Page 47 of Against All Odds (Ember Falls #3)

Everett

I ’ve seen all the movies and shows of a father freaking out when the woman says, It’s time .

I always thought they were freaking idiots.

That was until it was my woman.

It’s not just because I was elbow deep in a cow as I was trying to get her to birth her calf, but because Violet apparently didn’t want to bother me while I had an emergency call.

Yes, because my fiancée thought it was better to let her become an emergency.

Now I’m driving balls to the wall to get to the hospital before she has the baby.

“Relax, Everett. It’s fine. Violet is doing great and I’m here,” Hazel tries to reassure me.

“I should be there.”

“Well, you’re not and it’s fine. Again. She’s not pushing. She’s like, seven centimeters, and you have time.”

That does nothing to reassure me. I’ve seen a birthing animal go from one to one hundred in minutes.

Almost to punctuate my worries, Violet screams in the background. “Ohhhh shiiitttttt, I can’t do this!”

Hazel makes a noise. “Gotta go. Hurry up.”

The rest of the drive, Hazel does not answer the goddamn phone, and I’m losing my ever-loving mind.

I finally get to the hospital, tear my sweatshirt off, throw on a new one that doesn’t smell like a barn, and rush inside.

As I pass by the front desk, I toss my keys to the security guy. “If they come to tow it, just move it for me.”

The guard gives me a weird look. “Sir, this isn’t valet!”

I shrug. “Can’t talk, I’m having a baby!”

This place is a maze, and I spend five minutes trying to find the labor and delivery wing, and when I finally get there, I can hear her.

“Where is he?” Violet screams. “I can’t stop this!”

“It’s okay, Violet. He’ll be here,” Hazel says reassuringly.

“Sir!” the nurse yells.

“Violet Stewart, she’s the one yelling.”

The nurse nods and I rush toward the sound.

When I open the door, Violet’s eyes widen and the amber color brightens. “You made it!”

“I’m here. I’m so sorry, baby. I’m here.” I enter the room, shooting a scathing look at my best friend, who did not call me immediately when my girl’s water broke, and I rush to Violet’s bedside.

Dr. Cowles clears her throat. “Violet, you’re now ten centimeters, and the baby is coming. You’re going to need to push.”

I lean in, kissing Violet’s head. “She’s coming, baby. You’re doing it.”

She makes a face. “You stink.”

“I didn’t have time to shower, love,” I say a little defensively.

“I know, but you smell and I’m in pain and I need you. Come here,” she implores. “I need to kiss you.”

I’m not sure what to think at this point, but this has been her mood the last five weeks. We go from one extreme to another in a nanosecond. I move toward her and kiss her softly.

When I pull back, there are tears in her eyes. “Hey, no tears.”

“We’re going to have a baby.”

“I know.”

“I’m not ready. What if I’m not a good mom? What if I’m like my mom? What if she doesn’t like me?” Violet fires off her fears, and I brush her sweat-dampened hair back.

“We are ready. You’re already an amazing mom who is nothing like your own, and no one who has ever met you doesn’t love you. Courtney will be no different.”

She sniffles and then a contraction hits, her hand gripping mine so tight she might break bones. My jaw drops and I want to say something, but dear God, I really need my hand to work.

It ends quickly and I pull it back, shaking it out. “Jesus, that hurt.”

That causes every pair of eyes to turn to me, all three women, and I realize I am probably going to get hit with something. “I realize now that was stupid.”

The doctor raises a brow. “Yes, very.” Then she looks back at Violet. “Next contraction, push.”

Violet’s head rests to the side, staring at me. “What if I don’t know what she needs? What if she hates me as a teenager?”

I smile. “What if you’re her best friend?”

She scoffs. “No teenager loves their mother.”

Hazel raises her hand. “Umm, I did. My mom is the best.”

“See, Hazel loves her mom and Hazel is ... normal?”

Hazel flips me off and looks to Violet. “Look, if she’s a hellion, we’ll blame Everett, okay?”

Violet laughs. “That sounds good.”

“Yes, let’s all blame Everett,” I joke.

Violet sucks in a breath, and I take her hand in mine again. “You can do it, Vi. Push.”

She does that, and the doctor keeps encouraging her. “Good job, a little more.”

The contraction ends, and Violet looks run-down. She’s panting, her hair is matted to the side of her head, and she closes her eyes. “This is terrible. Zero out of ten stars. Do not recommend.”

I laugh softly. “It’ll be worth it,” I promise.

“Says you.”

“I know, I have no idea what I’m talking about, but just think—all of this is for Courtney.”

Saying her name causes Violet to go all soft. The anger and frustration disappear, and I see a woman prepared to battle.

“Here comes the next one. The baby is close to crowning, push hard,” Dr. Cowles instructs.

We keep on this way, Violet pushing, taking a break when she can and going right back to it. After another ten minutes, her breathing is labored and she looks close to tears.

“I can’t do it, Everett.”

This woman still doesn’t know her own strength. “You can.”

She shakes her head. “No, I can’t. She’s not coming.”

“She is, baby. She’s coming, but she needs you to be strong for just a little more.

” If I could bear this for her, I would.

Holding both her hands in mine, I bring them to my lips and kiss them.

“You are the strongest, most amazing woman I know. You have conquered so much, and nothing can stop you.”

“I hate you,” she says. “I really do. I want to give up and you’re not letting me.”

I smile. “No, I’m not.”

She looks down at Dr. Cowles. “Please tell me she’s closer.”

Dr. Cowles nods. “She’s right there. Just push through this next contraction.”

“You said that last time,” she grumbles. As it hits, she grabs my hands as tight as she can, puts her chin to her chest, and pushes.

“That’s it. That’s it, Violet. The head is out. Breathe.”

“It’s out?” Her eyes widen and she looks to me.

“Yes, just a few more pushes. You can do this.”

The contraction comes on faster than the last, and the love of my life gives it all she has. “She’s out!” I tell her as I see the doctor twist and pull the shoulders.

She wipes at her, and then the most beautiful wail I’ve ever heard fills the room. Violet is pushing herself up a little, her eyes misting, and Dr. Cowles places Courtney on her chest.

Violet holds her as the nurse wipes the baby, and I stare down at them.

“Everett,” Violet calls. “Meet your daughter.”

My God.

My heart.

My world will never be the same again.

I’m holding Courtney in my arms, wrapped up in her blanket, shielding her from the wind. Violet is holding my arm as we move slowly, since she’s still a little sore from giving birth five days ago.

All of us are quiet as we make the walk to the grave.

This will be Violet’s first time out here and only my second since his death.

There is a lot of emotion, but also a sense of peace. I’ll introduce my father to his granddaughter, like I promised him I would.

“Are you okay?” Violet asks me.

I look down at her with a soft smile. “I’m sad, but okay.”

We talked a lot about this moment, coming here together, and Violet was really who encouraged it. She wanted my father to meet Courtney and for me to get to talk to him about her.

We approach the clearing where the headstone sits. She places flowers and the plant we decided to put in the ground near him. Something that will represent Courtney as she grows.

After doing that, she returns to me and wraps her arms around my waist, adjusting the blanket over Courtney as she fusses. “I think someone is excited.”

“Or hungry,” I say.

“Or that, but let’s pretend it’s my version,” Violet says under her breath.

I walk forward, crouching like I did the first time I came here. “Hi, Dad. I wanted to introduce you to your granddaughter. This is Courtney Ivy Finnegan.”

The last word comes out almost choked. I thought I could get through this without crying, but it fucking sucks. It shouldn’t be like this. My father would’ve loved her, doted on her, and spoiled her rotten. A rush of sadness overwhelms me.

Violet’s hand rests on my shoulder, and I keep it together.

“She’s beautiful, Dad. She looks like Violet, so of course she is.

While you may never meet in this life, I promise to tell her all about you, and I know you’ll be checking in on her.

Thanks for helping me throughout my life and showing me what real love is like. ”

I kiss Violet’s temple and the top of Courtney's head.

This is more than I ever imagined, and I’m going to hold on with both hands.

Next is Killian & Tessa!

What happens when a one night stand turns into a lot more?

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I wasn’t ready to let Everett & Violet go just yet. Swipe to the next page for access to an EXCLUSIVE Bonus Scene!

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