The tension in our area of the waiting room is thick, but when the doorway opens to reveal a crying, smiling Maverick, that tension vanishes instantly. I look over at Tate and smile, both of us letting the two waiting Davis siblings go to their brother first.
“Congratulations,” Tate says after Clayton and Quinn reach Maverick’s side.
“Huh?” I respond in confusion, not taking my eyes off Clayton. When he grabs his brother by the shoulders and pulls him into his arms, I feel the burn of tears start. When both of them drop their foreheads to the other’s shoulder, Clayton’s hat falling carelessly at his feet, and both their arms tighten as they embrace, I know I’m not going to be able to keep my tears in as I witness such strong men be overcome by their emotions. Then, as if they practiced the move their whole lives—each man lifts the arm closest to where Quinn is standing out. She moves instantly, all but diving into their embrace with her arms going around each brother.
“They’ve been through a lot of shit in their lives,” Tate whispers, moving to the seat next to me. “Thick and thin, those three have been each other’s rocks through the worst of it, only sharing that responsibility recently. Maverick findin’ Leighton. Quinn and me. Now you and Clay. Lot of time has passed since they were young kids livin’ a shit life without the love of anyone other than each other, but when you get right down to it, they’re always goin’ to need each other’s support.”
I blink furiously, trying to get my stupid tears to back off, but when Maverick lifts his head and looks at me with his piercing emerald eyes swollen and wet, I feel them start to fall. His don’t stop, but he smiles at me with a small nod before bending his head back to his brother’s shoulder.
“Felt that when Gray was born. There’s no way to explain what you feel when your child is born. Not sayin’ that my son’s birth wasn’t as important, but for them, this is so much more. Me and you, we weren’t around for all of it, but you know as well as I do that they had a dark childhood. Leighton was there. She loves my wife as a sister. Your man as a brother. And her husband owns the rest of her heart. Those three, they finally have it all, and more importantly, they know it. Makes moments like this hit a little harder because there was a time they all thought this would never happen.”
“Their gifts,” I whisper.
“Pardon?” Tate asks.
I look away from the huddle across the room and smile at Quinn’s husband. “It’s their gift for all that ugly they survived.”
I don’t think I really believed Clayton when he told me that months ago, but there are no doubts now. I’ve seen it in Clayton during the course of our relationship, but never as clearly as I do today. I spin the ring on my hand, loving the weight of it, and grin when I realize just how much of a gift my Davis has received today.
“Yeah, you get it.”
“I do, Tate. I totally do.”
“Like I said, congratulations.” He taps my hand, stilling my fingers.
“Thanks,” I breathe, opening my mouth to say more but snapping it shut when I see the siblings release each other and turn to us.
“That’s our cue.”
We both stand and walk over to them.
“I knew it!” Quinn exclaims with a shake to her voice when her husband reaches her side. “Since I was six years old, Tate. I’ve always known it.”
I glance at Maverick, seeing him look down at his boots, but not hiding the smile on his face. Clayton pulls me to his side and I wrap one arm around his back, place my other hand against his hard stomach, and tip my head up to look at him. His eyes are wet and red, but his smile is huge.
“I’ve got a niece,” he tells me in a soft voice full of happiness.
“I knew it!” Quinn cries out again. “What’s her name?”
Maverick looks up, his lips tipping even further.
“Promised Leighton I’d let her tell y’all.”
“Well, bucko, what are we waitin’ for? Take me to my niece!”
Maverick smiles at his sister and we all follow the new daddy down the hallway. Clayton’s been quiet since his brother came into the waiting room, but every time I glance at him he just smiles, so I leave him to his thoughts, knowing he’s anxious to meet the newest member of his family.
We stop behind Maverick when he reaches a closed door. James, their last name since he took Leighton’s when they married, is written under the room number.
“She’s still tired but didn’t want to wait,” he rumbles low, looking down at his hand on the doorknob. “I’d keep y’all here with us all night, but I’m askin’ because I need this time with my wife and daughter. Please, keep it short tonight.”