Janette smiles down at the bundle of perfection in my arms. “He’s beautiful, Candace.”
“I just keep looking at him, Janette. I look at him and can’t believe it’s real. He’s really here and really healthy.”
She pats me on the shoulder. “Yes, he is and you deserve every ounce of the happiness you have. I’ve never known anyone who deserves a happily ever after more than you and Brisban.”
Looking down at William Bryce Calloway, my son, I notice every feature he was gifted with from his dad. He’s the most perfect little human on the earth. “He looks like him, doesn’t he?”
“Yep, you better get ready to lock him away when he gets older. Bitches are going to be knocking your door down for this boy.”
“Janette!” I scold her.
“What? You know it’s true,” she laughs.
“I can’t believe you are cussing in front of a new born baby.”
“Oh God, Candace get a grip. He’s asleep and I’m his godmother. He’s going to hear it soon enough when I babysit.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head.
“What is the head shaking all about?” Brisban asks as he comes in the room, holding two cups of coffee; one for him and one for Janette. Neither of them has slept at all since I went into labor.
“Janette is already teaching William bad words.”
He hands Janette her coffee. “No, not Janette.”
“Wise ass.” Janette, gives him a smirk.
“I give up,” I say.
We all laugh and William stirs in my arms. “Oh, he’s waking up.”
Brisban sets his coffee down and sits on the edge of the bed. “Let me hold him for a while, babe. You haven’t gotten any rest at all. You need to sleep some.”
“You haven’t slept either.”
He arches a brow. “I didn’t just give birth to a human being either. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine.” He leans down and kisses me on the forehead. “Please, just take a short nap.”
I sigh, “Okay.”
Wrapping the blanket around William snuggly, I kiss him on the little pink cheek and hand him over to his dad.
“We are going to watch our first game together while you rest.” He sits over in the rocker and props his feet up while grabbing the remote for the room TV.
I just smile. Looking at him holding our son fills me with so much happiness that I could burst. I reach over and turn the bedside lamp out. Janette leans down and hugs me. “I’m going to head home and shower. I’ll be back later on today. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Thank you for being here.”
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“Someone sent more flowers. This room looks like a botanical garden,” Brisban says, bringing in a huge vase of mixed flowers. He places them on the table near the window and pulls the card out of the little envelope.
“Who sent them?”
His expression is stoic and he’s reading intently when he looks up and walks over, handing it to me.
Candace,
Congratulations on the birth of your son. As hard as it may be for you to believe this, I am happy for you and your new husband. When I heard you remarried it was painful, yet it was the reality check I needed. I’m sure you heard I quit the force and moved back home to be near family. I’m taking some time for myself to try and get my life back on track.
I wish you and your new family well. I know how much you’ve always wanted a child and, even though it wasn’t with me, I’m happy you found your happy ending.
—James
I look up at Brisban and back to the card. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected this from him.”
“Everyone has their bad side, Candace, and everyone has their good side. He had to get through his bad stuff on his own and now he’s moving on. He loves you in his own way, just like I love Dawn in my own way. And it’s okay that you still love him, too.”
He comes over and sits down on the bed beside me while reaching down and holding my hand. “Lots of people have more than one love in their lives. You had James and I had Dawn, but you Candace…you’re my only home. You’re my best friend, my confidant, my partner, and my forever love. The way I love you has no end. When I breathe my last breaths on this earth you and our family will be the only love I take with me.”
WE’VE NEVER VISITED HERE BECAUSE Brisban wasn’t ready. The breeze is blowing and it’s a beautiful summer day. I squeeze his hand as we walk across the green grass. As we near the gravesite my heart rate picks up. Now that I’m a mother this has such a heavier feeling for me than it already did.