Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
“Third floor is the maternity floor.”
“Thank you,” I tell the nurse and then start toward the elevators before Lakelyn stops, trying to release my hand.
I stop and look at her. “What are you doing? Come on.”
She shakes her head side to side. She looks scared and uncertain. “Don’t you want to meet my nephew?”
Her eyes light up, but she’s still shaking her head. “This is a family thing. Violet doesn’t want some stranger interfering...”
Before she can get the words out, I’m on her. I have my arms around her, and she’s pulled flush against my body. “You’re not a stranger. And I’m doing my best to not scare you off or push things on you that you may not want, but I love you, Lakelyn.”
She gasps, but there’s no stopping me now. “I do. I love you. I won’t hold you back, you can have the big city, model, do whatever you want. I just need you. I’ll follow you wherever you want to go.”
She clutches my shirt and holds on as she searches my eyes. “I love you, Tate Jennings, and I’m not going anywhere. I want to stay in Whiskey Run with you... I want to see where this goes.”
I kiss her then because there’s no way I couldn’t. She loves me. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m not going to screw it up. I pull my lips from hers. “I can tell you where it’s going to go. I’m going to marry you and put my babies in you.”
She laughs at my bluntness. “I’m okay with that.”
I rest my head against hers. I want to take her home with me and get started right now, but I can’t. “You ready to go meet JJ?”
“JJ?” she asks.
I grab her hand and walk to the elevator. “Yeah, Josh Jr.,” I tell her, rolling my eyes.
She laughs, and we find my sister’s room easily. Josh lets us in, and it seems we’ve missed all the excitement.
Lakelyn’s hands go to her face, and I want to do the same. My little sister is a momma. I walk over and kiss her on the forehead. “I’m proud of you, sis.”
She smiles. It’s obvious she’s exhausted. I turn to Josh, who is holding the smallest baby I’ve ever seen in my life. Or maybe he’s so small because Josh is so big. “Wow!” is all I can say.
“Here,” Josh says. “You can hold him.”
I look at my sister, and she’s nodding her head. I gently take Josh Jr. in my arms and stare down at him. He’s perfect. It makes me think about having my own one day.
“Lakelyn, quit hiding in the corner. You came!” Violet says excitedly.
Lakelyn moves closer to the bed. “Yeah, I hope that’s okay. Tate asked me to.”
I harumph. “More like I didn’t give her a choice. She’s going to be part of the family one day.”
Violet struggles to sit up in the bed. “I knew it. I knew it.” She looks over at Josh. “I told you they would be perfect together.”
Josh sits on the edge of the bed and holds his wife’s hand. “You’re right... you definitely have a gift,” he says as he brings her hand up to kiss it.
I walk over to Lakelyn, and we both are staring at the baby. His eyes are wide open looking between the both of us. “He’s perfect,” Lakelyn says in awe and somewhat wistfully.
JJ starts to get agitated, and I walk him back over to my sister. As soon as I put him in her arms, he settles instantly.
“I have a favor to ask,” Violet says.
I shrug. No doubt she’s going to need some help with the diner. I know she’s been working to get staffed so she can take time off, but whatever she needs, I’ll do it. “Sure, anything.”
Violet looks between the two of us. “Well, actually both of you.”
Lakelyn nods. “I’ll help.”
I squeeze her hand.
“Well, when we got here, Gracie was coming in too.”
“Gracie,” I say at the same time as Lakelyn says, “Who’s Gracie?”
Violet snuggles JJ to her chest, and Josh is stroking her arm. He’s obviously worried about her being tired. “Honey...”
“No, Josh. She can’t do this alone... Gracie is an old friend of ours. She left town suddenly last year and well, I guess now she’s back,” Violet explains to Lakelyn.
“Is she okay?” I ask.
“Well, she’s having a baby, and she’s by herself, so I’m going to say no. There’s no way I could have done this without Josh by my side.”
“What do you want us to do, Violet?” Lakelyn asks, and I fall a little deeper for her. She doesn’t even know Gracie, but she’s willing to help out.
“Lakelyn, can you go and sit with her for a little while? Just see if she needs anything. She’s super sweet. Tate, can you call Aiden?”