“We need to take off, but let us know if you need anything,” Terri said, kissing Charlie, then hugging Tucker. “Don’t forget the wedding shower is next week.”
Terri said the reminder to everyone.
“I’m glad Hannah decided not to wait and give you a run for the attention,” Charlie said.
Terri giggled. “Oh my gosh, right? Can you imagine if you had gone into labor during the wedding?”
“You have to admit, though, it would have made for a great story for our kids,” Tucker added.
Once Jim and Terri left, I started to sway back and forth as I looked down at Hannah.
“Is she getting heavy?” Charlie asked.
Smiling, I shook my head. “Are you kidding? She’s light as a feather. Aren’t you, sweetheart? Your Uncle Nash is going to teach you so many things that your daddy isn’t good at. Like fishing, hunting, shooting.”
“Um, what?” Charlie asked, laughing.
“Okay, I’ll teach you how to make the best fake tea for your tea parties. I had practice with my sister, Morgan.”
“That’s more like it, Uncle Nash,” Charlie stated.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there holding Hannah. All I knew was I wanted this. A family. Someone to love and take care of. I wanted what Tucker had, and I fought to keep the jealousy at bay.
Feeling a squeeze on my shoulder, I looked up at him. “It will happen. It just wasn’t meant to be with Lily.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“Nash, look at me,” Charlie demanded. “One day you’re going to meet the person who will make you believe in love again. You’ll be the reason for her smile, her tears of happiness, and her comfort in the storm. You’ll be the brightest star in her sky and her entire world. Because you deserve all of that and more. And then the two of you will create a family, a legacy, that you can shower your love on too.”
Before I could say anything, there was a light knock at the door.
“Come in,” Tucker called out.
Glancing back down at Hannah, I smiled. She was out cold, sleeping away safely in my arms.
“Kaelynn? What a pleasant surprise,” Charlie said.
My head jerked up to see Kaelynn standing there, a vase of flowers in one hand, and a tutu-wearing moose in the other.
“Is this a bad time?”
Her eyes caught mine and she stopped talking. When they dropped down to Hannah, she pressed her mouth together. I could tell she forced the tears to stay at bay. Then she looked back up to me. Her brows lifted and her smile widened. I swore there was a bit of lust dancing in those hazel beauties.
Kaelynn chuckled as she said, “Wow . . . if the sight of you holding that baby doesn’t make a girl’s ovaries explode, I don’t know what will.”
Charlie laughed, and Tucker and I looked at each other, confused.
“She means you look hot standing there holding the baby,” Charlie clarified.
Lifting a brow, I gave Kaelynn a smirk. She smiled back and looked at Charlie. “Is this a bad time? Morgan mentioned to me earlier today that you were in labor, and she told me you had Hannah a few hours ago.”
“This is the perfect time. Come on in.”
Kaelynn walked into the room and set the vase of flowers on the side table, then gave Charlie the stuffed moose.
“When I was little I loved all things moose. I still do. I thought maybe Hannah would like them as well.”
Charlie gasped. “It’s so soft!”