Page 38 of A Vegas Crush Collection #3

Devon

Four months later.

“I love you so much, babe. You’re so beautiful to me right now.”

I let out a groan of pain, trying to remember the breathing exercises I learned in the childbirth class we took together.

And I know Grant’s job is to be supportive and calm, but if he says I look beautiful one more time, I’m gonna snap and transform this hospital room into a scene from The Exorcist, sending all these people fleeing for their friggin lives.

“Beautiful” will be the last word he’ll dream of using to describe me then.

“Okay, Devon,” Dr. Reilly says, “it’s time to push. On your next contraction, bear down and count with me.”

I nod as Grant feeds me an ice chip. As another contraction starts, Dr. Reilly signals me to bear down. He counts, starting at ten, as I grit my teeth through the intense pain.

“Almost there,” Dr. Reilly soothes. “I see the first head. Which one will it be? This twin is forever the older of the two. The other will always be little brother or sister.”

Another contraction levels me and I cry out, pushing as hard as I can as Dr. Reilly counts again. A short tear of pain is followed by a moment of relief.

“Baby number one is a boy!” he announces.

“Nathan,” Grant says. “His name is Nathan.” We’re calling him Nate after Grant’s beloved Grandpa Nate, who was at every hockey practice without fail when he was just starting out as a little boy learning the game.

I have no time to revel in the birth of my first child. The nurses carry him over to a scale, weighing him, cleaning him off, and checking his vitals, all as another round of contractions start up. Doc tells me not to push yet. We wait through two more contractions before he gives me a, “Go.”

A minute later, my daughter is born. “Josephine,” Grant says without ever taking his eyes off her. Named after my sweet grandma, who I know is smiling down on us all right now from heaven.

It’s another few hours before we’re alone in our room.

We sent Grant’s mom and dad home a while ago.

They’re over the moon at the birth of their first grandbabies and are staying in town to help us out these first few weeks for those round-the-clock feedings I’ve heard so much about.

Auntie Gia was next to head out with so many kisses and hugs, and trailing more balloons and baby toys and booties behind her than the hospital gift shop could’ve had in stock.

It must be bare shelves in there after she stopped in.

She’s going to take some vacation time and also help me out during this first week.

I’m so blessed to have all this support right at the beginning, until we all get settled into our groove.

I look over at Grant holding Josie while I work on learning how to nurse Nate.

They’re ridiculously beautiful little people, though I might be a tad biased.

And I’m so tired, but I can’t stop looking at them, can’t stop thinking about how right this feels.

We are a family of four now, and this is so far beyond what I imagined for myself even a year ago, or ever, really.

“Can you believe these two?” The awe sounding in Grant’s voice is so clear, so strong. He hasn’t stopped smiling since they were born. “They are, by far, the cutest babies I have ever seen.”

“I just had the same thought.” I grin, bopping our son’s tiny little nose with my pinky finger. “We need to call Brett. Can’t imagine the grief he’ll give me if I wait to tell my big brother that I’m a mom. That his nephew and niece are here.” Grant chuckles and gets his phone out of his pocket.

I’m a mom. And I’ve been blessed with two gorgeous and perfect little babies.

It’s moments like these that I miss my grandma and wish she could be here to see them.

To hold her great-grandchildren. Wishing she could be here to give me advice on how to mother two at one time.

And, when the time comes, juggle my new business.

I grimace slightly. “I’m so nervous about leaving the Crush. No idea why that thought just passed through my mind. I just gave birth mere hours ago. But it’s almost as though this is the day I’ve been waiting for and it’s finally here. And now my new life really starts.”

“I can understand that, but you’ll be amazing. Give yourself time to adapt to being a mom first, yeah?”

“God, yes. Must be the extra hormones. My mind is spinning.” Holly’s been so helpful with suggestions, and I know in my heart it’ll all work out as it’s supposed to.

Just…a little scary. Leaving something that’s a sure thing.

Taking a risk like this. Especially with these two precious people to care for.

Maybe my plans do change, who knows? I just know this is a ridiculous time to be making decisions about my career path.

Right now, I have the only job I want cuddled in my arms and in my husband’s. Good. Glad that’s settled.

Grant leans over and kisses me gently on the lips. “When the time comes to launch Fit 2 Cook, you’ll know it, and you’ll have the opportunity to be doing something else you love.”

“And I’ve got a smart, sexy, supportive husband with a swanky job that has benefits.” I send him an air kiss since both of us have our hands full with babies.

“This, too, is true.”

“Is she out yet?” I ask about our daughter in his arms.

“Sleeping like the dead.” Grant stands slowly, carefully placing Josie in the nearby bassinet the hospital has in my room.

He turns his back to me for a moment while he roots around in the gym bag he hastily packed as we were freaking out when my contractions started.

When he turns, he holds out a jewelry box, flipping it open to reveal an amazing pair of emerald-cut diamond earrings matched to my wedding ring.

“Oh, my love, they’re stunning. You didn’t have to.”

“I know,” Grant says softly. “But you are everything to me. Our kids are everything to me. And I wanted to find something to show you, even in this inadequate way, how precious you are. Beautiful children you’ve given to me, just like yourself, but it’s all of this.

It’s so much more than beauty. It’s the whole of you, Devon.

It’s your heart. Your personality. Your focus.

Your creativity. You are perfect in my eyes, many times more perfect than these gemstones. ”

I start crying. Not prettily either. I’m full-on ugly crying, the reality of this full picture coming into focus.

I’ve found someone who appreciates and loves me and who supports me.

I have these two beautiful children now, making us a family of four.

All I can manage, though, is, “I didn’t get you anything. ”

Grant laughs, his own eyes shining as he leans in and kisses my temple.

“Wrong. You gave me everything.”