Embracing Us (Embracing Series) (17 page)

“I know he helped her a lot. I hate to admit it, but I’m glad she had him to get her through everything. Damn that’s one hell of a goodbye gift.” I
say with a sarcastic laugh.

“Just try to be easy on her, she seems like she is hurting about it and knows she messed up. Life is too short, love her with everything you have and I know she loves you, hell the way she looks at you. I’ve seen pictures of y’all and your family is beautiful.”

“Thanks Tatum, you have a good point.” I say as I walk in the cafeteria with her. Wondering what my wife and Evan are talking about.

LILA

Liam and Tatum, walk out
and leave Evan and me in the room alone. He is standing by the door and hasn’t said anything to me yet. I can feel him staring at me, I don’t know what to say. Tatum is so sweet, no wonder her and Nikki have become friends. Who wouldn’t like a sweet southern belle like her? Her baby bump is showing, and she kind of looks like me.

“Evan, you can come over here and
sit next to me. I’m not going to bite you or anything.” I say laughing, he just smiles and walks over to the chair next to the bed, not taking his eyes off of me. He sits down and places a hand on mine.

“Sweetheart, why didn’t you call me sooner? If he
’s mine, I’ve missed out on your entire pregnancy. You know I would have been here for you and the baby. Tatum would have understood my commuting back and forth. She likes you, ya know. She and Nikki are good friends. Lila, can I touch your stomach, I mean if that’s okay.”

“She is super sweet, I think we will get alo
ng just fine. Of course you can touch it, I know he’s huge. The doctor said he already weighs close to ten pounds. He is going to be a big boy. The girls were so small when they were born. I never imagined having a child that big. I’ll be honest with you Evan, I didn’t call because I wasn’t sure what to do, when we slept together you wasn’t seeing Tatum, and then when I woke up in the hospital Liam told me the two of you were there. I didn’t want to mess up your life.”

“My child would never mess up my life darlin’, you should know that more than anyone. I would die for a child of mine, regardless who the mother is. If this is my baby, you and Liam will have to get used to me being around. I will not walk away from him, ever. He will know me, and Tatum and the rest of the family. He will come to
Birmingham during the summer and spring breaks. I won’t take him from you, and I won’t allow you to take him from me. Ever.”

“I know Evan, I was wrong. I wanted to tell you sooner
, but I just couldn’t. I never meant to hurt you and keep you away from the baby, I promise you that. Will you please forgive me?” I say as I start to cry and I see unshed tears in his eyes. Normally I would feel some sort of attraction when I’m around him, but right now I don’t. I think my feelings that I had for him have finally faded.

“Don’t cry, darlin’ I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just crushed, and feel like I’ve already missed out on so much. I missed all of your doctor appointments and the sonograms. But that all changes today, you understand me. Today will be a start of a new friendship between the
four of us. If he is mine of course. Will they do the test after you deliver?”

“Thanks Evan, I’m just tired and feel so damn bad about everything that I kept from you. Yes they will, the doctor said she would send someone in to swab you and Liam, then the baby. It normally takes weeks to receive the results but we will get them today.”

“Okay good, I’m sorry for the way I acted on the phone. I was just shocked and surprised that you hadn’t told me sooner. But I’m here now. Thank you for calling me. I’m going to find Ta, will you be okay?” he asks as he squeezes my hand. I still didn’t have any emotional feelings toward him.

“I’ll be fine, thank you Evan. It means a lot, and I won’t keep anything from you again.”

“Thank you.” He says as he leans over and kisses my cheek. I can feel my contractions again. Evan walks out of the room and I want to just break down and cry, but I didn’t. I was strong for my little man, I didn’t want to cause him any stress.

I was finally over Evan
, of course I may be having his baby, but I’m over him. As I lie here staring at the picture of Addison with Nikki and me, I start to pray. I prayed like, I’ve never prayed before. If God would answer any of my prayers, I would like for this one to be answered. Then I talk to Addison, she always seems to appear when I really need her too.

“Ads, if you can hear me, please talk with
God and let him know that I’m sorry for everything that I have done. We all make mistakes, but my family shouldn’t have to be punished because of my actions. I love my husband with every ounce of my being, and I would do anything in the world to make him happy. Addison, if you have any pull up there, please let Greyson be Liam’s. He can’t be Evan’s. I have hurt both men so much. I can’t hurt them like this anymore, it’s not fair to them. I promise I will never hurt either of them again, I will never be dishonest with my husband or myself ever again. I will live the rest of my life making up for what I have done, and to make everything right.

“
Addison, please I need your presence now more than I ever have. Please watch over all of us, guide the doctors and nurses into helping me have a safe birth and that Greyson will be perfect. If he isn’t Liam’s then I guess he was meant to be Evan’s. I love you Ads, I wish things were different and you were here. But I know I can’t see you, but you can see and hear me. Will you hug my daddy for me and tell him his pumpkin misses him. I’m sending you butterfly kisses, sweets.”

“Lila, it’s me
Nurse Becky
, are you okay sweetie? I know what’s going on and we are going to perform the DNA test as soon as you deliver. We can go ahead swab the fathers now. If that’s okay. Also do you want them both in the room while you deliver?”

“Okay, can you get my husband Liam, and ask him to come in so I can speak to him? Thank you.” I need to talk to him and see what he thought I should do. I know he
doesn’t want Evan in the room, but what if it is his baby, then he would miss his birth.

“Hey beautiful, is everything okay? How did it go with Evan? Nikki, Brody, Meg, Kade
, and Ashton are all here. Eric is doing rounds then he will be down here. Do you need anything?” he says as he slides in bed with me and put his arms around me.

“I’m okay, and the talk with Evan went well. I think he understands why I waited to tell him. Nurse Becky said that she can go ahead and test you and Evan and then test Greyson once he is delivered. Which by these contractions will be very soon.
Do you want him in here when I deliver? I don’t know, if he is his then I’ll feel awful that he missed out on his birth, but if he isn’t, then it would be wrong to you.” I say as tears stream down my face. Liam leans over and kisses me.

“If you want him in here, then that’s fine. But I won’t leave your side. I’m in here regardless. Understand?”
he says as he kisses me again.

“Okay, maybe you should go have your test and let me think about it, can you send my friends in please. I need girl time.”

“Yes, I’ll send them in. You want more ice chips?”

“Please, I thought you would never ask.” I say laughing. I was having contractions every ten minutes
, but I put a smile on my face and went on trying to figure out what to do.

“Hey bitch, why is it that you are
getting ready to pop out a ten pound linebacker and you look beautiful as ever? Seriously did you do your makeup?” Nikki says as she hugs me.

“I always look this good what are you talking about.” I say laughing and kiss her cheek.

“Megs, what is that on your neck? Is that a fucking hickey?” I ask as she and Nikki both burst into laughter. “What, I know what a hickey looks like. You both know I dated Ashton and we all know he is the king of them.” I say rolling my eyes.

“Well it must be an Ellis thing, because Kade did it and we
aren’t even having sex. He just did it. I had to wear a scarf to work today, who wears a scarf when it’s this hot outside? People thought I was crazy.”

“Okay, on a serious note. Do you two think Evan should be in here while I deliver? Liam
says he doesn’t care, but what if the baby isn’t Evans, he shouldn’t be in here. Isn’t that odd, my ex-lover and my husband both in here watching me give birth.”

“I hope you shaved, you wouldn’t want them seeing any bushes.” Meg
says laughing. I threw my ice chips at her and stuck my tongue out.

“Yes, miss hickey, I did
. You see my beautiful Band-Aid right here on my knee?” I say holding my leg out. “There was no way I was coming here looking like a gorilla. You never know who is looking at your hoo-ha.”

“Well, I’ll have to remember that when I
go into labor,” says Nikki.

“Girls, I don’t know what to do. I think he should be in here, but then I feel it would be wrong to Liam. Why couldn’t I just keep my panties up and none of this would be happening. I have ruined everything. Oh fuck, shit these contractions aren’t stopping. Omigod, they are hurting, and it feels like they are coming faster and harder. Please get the doctor and Liam.” I looked at both of them staring at me
. “Go, now please.”

“Okay, I’ll go. Nikki you stay here with her.” Megs
says as she runs out of the room.

“Can I get you anything sweets, you need more ice?” Nikki
says as she rubs by back.

“No, I just need to deliver Greyson
. Oh Nikki, they hurt. Where is the doctor?” I say just as Dr. Brewster, Megs, and Tatum walk in the room. Why did she bring her back in here with her?

“Okay Lila, looks like your
little man is ready to be welcomed into the world. The only problem is, he is ready and your husband is on the other side of the hospital having is test performed. We will have to start without him.”

“Umm, okay can my friends stay with me?” I ask as I grab both of their hands. I see Tatum standing in the door.

“Come on young lady, get in here, we have a baby to be delivered now.” Nurse Becky says to Tatum.

“Lila, should I stay or go. It’s your call darlin’.” Tatum says as she stands next to the door. Fuck, I just want my husband, I di
dn’t know what to say.

“Yes, get in here.” I
say, she runs over and stands next to Nikki, Megs looks over at Nikki and all three look at me smiling.

“Okay, bitches
, if you had a baby getting ready to be pulled out of your hoo-ha you wouldn’t be smiling like that.” I whisper yell as they all start laughing harder. Tatum wets a rag and lays it on my forehead, and I have a death grip on Meg and Nikki’s hands, they aren’t going anywhere.

“Lila, I’m going to count to three and I want you to give me a good push okay?” I shake my head at the doctor. “One, Two, Three. Now push
.”

“Omigod, where is my Liam, I need him. I can
’t do this without seeing his handsome face.”

“Li
la, look at me, you have to do this love.” Nikki says with tears streaming down her face.

“I need Liam, he said he wouldn’t leave me.” I
cry

“Lila, I can see his head
. Just a couple more pushes and we will have us a baby. Okay on the count of three again. One, Two, Three. Push, Lila, push.”