our children. I really believe they are with us, guiding us along. I wish more than anything they could be here for you…if only to kiss you on the forehead and tell you, ‘Good job, you did great,’ just like they knew you would. I’m so proud of you, Heather. You’ve made me the happiest man on earth…again! I can’t wait to start this next chapter of our lives. I love you.”
Tears were building in my eyes as I looked at the most important person in my world—my husband. “I’d be lost without you.”
“I’d be even more lost.”
“I love you so much, Josh.”
He smiled and kissed my lips gently before he rested his forehead on mine. “I love you more, princess.”
I let out a giggle. “I love you more times infinity.”
Chapter Fifty-One
I stood there next to Ari as she pushed again.
After nearly two hours, Dr. Johnson finally looked up and smiled. “One more good push, Ari, and I think we’ll have it.”
“One more good push! That’s what you said on the last push, you bastard!”
Dr. Johnson laughed. “Come on, one more push.”
The next thing I knew, I could hear the sounds of our baby girl crying.
I bent over and kissed Ari on the lips as she cried. “You did it, baby.” I wiped the tears from her face.
When they placed our sweet baby girl on Ari’s chest, Ari just stared at her. She looked up at me and smiled. “I think the name we picked is perfect.”
I glanced down at our beautiful angel and smiled. “I agree. Grace Hope Johnson is perfect.” I leaned over and kissed my sweet baby girl as she gave us a big yawn.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and Ellie and Gunner walked in with Alex. Then, Brad and Amanda followed with Maegan.
Ellie gave me a huge smile as she walked in, and then she glanced over to Grace. “Oh my god. Oh, Jefferson, Ari…she’s breathtaking!”
When Alex let out a laugh, Gunner laughed. “I think she’s excited about her cousin already!” Gunner reached out and shook my hand as he winked at me. “She’s beautiful, dude.”
I looked back at her and smiled. “Yeah, she is.”
Brad walked up, leaned down, and kissed Ari on the forehead. “Job well done, Ari. She’s beautiful.”
Amanda smiled while she was rocking Maegan back and forth.
I glanced around and laughed. “Oh, holy hell. Do you know what it’s going to be like when these three start dating?”
Gunner and Brad glared at me.
Brad shook his head. “She ain’t gonna be dating…ever.”
Amanda laughed. Ellie looked at Gunner and winked.
Ari sucked in a breath of air. “Heather!”
“Two beautiful, healthy babies—Isabella Gemma and William Gregory,” Amanda said.
“Wow. Four girls and two boys. Five more, and we’ll have a football team,” Gunner said with a chuckle.
Brad glanced over at Amanda and winked. “I’m working on it.”
I noticed Ellie was looking down at the ground. She glanced up and caught my eye. When I tilted my head, she gave me a look.
Oh my god. My baby sister is pregnant.
I raised my eyebrows, and she quickly looked over toward Gunner, who was now holding Maegan while Amanda held Alex. Ellie shook her head.
Gunner doesn’t know yet.
I winked at her and then turned back to Ari, who was humming as she fed Grace.
I glanced around the room at everyone. I couldn’t wait to see Josh and Heather’s babies, and I really couldn’t wait to see all the kids running around and playing on the ranch. My heart swelled up with so much love and pride as I looked at each person in this room. There wasn’t a damn thing I wouldn’t do for any of them.
Leaning over, I kissed Ari and then Grace.
Ari glanced up at me with tears in her eyes. “By the grace of God, he gave us hope. In that belief, we were blessed with our baby girl.”
“Grace Hope,” Ari and I said together.
“I thought the birth of Luke could never be topped, but life just keeps getting better and better. I owe that to you, Ari. I love you more than life itself.”
As Ari handed me Grace, she smiled. “I love you, Jeff. Thank you for making all my dreams come true.”
I walked around the room with my baby girl. I dreamed about taking her fishing, going hunting, and teaching her how to shoot a gun. I couldn’t wait…but I could wait. I wanted to enjoy every single moment with her. “I have big dreams for you, sweetheart. Big dreams.”
Gunner walked up and smiled as he glanced down at Grace. Then, he looked around and back at me. “Dude, does Ari have a plan for introducing Scarlet to the baby?”