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“I believe you’re the uncle?” the nurse says to me.
“I am.” I step forward and look at my niece. Saying she’s perfect is such a cliché, but it’s the truth. I’ve seen pictures of thetwins when they were babies, and my mom was right when she said earlier that Peyton’s daughter looks like her and Elle. My niece is so small, with tiny wisps of dark hair peeking out from her pink beanie. I want to give her a high-five for her stylish attire, but that’ll have to be for later.
“Well then, this little princess would like to bond with you.”
She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I sit, like an expected kid at Christmas, and wait. As soon as my niece is pressed to my chest, I let out the biggest, most satisfying sigh. It’s almost as if I needed this moment to clear everything away, to make my future somehow brighter and more in living color than the dark, drab gray it’s been.
Her breathing is soft. Steady. And her heartbeat thumps against my chest. I can easily say I have never known this much love and warmth. Within seconds, she’s already stolen my heart and I’m okay if she keeps it until the end of time.
Her tiny fist unclenches, and those razor-sharp baby nails dig into my skin. I slide my finger under talons and let her hang onto my finger. I close my eyes and dream of what it’s going to be like to watch her and her brothers grow up. Then I try to imagine what it’s going to be like when I have my own someday.
I hold her tighter, relishing the cadence of our hearts beating together.
“Thank you,” I say to the two men sitting next to me. They hum in response, completely lost in their own euphoria.
I hear chatter around me but can’t decipher if it’s in my dream or if there are people talking around me. When the voices continue, I groggily open my eyes and see my sister for the first time and smile. Peyton eyes me suspiciously.
I shrug. “She’s my first niece. She’ll need me to keep the boys away.”
“Won’t her brothers do that?”
“Sure, when they’re older.” Someone is going to have to pry this baby from my hands. “She looks like you and Elle, it’s in my nature to protect her.”
Peyton’s lower lip quivers. “I appreciate you.”
Reluctantly, I stand and take a few steps toward her. I lean down, making sure to hold onto my niece as if my life depends on it. “I’m so damn proud of you,” I tell her and kiss her forehead.
The nurse comes in and smiles softly. “Okay, gentlemen, I think mama wants some time with her boys.”
She said boys and since I have the only girl, I don’t move. Peyton makes the mistake of asking Liam and our dad what they’re going to be called, and these two old fogies get into a tit for tat on who is going to be the cooler grandpa.
News flash, old men, it’s all about the cool uncle.
“Shut the f—” my dad stops himself before dropping the f-bomb in the nursery. “Let’s go round up our wives while we discuss the level of coolness you think you have.” My dad puts his hand on Liam’s shoulder and give him a slight push. “Quinn.”
“But—” I protest and then sigh. “Here’s your daughter,” I mumble as I hand her over to Peyton. “This isn’t fair.” I reach for my shirt before muttering, “Someone has to go back on tour,” in a high-pitched voice meant to sound like my mean manager.
“I’ll miss you,” Peyton says as I kiss her cheek.
“Thank God for FaceTime.”
“Okay, we’ll be out in a bit, to tell everyone their names.”
“One better be Quinn,” I say, laughing. I’m sure one isn’t, but it doesn’t hurt to put a bid in on naming rights.
Out in the hallway and take a photo of myself, still in the hospital, looking tired but happy. I send it to Justine with the caption:
Uncle to three perfect humans.
Her response comes seconds later.
Justine Floyd
They’re lucky to have you. You look surprisingly good for someone who’s been up all night.
I smile.
Runs in the family.