7 ½ months later

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My mother was hovering. Lynn’s grandmother was hovering too. I don’t know who was getting on whose nerves the most. The doctor looked at both of them. “You guys should go and get something to eat,” he said. “We still have hours to wait.” Then he left the room, presumably to come back when things had progressed a little.

Lynn stood in the middle of the hospital room, wearing her hospital gown and fuzzy slippers. “Yes, please go,” Lynn said. “Might as well eat while you can. The cafeteria will close soon.”

Lynn’s water had broken three hours before, and she was only at two centimeters. The family had shown up almost immediately.

Lynn was huge. I’d never seen her more beautiful, but her belly was like a basketball sticking out in front of her. And she was so damn beautiful that I couldn’t keep from touching her.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Shelly blew into the room like the storm she was.

In the end, Shelly had gotten six months of inpatient hospitalization so she could get treatment for her PTSD, which had been caused by her father. That part was true, so no one doubted she needed it. She’d gotten out a little more than a month before, and we’d seen her several times. It was odd being in a room with Shelly, though. Really odd.

The door opened and Malcolm stepped into the room. “Oh, fuck,” he said, as he laid eyes on Shelly. “Who let the wicked witch out of jail?”

“Careful, Mal, or I will sic my flying monkeys on you.” She snapped her fingers and he flinched.

“Fuck you, Shelly,” Mal grumbled.

“You already did. Several times.”

My mom cleared her throat. “I think we’re going to get some dinner.” She, Lynn’s Nana, and my dad all left the room.

“You’re welcome,” Shelly said flippantly. She put her hand on Lynn’s belly and gave it a poke. A smile lit her face. “He poked me back!” she cried. “Such a smart boy. It’s hard to believe Mason is the father.” She laughed at her own joke, and to be honest, the more I got to know her, the more I appreciated her brand of humor. She turned to face Malcolm. “Where’s your lovely wife, Mal?”

“As far away from you as she can get,” he replied.

When Shelly was in therapy, she’d actually asked to have a meeting with Aubrey, so that she could make amends. She knew it was important to Lynn, and Aubrey actually went along with it. They would never be friends, but they could be in the same room together. Although right now was not one of those times.

“I just came by to check and see if you guys need anything,” Malcolm said. He looked around. “Drinks? Food? Anything?”

A contraction hit Lynn, and she reached for Malcolm’s hand, since he was standing the closest to her. He let her grab him and squeeze, wincing as her black fingernails nearly pierced his skin.

When it finally stopped, he took a breath. “Holy fuck,” he breathed.

“Sorry,” Lynn said, grateful for his help as he helped her waddle to the bed.

“Oh, don’t mind me. It was just a hand. I didn’t need it for anything.”

Shelly grinned. “That’s not what Aubrey said. In fact, she said you like to stick that hand right up her—”

“Shelly!” Lynn said.

Shelly stopped talking and turned to face her, smiling politely. “Yes, Lynn.”

Lynn laughed. “Stop it.”

“You guys are no fun.” Shelly flounced to the windowsill and perched on the ledge. “I’m staying. All the way to the end. Just so you know.”

Malcolm raised his hand. “I’m not. I’ll be outside.”

Lynn laughed.

I walked close to Malcolm. “So, you stick your whole hand up there?” I asked with a grin. “How does that work?”

“Wait until this kid gets here, and you’ll understand.” Malcolm laughed.

“Can you do me a favor and keep the grandparents and great-grandparents to be in the waiting room as long as you can?” I asked.

“You want me to entertain them with my biting wit and effervescent charm?” Malcolm asked. He clapped his hands together. “I accept the challenge.”

He left, and he did what he’d promised. He gave me and Lynn time to bring a new life into the world. I’m not sure if Lynn could have done it without Shelly’s help. Shelly pushed when Lynn needed it, and she wiped her brow when it was sweaty. She was…there. She was a sister.

And when Lynn finally pushed that little life into the world, Shelly was a sobbing mess. “He’s so perfect,” she cried. She buried her face in Lynn’s neck, and Lynn cupped the back of her head in her palm, holding her close. “You did such a good job, Lynn,” Shelly said over and over. “Such a good job,” she finally whispered.

I cut the cord, still in awe of all the pink skin and goo, and they passed the baby to Lynn. She took him in her arms and held him, and I knew, in that moment, that this was where we were supposed to end up. I kissed her cheek, and she looked at me, her eyes shimmering.

She whispered something to Shelly, and Shelly replied, “Ash? Really?”

“What?” I interrupted. I had no idea what they were talking about.

“Oh, nothing,” Shelly said. She waved a breezy hand in the air. “Let’s go tell the family so we can keep them out of here for a few more minutes.”

Shelly and I went out to the waiting room, where Mom and Dad gave us hugs, and Dad gave me a cigar. Lynn’s Nana was nearly beside herself with joy. She hugged me and whispered in my ear, “I promise I’ll never try to drug you again.”

Well, thank God for small miracles.

Shelly stayed in the waiting room so Lynn and I could have a few minutes alone, and I walked back in to find her sobbing, holding the baby close to her.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She looked up at me and I knew, instantly, that Ash stared back at me. “He’s so perfect,” Ash said, as tears rolled down her face. “You two made a perfect baby.”

I sat down next to her and gathered her in my arms. “Where have you been?” I asked softly. “I’ve missed you so much.” My chest filled with emotion and I had to swallow past it.

“I’ve been around. Don’t tell me you haven’t seen me.” She rolled her eyes, and then she went back to staring down at the baby.

I had seen her. I had seen her in small moments. I had seen her in Lynn’s gaze as she looked at the sunset, and I’d heard her in Lynn’s laugh. I’d seen and heard all of them. But Ash… Ash was special. She was more, and I’d missed her. “I missed you,” I said again, overcome with joy. “I’m so sorry for what happened. What I did to you was wrong.”

She shook her head. “What you did to me was necessary, Mason. It had to happen. I’m glad it did. I’ve never felt as much at peace as I do now. You have no idea what it was like, having to go back and forth.”

I looked at her, holding the baby, and the clench that tightened around my heart like a vise every day since the stabbing eased a little.

She looked down at the baby. “Does he have a name yet?”

“Not yet.” Lynn and I were still deciding.

“You’ll come up with something amazing.” She smiled at me, and it hurt me to see it. Because I knew she wasn’t staying.

“You’re leaving again.” I pulled her close to me and tucked her head under my chin, the baby between us.

“I’m not leaving. I’m staying. I’ll still be here, just not separate.”

“Thank you for coming back today.” My voice cracked. “I needed to see you. I really needed to see you.”

“I’m so tired, Mason. I’m going to close my eyes.”

“Wait,” I said, and I pressed my lips to hers. She kissed me back, but it was fleeting. She went soft in my arms.

A minute later, the door opened and Shelly walked back in. “Everything okay?” she asked.

I wiped my face. “Fine.”

Lynn blinked her eyes open, and I knew that she was here.

“Thank you,” I said to her. I hadn’t even realized how much I needed an opportunity to apologize.

“You’re welcome,” she said. She wiped her wet face.

People began to pour into the room. Malcolm and Aubrey came in together, and they held the baby. Shelly was amazingly quiet during it all.

When everyone else had gone, she asked for a turn. I handed the baby over. She must have seen the worry on my face.

“Mason,” she scolded, “I’m not going to hurt him. I’d give up my life for him, just like I would for his mother.”

Yeah, but she’d also kill anyone who wronged him, and that was the part that scared me.

She held him after Lynn fed him, and I didn’t think she would ever leave. She talked to him and patted his bottom and cooed at him. Then she rested him in her lap, lifted her hands to the back of her neck, and she unhooked the necklace I’d once given to Lynn from around her throat. She held it out to me.

I looked toward Lynn. She shrugged.

I took the necklace from Shelly’s outstretched hand. “I think I need my own life,” she said. She looked down at the baby. “Maybe I could get one of these.”

I jerked my gaze to Lynn’s. She looked as panicked as I felt.

“Or maybe I could just get a job,” Shelly said.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Lynn replied.

I couldn’t imagine her with a job either, but it was probably better than a baby.

“I can be normal.” Shelly rolled her eyes. Then she started to laugh.

I’d believe it when I saw it.