Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Mason says he will and leaves. I can’t take my eyes off the cradle on the other side of the room. My little guy cries and all I want to do is hold him and tell him how everything is going to be okay.
The door opens and my dad comes in. He sees me and then looks at the cradle.
“Go meet your grandson,” I tell him, unable to keep my tears at bay.
“Oh, Josephine.” My dad covers his mouth. “He’s beautiful.”
My mom, dad, and Katelyn spend a few moments together and then Mason returns with his parents.
“Congratulations,” he says as he leans down and kisses me forehead.
“Thank you,” I say as I look at him. “For everything.” I don’t know where I’d be without him.
“It’s what friends are for.”
I shake my head. “No, Mason. You’re more than a friend. You’re my family. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you and Katelyn. I love you both so much.”
“We love you too, sweetie.” Katelyn rests her head against mine. “We’re not going anywhere, ever.”
The nurse brings my son to me. She’s cleaned him up, put a diaper on him, along with a hospital issued shirt and wrapped him in a blanket. A blue knitted hat covers his head.
As soon as I have him in my arms, I unwrap him to count his fingers and toes again.
“Look at those long fingers. He’s going to make the best quarterback.”
The room goes silent. I know I’ve shocked them, but the reality is, he’s Liam Westbury’s son. Football will be in his blood.
“He’s going to play football, huh?” Mason asks.
“With you as his uncle, how can he not?”
“True,” Mason says, clearing his throat. “He’s going to be the best Beaumont has ever seen.”
I know everyone wants to hold him, so I pass him to my mom and then my son starts to make his rounds.
“So, what did you decide?” my mom doesn’t even look at me because she’s making funny faces at her grandson.
“Noah Michael Preston.”
“Noah, what a beautiful name for this perfect baby,” Mrs. Powell says.
When Noah finally makes it to Mason, I watch as he holds him in his hand. Noah’s tiny, but perfect.
“Hey, buddy,” Mason says softly. “Man, I’m so happy to meet you. We’re going to be best friends and do everything together. I’m going to teach you everything I know about football, girls, and life.”
Everyone laughs.
I know Mason and Noah are going to be close. I’ll forever be in debt to Mason for stepping up for my son when he didn’t have to. Neither did Katelyn. They could’ve ditched me as my friends and left me all alone.
Mason has everyone laughing again when Noah’s little arm rises, and Mason gives him a high-five. They've been doing this throughout my pregnancy.
“Do you guys mind if I spend some time with Noah for a bit.”
“Not at all, sweetie,” mom says. “We’ll be in the waiting room. Just let us know when you’re ready for company again.”
Everyone gives me a kiss on my cheek, and finally Mason hands my son to me. “Thank you for keeping him. I’m going to be there every step of the way. You’re not doing this alone.”
“I know.”
I wait until the door closes and then cradle my son. My finger trails down the side of his face and his cheek lifts. The sight makes me smile, but he makes me cry.
“I wish things were different for you,” I tell him. “You have a dad out there, who I think would love to know you some day. I don’t know when that day will be, so until then, your uncle Mason is going to fill that role. I’m sorry I couldn’t make your dad stay. I tried. You’re going to grow up in a town where everyone knows who your dad is. Just know I’m going to protect you from all of it. I don’t know how, but I will. From this day forward, you are the love of my life, Noah. There isn’t a single thing I won’t do for you. Mommy loves you more than anything, my sweet, sweet boy.”
Someone knocks on the door and the nurse comes in. “How are we doing?”
“Good,” I tell her.
“A couple of things,” she says. “We want to get him nursing and we want to get you up. Which would you like to try first?”
“I’m good to try nursing.”
“Okay, and the other.” She sets a card down on the table. “His name?”
“Noah Michael Preston,” I tell her with no hesitation. I thought long and hard about whether my child would have Westbury as a last name and each time I said it, it made me ill. There was no way I would let him out in this world with that last name and no one to protect him.
The next day, when the nurse brings my discharge papers, I ask her about the hospital bill, unsure how the insurance works. “Sweetie, you don’t have a bill.”