Page 44 of Meant to Be

“What?” I asked, glancing around.

“You’re a natural,” Patience answered.

“Whatever.” I lowered my gaze back to Samuel. I could make out his features enough to know he was going to look exactly like his father. I lifted my head and stared directly at Kay. Her eyes were glued to little Samuel. I turned and looked to Carter, wordlessly questioning if it was okay to let her hold the baby.

He nodded and I shifted to pass Samuel to Kay.

“Oh no, I couldn’t,” she began, shaking her head.

“It’s okay,” Michelle urged, silencing Kay’s protest.

She bit her bottom lip just before holding out her arms and easily taking the baby from me. She stared around the room wide-eyed for a moment, still unsure. But when her gaze landed on Sam her eyes lit up in a way I hadn’t remembered seeing in a long time.

“Hey, little guy. You’re beautiful,” she cooed, rocking him gently.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight before me. Never had I thought about having kids until that moment. Not even when I had thought I was with the woman I’d be with for a lifetime. Not until right then did I picture a future with children of my own.

I turned my head away.

A few minutes later Kay returned Samuel to the loving arms of his mother. We remained at the hospital for a while longer. But it was obvious Michelle was getting tired. We decided to head out. Everyone congratulated Michelle again before leaving them to get some rest. Carter decided to walk everyone to the elevator.

I walked out with Aaron, my father, and Carter, while Patience, my mother, and Kay stayed another minute with Michelle.

“You need to get Michelle one hell of a push present for putting up with your lame ass long enough to produce another heir to the Townsend throne.”

Carter grunted. “Get out of here with that bullshit. And Sam’s not sitting on the Townsend throne. He’s going to be a firefighter like his father.”

I shook my head. “You’ve already got your successor in the department covered with Diego, Townsend Industries needs at least one of your offspring. We all can see Kyle’s going to be another little tyrant like his father.”

Aaron grunted, scowling in my direction.

“Probably notasbad as you,” I added just to dig at my brother a little.

Carter shook his head. “No can do. All of my boys are going to be like their father.”

“That’s what I thought, too.”

We all turned to my father. His brown eyes shone with delight. He glanced over at Carter with proud eyes. “I had plans for my boys also but they all have a mind of their own.” He looked between the three of us.

Carter grinned. He, of all people, should know what my father was referring to. Being the oldest out of the four of us, everyone expected him to take over the mantel at Townsend Industries once my father stepped down. But Carter made his own way, going into the army for six years and then into the Williamsport Fire Department. He was one of the top firefighters in the department from my estimation.

“We’ll see what your sons turn out to be.” My father tapped Carter on his shoulder.

“Making plans for my grandchildren already?” my mother interrupted us, turning an accusing eye on my father.

I smirked. If there was one person on this planet who could keep my father in check it was my mother.

“Just a few,” my father answered, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

I watched as Aaron unabashedly did the same with his wife. As soon as I felt her at my side, my arm was extending, pulling Kay into me. A warmth settled over me when her body melted into mine as if that’s right where it’d wanted to be all along.

“Townsend men tend to fall fast.”

I glanced up, looking at Carter’s whose eyes were pinned on me.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. I’m going back to my wife and kid. Don’t call us, we’ll call you,” he stated before sauntering off down the hall.