Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Hale held his father’s stare, then stepped forward and hugged the man. My heart stopped as Remington tensed in surprise. Then I melted as he wrapped his arms around his son.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Do you want to hold her, Remington?”
His stare met mine and I felt life correct itself. Despite how perfect the Davenports appeared to the outside world, on the inside they were like everyone else—a little broken and living for the first time. They didn’t always get things right on the first try, especially the emotional stuff. But Remington did know how to love, and I felt his love now.
He stepped closer and gruffly cleared his throat. “She sure is a pretty thing—like her momma.”
I smiled up at him and turned Avalyn for the pass-off. He carefully lifted her slight weight out of my arms, and I blinked back tears as he lowered his face close to hers and whispered, “Spit up on whoever you want while you can. Later, it'll cost you in lawsuits.”
“Nice, Remington.”
“What? It’s true. Someone has to teach her these things.” He nuzzled her with his nose. “And don’t you worry about the ABCs. Davenports only focus on ROIs.”
“Okay, that’s enough advice from Grandpa,” Seraphina said, taking Avalyn from her father. “Let Aunt Phina teach you about shopping.”
“How about we worry about her tycoon training later?” Hale said, retrieving our daughter. Then he smiled and changed his voice to the playful tone he used with Elara. “Because we’re only a few hours old. Yes, we are.”
Love filled my heart as I watched him. Them. Elara also watched curiously, and Hale lowered Avalyn so she could see her new sister.
“Can you say Avalyn?”
“Ab-lyn?”
Oh boy, that sounded a little like goblin when she said it. We’d work on that.
Amid the chaos, I looked over Hale’s shoulder and met Xander’s stare, surprised that he lingered. He’d been so anxious to escape the situation earlier, yet he stuck around for what was clearly an intimate family moment.
Although he didn’t fully enter the room, he watched the scene unfold with a look of longing in his eyes. I took pity on him. Today had been rough on everyone.
Looking back at me, he smiled and gave a subtle nod. My earlier frustration disappeared. In a way, Xander saved me today. If he hadn’t stopped by the house when he had, I would have been all alone, unable to find my phone, and terrified for my life and Avalyn’s.
“Thank you,” I mouthed.
His lips curved in a subtle grin. Then his expression turned to one of surprise and his expression shuttered. I frowned as he stepped aside but soon understood.
“Tyler,” he said, with flustered shock.
Tyler paused in the doorway, also surprised to find him there. “Xander.” He frowned but then thought better of making small talk with the man who emotionally screwed him over. “Excuse me. I’m here to see my friends,” he said, making it clear that Xander didn’t fit that category.
Tyler entered the room and Xander took that as his sign to leave. He quietly left with little notice. My gaze turned to Ty. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” He bent to kiss my head. “How was it?”
“Oh, it was lovely, like passing a watermelon through a keyhole.”
“I’m sure you weren’t at all dramatic,” he teased.
“Drama’s not my style, Ty. You know I’m all sophistication.”
He laughed then greeted Hale.
“Meet Avalyn,” Hale said as he placed her in Tyler’s arms.
Tyler cradled her gently and smiled. “Wow, Rayne. She’s beautiful.”
I wiped a tear from my eye because, apparently, the crying thing didn’t stop for something like eighteen years once a person became a parent.
“You okay?” Hale asked softly, kissing my head.
“Oh, yeah.” I sniffled. “These are happy tears.” Despite all the unpredictable calamities, today had turned out to be a perfect day—one I’d never forget.
The family stuck around for a few hours, but when I started nodding off, they left so I could rest. Tyler left with my mother and Elara, promising to return in the morning. Seraphina promised the same.
The nurses tried to take Avalyn to the nursery, but Hale wouldn’t have it. He slept in the chair beside the bassinet while I slept in the bed, waking only to nurse when Avalyn started to cry.
I awoke the following day to daylight flooding through the curtains and Avalyn being wheeled out of the room. “Where are they taking her?”
“For some routine tests. Nothing’s wrong.”
My sudden panic shifted to relief, and I sat up. Breakfast had been delivered, so I perused the bed tray. The eggs looked rubbery.
“Don’t eat that,” Hale said. “Phina’s bringing real food.”
“Thank God. How long have you been up?”
“A few hours. Avalyn and I returned a few emails and checked some accounts.”
“She’s only a day old, Hale. The rule is they have to be at least a month old before prepping for their MBA.”