Page 23 of Missing Pieces (Brantley Walker: Off the Books #12)

“It’s time, JJ,” Dr. Tinder said, his tone firm. “I need you to push.”

Sweat dripped down her face, and she felt as though she’d run a marathon.

Twice.

Once in reverse.

Every part of her body ached.

“I’ve got you,” Baz said softly, his hand gripped firmly in hers. “Our babies are ready to meet their mama.”

That was the incentive she needed. The gentle reminder that she would soon see her sweet babies for the first time.

“Ready when you are, JJ,” Dr. Tinder said from his perch between her legs.

Luckily, the discomfort was far more powerful than her modesty. Otherwise, JJ would’ve been embarrassed that he was staring at her most private parts. Or that something the size of a papaya was going to make its debut through there.

“Okay,” JJ groaned, peering up at Baz. “Let’s do this.”

Reese watched as Brantley continued to pace . The man couldn’t seem to sit still. Every time he thought Brantley might relax, he would launch up from his chair and do a lap around the room or slip out into the hall. He was never gone for long. Just long enough to let everyone know he was worried.

The good news was they hadn’t been given any reason to worry. According to Frank, who was receiving updates via text from Iris, the doctor and nurses were optimistic.

Granted, Reese knew better than to tell him there was nothing to worry about.

He prayed this was an easy delivery for JJ.

As easy as one could be after—he glanced at his watch to see it was just shy of zero-one-hundred—nearly twelve hours in labor, at least. She’d been through enough.

Her and Baz. They deserved every ounce of happiness that could come their way.

So, rather than go after Brantley, Reese sent up a silent request to the man upstairs to send only good vibes down to that delivery room.

Baz stared down at JJ, overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions. Love, fear, elation, stress. It churned inside him, but he refrained from showing it—he hoped—because he had the easy job here. Holding JJ’s hand, letting her know she wasn’t alone in this was the most he could offer.

“Uhhhhh!” JJ groaned, her face scrunched as she pushed when the doctor told her to.

“That’s good, JJ. Real good. Don’t stop. We’ve got a head and shoulders.”

Dr. Tinder then said something to one of the nurses. It was too muffled to make out, but Baz didn’t detect worry or concern. Or maybe that was his ears playing tricks on him.

“I want you to rest for a second, JJ. Take two deep breaths, then I want you to push as hard as you can.”

Baz pressed a kiss to JJ’s forehead and let her squeeze his hand, no longer worried that she might break his fingers. If she did, he’d get over it.

Brantley focused on breathing.

In. Out. In. Out.

Slow and steady was his goal. As he walked, he tried to relax his shoulders. He was tense, the stress more powerful than he expected.

Wes had just texted that JJ was beginning to push, and the babies would be coming along at any moment.

It should’ve been a relief. Instead, his heart was in his throat, and fear trickled into his bloodstream.

Please, God, let them be okay.

Did he want to be in that hospital room with his best friend? Absolutely not. It wouldn’t help. Not her. Not him. He simply had to wait like everyone else.

He stepped out into the hallway, away from all those curious eyes. He stopped and put his hands on the wall, tilting his head down.

It was the not knowing that was killing him.

Not knowing that JJ was okay.

Not knowing that the babies were healthy and strong.

Not knowing, not knowing, not knowing.

“Hey.”

Brantley didn’t lift his head when Reese put a hand on his back. “Hey.”

“We should hear somethin’ soon.”

He appreciated that Reese didn’t try to placate him with promises. They knew from experience that saying good things would happen didn’t make it true. Hell, they’d endured far more loss and devastation than anyone should have.

But they had survived.

Reese leaned in, resting his chin on Brantley’s shoulder. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They would survive this, too.

The sound of a baby crying had tears flooding JJ’s eyes.

“That’s one,” Dr. Tinder said. “A beautiful little boy, JJ. He gets the title of big brother. Now it’s time to get his sister out.”

“Come over here, Grandpa,” the nurse said, clearly speaking to Wes. “You can help.”

Wes, who had been standing near her left shoulder, behind Iris and Jules, walked around the machines toward the corner where incubators were waiting.

“You ready for this?” Dr. Tinder asked her.

JJ was tired. So very tired, but somehow she managed to nod.

“Good. I want you to relax for a moment, catch your breath. When you’re ready, let’s do this one more time.”

JJ peered up at Baz, and her heart clenched. He was watching her, tears running down his face. He didn’t pretend he wasn’t crying, didn’t try to hide it. She loved that about him. That and so much more.

“Ready?” she whispered to him.

He nodded and mouthed, “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered, then gritted her teeth and got ready for round two.

Atticus skimmed the room, taking in all the faces.

Everyone was there. Holly, Charlie, Becs, Jay, Darius, Luca, Elana, Evan, Slade.

Reese’s mom was there, along with her boyfriend, Hugh, and Hugh’s friend Mark, who was …

well, Atticus figured technically, Mark was also her boyfriend, though maybe it wasn’t quite as serious?

Hell, he had no idea. And to be honest, he didn’t care.

Brantley’s sister, Bryn, was still hanging out alongside their father, Frank. Brantley’s brother, Trey, was on the other side of the room, Ava asleep with her head on his shoulder, and Magnus conked out next to her, his head tilted back, resting on the wall.

Even Reese’s brother, Z, who happened to be their boss, and his husband, RT, had made the trip down from Dallas. Z was staring at his phone screen while RT was busy on his laptop, which had been perched in his lap since the moment he sat down.

As he stared at these people, he wished he had taken a picture when they first got there. Hours and hours and hours ago. Back when there were conversations to be had, news to be shared, jokes to be laughed at.

Hours and hours of sitting around had drained the excitement from the room while at the same time causing backaches and the need for lots of stretching.

Although the energy might’ve been gone, and there was a little discomfort to be had, there was still a hum of anticipation that kept most eyes open despite the overwhelming exhaustion that was beginning to set in.

“Almost there, baby,” Baz crooned to JJ , keeping his voice low.

He knew he was supposed to encourage her to breathe because he’d learned that during their Lamaze classes.

Since JJ seemed to be doing a good job of doing exactly as they’d learned, he felt no need to overwhelm her with instruction.

Or piss her off. It was a wonder she wasn’t angry already.

Then again, they’d waited what felt like a lifetime for this day, so perhaps her emotions were simply in chaos.

Whatever the reason, he opted to remain silent, squeezing her hand gently to remind her that he was there.

“We’re gonna do it this time, JJ,” Dr. Tinder said, peering over the sheet that was draped over JJ’s knees. “You ready?”

JJ said, “Yes,” although she was shaking her head no.

Baz could see Dr. Tinder’s eyes crinkle, the only sign that he was smiling since there was a mask covering his face.

“Good girl.”

Taking a moment to brush her hair back from her face, Baz took a deep breath when she did and then held on one more time.

JJ let out a cry so loud she figured for sure her throat would be raw.

But then Dr. Tinder was praising her and congratulating them on a little girl. He was mumbling other things, but she was too focused on listening for the baby’s cry to pay attention.

“Breathe, honey,” Jules urged, brushing JJ’s hair back. “They’ve got her.”

Every second she didn’t hear it, her chest squeezed tighter and tighter and…

An irritated squall sounded, and everyone released a pent-up breath.

“There it is,” Dr. Tinder said, his voice muffled because he was still between her legs, doing whatever doctors did after babies were born.

JJ exhaled on a rush of air so powerful, it was a wonder she didn’t pass out.

“Baz, do you want to go over there?” Jules asked.

“You can go,” he told her, his eyes never leaving JJ’s face.

For a few minutes, JJ closed her eyes, grateful the hard part was over. At least for today. Once she was at home, attempting to take care of twins, she figured this would feel like a cakewalk.

She was grateful she didn’t have to do this alone. So very grateful for the man she loved with all her heart.

“I think Mom should see these little angels.” Wes’s sturdy voice sounded from behind her.

“I think that’s a good idea,” the nurse told him.

The next thing she knew, Iris was stepping back and the nurse was settling a baby in a blue blanket in the crook of JJ’s right arm. And then a bundle in pink was placed on her left side.

JJ glanced down at them. Back and forth, taking it all in as her heart swelled ten times its normal size.

She made a vow right then and there that she would never, no matter what, let them go for a single minute without knowing that she loved them with all her heart.

She would do what was necessary to ensure they never doubted it for a second.