Page 42 of Meant to Be

“J-Josh,” she moaned. “J-Josh, wait … Josh you’re ringing,” she pulled back to tell me.

At first I only heard a ringing sound and thought it was coming from my own ears, until I blinked. It was as if I was coming to, out of a trance. I realized my phone was actually ringing in the pocket of my shorts.

Biting back a curse, I pulled out my phone. If someone was calling this late it must be important.

It was.

“Michelle’s in labor. The baby’s finally coming and he seems to be in a rush,” my father said as soon as I pressed the phone to my ear.

“General?”

“Yes. If you leave now you might be able to make it before the baby arrives.”

“On my way. We gotta go,” I told Kay as I hung up the phone.

“Wh-what? Go? Where?” She looked as confused as I’d been a few seconds prior.

“Michelle, Carter’s wife, is having the baby. They’re at General.” I didn’t wait for her to reply. I grabbed her by the hand, looking down to make sure she had shoes on before grabbing my own keys and heading for the door. “We’re going to meet my new nephew.”

Chapter Eight

Joshua

Unfortunately, we were too late. After my having to overcome Kay’s protest of the reasons why she shouldn’t be going to the hospital with me, she’d made us stop at a twenty-four hour convenience store. We picked up some flowers and balloons as a gift.

“I’ll have to get more tomorrow but this will have to do in the meantime,” she stated, frowning, obviously disappointed.

“More? What more could you have to get?”

She gave me a sideways glance just as we entered the hospital’s parking garage. It was well past official visiting hours, but when you’re staying in the luxury wing of the hospital the rules didn’t always apply. Especially not with the last name Townsend.

“Baby clothes, gifts. Oh, I know!” she stated, snapping her fingers. “I’ll make them some meals for a week or two.”

“Michelle does the cooking.”

Another side eye from Kay. “She just had a baby. Do you know how rough life is with a newborn?”

I shrugged.

“Such a guy. Sleepless nights, waking nearly every hour, especially if she has to breastfeed, and let’s not even discuss whether or not the baby is a cluster feeder. She’ll be too exhausted to cook, so it’s customary to bring over meals for a family with a new baby. Do you think she likes casseroles? Or maybe some pasteles,” she mused as I held the door open for her.

“I’m sure whatever you make, they’ll appreciate. Come on.” I took her by the hand—not knowing when it’d become customary for me to hold doors open for her or hold her hand, but it felt as natural as breathing. After passing through security, we made our way up to the floor where Michelle and Carter’s room was located.

I rapped on the closed door we had been directed to a few times before hearing Carter’s deep voice ordering us to, “Come in.”

I pushed the door open. “Congratulations,” I greeted, smiling at my oldest brother.

A smile a mile wide spread over his face. I couldn’t recall ever seeing him so happy.

“Thanks, man,” he answered, hugging me.

I returned the hug before pulling back and bringing Kay to stand next to me.

“This is—”

“Kayla,” Carter greeted. “We’ve met, though it’s been a while. Thanks for coming.”

“Congratulations!” Kay added. “We brought some gifts for you.” She held out the flowers, card, and balloon.