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Chapter Twenty-One

Quinn

“Hey, how's she doing?”

Looking up at Mia, she rubbed my back. “She's good, tired, but good.”

“He's adorable, Quinn.” Holding her hands against her knees, she leaned over and stared down at Riley with small tears resting in her eyes. “Wow, I can't believe how big he is.”

“Yeah, nine pounds. Doctor called him a linebacker when she held him up.” Smiling down at my son, I ran my fingers over the bottom of his feet and touched each toe.

Laughing under her breath, Mia brushed the side of his face. “It's no wonder your mommy was so uncomfortable, you're already half her size.” Her voice was gentle, speaking in a high tone. “How long has she been out?”

“An hour or so, you can wake her if you want. She'd love to see you.”

Shaking her head no, Mia looked over at Cadence sleeping in the bed. “She needs the rest, I'll let her be.” As she looked back down on Riley, she asked, “Can I hold him?”

“Absolutely, Auntie Mia.” Picking up the small bundle, his head curled into my forearm, arms tucking in as his feet pulled up to his chest.

Coddling him for a moment, I held him out for her to take. “I never held a baby before, do I have him right?”

“Yeah, you're good, don't be afraid, I heard babies bounce anyway.” Smiling, I ran my hand over his head, completely awestruck.

That was my baby, my little guy.

When I was growing up and started getting into fighting, my mother was a fucking mess. And back then I would give her hell for it, I was annoyed, embarrassed by the way she acted.

She used to tell me that I could never understand what she was feeling, that the love she had for me went beyond anything else in this world.

I of course would roll my eyes, storm out, and sometimes tell her she was being dramatic.

Then in the very moment that Riley took his first breath of air, I finally understood. It was like being smacked in the face and stabbed in the chest.

It was love, unconditional love.

There was absolutely no way that anyone could ever grasp the emotions of their parents to the full extent. Of course you know your parents love you, that they would go to the end of the earth to make you happy and give you everything they possibly could.

But when you feel what they tried to explain, it changed everything.

I called my mom right after Riley was born, and the first words I said to her was that I loved her, and I was sorry. Because I finally understood the love she spoke of, the protective nature to want to keep your baby safe.

I loved my son so much it literally hurt.

Mia rocked him gently while she sat in the hospital chair, humming a melody under her breath. Raising her eyes to mine, she smiled. “So you're really in this for the long haul then?”

“Of course,” I said, trying to figure out where she was taking our conversation.

“You're a good guy, Quinn, and Cadence deserves the best.” Leaning in, she nuzzled Riley's cheek, speaking in her new found baby voice. “Yes, she does, your mommy deserves the best.”

“I love her, Mia, more than I could ever put into words. And we have a family now...” Dropping into the chair beside her, I laid my head back. “A family, wow, it's crazy he's finally here.”

“I'm just really happy you're committed, Cadence needed this, she needed you.” Her fingers ran up over Riley's jaw, tracing his eyebrows and down the bridge of his nose. “So what happened?”

“What happened with what?”

“The fight?”

“Ah, you heard about that?” Tilting my chin up, I looked over at my sleeping beauty. Her eyes were closed tight, blanket tucked in around her shoulders.