Closing Time Read online

  “My grandbaby is coming!” My mom clapped her hands together, tears in her eyes. “My first one.”

  My dad carried a string of pink and blue balloons. “Let’s get this party started!”

  “No party,” Cassandra said.

  I rubbed the back of her neck and tried to keep her comfortable.

  The doctor squeezed back inside. “We got a full house in here. But only family is allowed to stay.”

  No one moved.

  “I mean, just the father,” the doctor said.

  “Oh.” Scarlet’s smile fell.

  Everyone looked sad.

  “I’ll give you updates when I can,” I said.

  Everyone patted Cassandra on the shoulder and hugged her, wishing her luck. I knew my wife was annoyed by all the visitors.

  “Okay, everyone. Get out.” I herded them out the door like cattle. “I’ll give you news when I can.”

  “Congratulations!” Scarlet said as I kept pushing them out.

  I finally shut the door on all of them then sighed.

  The doctor eyed me with a smile. “Popular?”

  “No. Just got a big family.”

  “Greek?”

  “No. They just don’t understand boundaries.”

  He laughed. “Alright, Mrs. Preston. It’s time.”

  I came to her side and gripped her hand. “You can do it, baby.”

  “Easy for you to say,” she jabbed.

  I supported her back while her legs were spread on the gurney. My hands gripped hers, giving her something to clutch. “Baby, you’re so beautiful right now.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You are. I wish you saw yourself the way I see you.”

  Her hostility diminished. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Now get our baby out of there.”

  After an hour of pushing, Cassandra finally gave birth to our child. The doctor handed the baby to the nurse, where they cleaned them up and wrapped them in a bundle.

  Cassandra was soaked in sweat and out of breath. My chest was to her back, and my shirt was soaked in her sweat. She breathed hard, her head rolling back onto my shoulder.

  “You did it, baby.”

  She couldn’t speak and took a second to come around. “I want my baby.”

  “They are cleaning them up.”

  “Okay.” She closed her eyes while she rested her weight on me.

  I kissed her forehead and tasted the salt. “You did great.”

  “God, I feel like I just ran eight marathons right in a row.”

  “I’m sure you did more work than that.”

  She clenched my hand while the nurse cleaned her up down below. I didn’t watch because I was supporting my wife. There was nothing I wanted to see anyway. I wanted to feel my baby but I had to wait. And I thought Cassandra deserved to hold him first after making him for the past nine months.

  The nurse came over with the baby wrapped in a blanket. “Do you need to rest first?”

  “No,” Cassandra said impatiently. “I want my baby.” She extended her hands.

  The nurse carefully put the infant in her arms and Cassandra held it close to her chest.

  We both looked down into the pale face and green eyes, Cassandra’s eyes.

  “What will you name her?” the nurse asked.

  Say what? “It’s a girl?”

  “Yes.” The nurse watched Cassandra hold the baby.

  Cassandra’s smile widened while she looked down at the most beautiful face I’d ever seen. “She’s gorgeous.”

  “It’s a girl?” I still couldn’t believe it.

  “You could check yourself…” The nurse stepped away and gave us some privacy.

  “It’s a girl.” The revelation was hitting me like a brick wall.

  “I’m so happy.” Cassandra started to weep.

  Hearing the joy in her voice snapped me out of my shock. While I wasn’t looking forward to protecting my daughter from the scumbags of the world, I was still happy she was here. We were finally a family, the dream I thought I would never have. “I’m happy too.”

  She swayed our baby from side to side gently. “I never thought I could love something so much…”

  I looked at my daughter’s face, hearing her cry. She was just a lump in a wrap of blankets, but she was still my lump. I made her when I was bleeding my heart out to the only girl in the world I ever loved. My daughter was made through pain and passionate love. If it weren’t for her, I didn’t know if I would even have Cassandra in my life. In the end, she was the one who put my life together. I would be forever indebted to her, the greatest miracle.

  “Would you like to hold her?” Cassandra asked.

  “It’s okay. You deserve to spend some time with her.”

  “Mike, you won’t drop her.”

  She read my mind. I took a deep breath then moved from behind Cassandra’s back, helping her lean against the pillows. I sat at the edge of the bed then carefully, meticulously, got her into my arms.

  I couldn’t believe how small she was. She was almost as small as a single hand. I cradled her to my chest and looked down into her face. The world suddenly became quiet as I stared down at the most precious thing in the world. My wife was gone and so was everyone else. It was just she and I.

  In that moment, I knew I would do anything and everything to protect this tiny gift. I loved Cassandra with my whole heart, and I never thought I could love anyone or anything more than her, but the love I felt in my heart at that moment couldn’t compare. She was the light of my life, my purpose for living, and everything that had been missing.

  Without realizing it, my eyes welled up and tears fell down my face. My heart started to bleed from the love I felt shatter through me. I brought her head to my lips and kissed her then closed my eyes while I held her, so small in my large hands.

  When I looked at Cassandra, she was crying too. “She’s perfect.”

  “More than perfect,” she whispered.

  I held her steady, knowing I would never drop her, lose her at the store, or make an idiot mistake. I took care of Cassandra, and I would do the same for my daughter.

  Cassandra leaned her head on my shoulder and hugged me. Together, we looked at our daughter, treasuring our time with her. I didn’t want to lose her from my hands. Time would pass, and quicker than I expected, she would be an adult going off to college. But I wanted that moment to last forever. And for us, it did.

  They took Trinity to monitor her and allow Cassandra to sleep. My wife was exhausted and could barely keep her eyes open. She was staying overnight at the hospital, which is what I would have wanted anyway.

  “Get some sleep.” I kissed her forehead then looked down at her. She was already out.

  I left the room then entered the waiting area. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, waiting for news.

  “What’s going on?” Sean said as he stood up.

  Everyone rose, concerned looks on their faces.

  I smiled. “It’s a girl.”

  “What?” Scarlet covered her mouth and gasped. “Awe! I’m sure she’s beautiful.”

  “She is.” She really is.

  My mom’s eyes welled up. “My first granddaughter…” She hugged me and held me close. My dad came beside me and patted my shoulder.

  “So, are you still scared?” he asked.

  “Not at all.”

  He smiled. “I told you it would be fine.”

  “When I held her, I just…it came together.”

  “Like I knew it would.” He hugged me for a moment. “I’m very proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  My brother hugged me next. “Looks like our daughter will have someone to play with.”

  “What?” My mouth dropped. “You’re having a girl too?”

  He nodded.

  “Thank god,” I said. “At least I can go through this with someone.”

  Sean laughed. “I wasn’t too excited about it at first, but now I’m really look
ing forward to it.”

  “We can both get guns and keep an eye on them.”

  “Exactly,” my brother said.

  “Boys,” Monnique said as she rolled her eyes.

  “When are we going to meet our niece?” Cortland asked.

  “Not until we get home tomorrow,” I said.

  “Who does she look like more?” Ryan asked.

  “Cassandra—all the way.” If she inherited my looks, she wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful.

  “Oh no,” Flynn said. “The guys are going to be smitten.”

  I almost ripped his head off.

  “Not now,” Hazel whispered to him.

  “Sorry,” he said quickly.

  “How’s Cassandra doing?” Scarlet asked.

  “She’s out like a burnt light bulb,” I said.

  “Good,” she said. “Let her rest.”

  “And let us know if you need a babysitter,” Cortland said. “You guys are probably both tired.”

  I was exhausted. Taking care of Cassandra for the past two months really took it out of me. I knew Cassandra was just as tired. “Thanks, but I know I can speak for both of us when we say we want to be around our baby all the time.” The fatigue seemed irrelevant now.

  “Take as much time off work as you need,” Sean said as he rubbed my shoulder.

  I looked at Scarlet and knew she was almost at seven months, when Cassandra hit her critical level. “I just need a week or two. When Cassandra is better, I’ll be back so I can honor our deal.”

  “No,” Scarlet said. “Take as much time as you need. Honestly. Sean and I are fine.”

  I shook my head. “I was desperate to be home with Cassandra. I know how my brother feels.”

  “Even so,” Sean said. “Don’t leave Cassandra hanging.”

  “I won’t,” I said.

  We talked about my daughter and how amazing she was. Everyone was excited to finally meet her in person but it would have to wait. I was grateful I had such supportive people in my life. Without them, this moment wouldn’t mean as much. My daughter was finally here, and she had so many people who already loved her as much as I did.

  “I should get back to Cassandra,” I said.

  “Okay,” Scarlet said. She seemed sad.

  “In a few days, we’ll have everyone over and you can meet Trinity.”

  “Trinity?” my dad asked. “I like it.”

  “We do too,” I said.

  “Okay. But we’re only giving you two days,” Scarlet threatened. “We want to see our niece.”

  “You will,” I said with a laugh.

  “We know where you live.” Sean gave me a firm look.

  “Unfortunately.”

  Everyone waved as they walked out.

  I returned to Cassandra and sat in the chair beside the bed, just watching her sleep. A few hours later, they brought Trinity back and put her in the small crib beside the bed. When the nurse left, I sat in the dark while my two girls slept. I wanted to hold Trinity in my arms, to spend some time with her. I scooped her out of the crib then sat on the couch, holding her in the crook of my arm. My other hand rested on her stomach so she wouldn’t fall. Her eyes were closed while she slept. She was so small that I couldn’t believe she made Cassandra’s stomach so big. I touched her stomach then felt her small hands.

  Being a father wasn’t that scary, I guess. I stared at her for hours, just watching her chest rise and fall while she slept. I couldn’t believe Cassandra and I made something so beautiful. It was unbelievable.

  Trinity yawned at one point, and my heart actually did a somersault. It was the cutest damn thing in the world. I stared at her, waiting for her to do it again. I was obsessed with my daughter, finding everything she did to be fascinating and amazing. She was so light in my arms, practically weightless. When I thought she might be getting cold, I covered her with a blanket, making sure she stayed warm. I leaned back and held my daughter in my arms, realizing this was the best day in my entire life.

  When Cassandra was allowed to leave the hospital, I put Trinity in the backseat for the first time. I checked the safety belt at least five times before I made sure she was buckled in right.

  “Mike, she’s good,” Cassandra said with a laugh from the front seat.

  When she turned around, I checked again then moved behind the wheel. As a family, we drove home to our beautiful house on the beach. I always felt Trinity’s presence before she was born, so we were always a family. But now she was here and it was real.

  After we came home, we walked inside and I told Cassandra to go to bed.

  “I’m okay,” she said. “I’ll watch her.”

  “No,” I insisted. “Go upstairs and get some sleep.”

  “Really?” I could tell she was still exhausted.

  “Yes, now go.”

  She gave me a kiss before she went upstairs and slipped into bed.

  I stayed downstairs with Trinity. She was still in the car seat and I placed her on the coffee table while I sat on the couch. I hadn’t slept much for the past few days, but I didn’t want to close my eyes when my daughter was around.

  I stared at her while she stared back at me.

  Now what?

  She curled her hand into a fist then raised it in the air, yawning at the same time. Damn, she’s so cute. I took out my phone and snapped a few pictures of her. Cassandra was usually on my screen, but I quickly replaced her with a picture of Trinity.

  “So…what do you want to do?”

  She kept staring at me, not making a sound.

  What do you do with babies? I was fine just sitting here but should I be playing with her? Was she too young? I guess I could read to her. I picked her up from the car seat then set her on my thighs, a pillow under her head. I leaned back and watched her, unable to believe how tiny she was. She was as big as one of my hands. I turned on the television while I touched her feet. She would kick slightly then stop. Then she grabbed one of my fingers, just holding onto it.

  Damn, I’m going to cry again.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and kept calm.

  Hours later, I got tired. I didn’t want to go upstairs and wake Cassandra, so I put Trinity back in the car seat then pulled the table beside me, right against the couch. I lay down and looked at her, my eyes growing heavy. My hand rested on her foot and I waited for her to fall asleep. When she did, I closed my eyes.

  The sound of feet on the stairs stirred me slightly. Then I felt my wife’s hand move through my hair. I opened my eyes, groggy. “Hmm?”

  She smiled down at me. “Having fun with Trinity?”

  “She’s amazing,” I whispered.

  “Well, I should feed her.”

  “No, she’s asleep. Leave her alone.”

  She laughed. “I can already tell you’re going to let her get away with everything.”

  She was probably right.

  Cassandra lay beside me on the couch and cuddled with me. “Okay. I’ll wait for her to wake up.”

  I wrapped my arms around her and fell back asleep.

  A fist pounded on the door. “Let us in!” It was Scarlet.

  “Yeah,” Ryan shouted. “We want to see her!”

  “My granddaughter!” My mom yelled.

  I rolled my eyes. Everyone kept calling us like crazy, excited to see the new Preston. I picked up the bottles and extra clothes off the floor then shoved them into the closet. Trinity had just been fed and now she was in her crib.

  Cassandra came downstairs, wearing a loose fitting dress with her hair curled. “They are punctual, aren’t they?”

  I laughed then opened the door. “Hey, I—”

  They barged in without saying hello. Scarlet spotted the crib first. “Oh my god, I can’t wait to see her.”

  Everyone moved around the crib and looked down at her.

  Being a psycho protective father, I moved between them. “Okay, don’t scare her.”

  “We won’t.” Scarlet looked at her and gasped. “Awe, Mike. She�
��s so beautiful!”

  “She looks like your wife,” Sean said.

  ‘Thankfully,” I added.

  Scarlet picked her up and held her like a pro, supporting her back and her head. Her eyes welled up. “My niece is so perfect.”

  Sean stood beside her and looked down at Trinity. “She’s adorable.”

  “When she’s not crying,” Cassandra added with a slight laugh. “Or sucking your nipples until they are raw.”

  “Yeah,” I said. “My daughter has been hogging my wife, much to my annoyance.”

  My dad came to Scarlet and stared down at Trinity. He said nothing for a long time. I couldn’t read his expression.

  “You want to hold her?” Scarlet asked.

  “Very much so.” He held out his arms and they made the switch. I watched carefully just in case my daughter might slip.

  My dad held her small body in his hands and looked down at her. When he brought her close to his face, Trinity reached out and touched his nose. His eyes welled up and he kissed her hand. “So lovely.”

  My mom came beside him and grabbed one of her hands. “I’m so glad you had a girl. I’m sick of raising boys.”

  My dad handed her to my mom, but she seemed slightly hesitant. Her hands moved in the wrong way, and I panicked. I rushed to them then grabbed my daughter.

  “Be careful,” I snapped.

  “Mike, your mother had her,” my dad said calmly.

  “It didn’t look like it.” I held Trinity close to my chest.

  “Let’s try it again.” My mom slipped her hands under Trinity.

  I lifted her into my mom’s arms but didn’t let go until I knew she had her. Then I dropped my hands.

  My dad gave me a fond look. “I can already tell you’re going to be a better father than I ever was.”

  The words hit me straight in the heart, but my mouth didn’t move. I was speechless, unable to say anything.

  “Mike watches her like a hawk,” Cassandra said. “He spends more time with her than I do.”

  “Not surprised,” my dad said.

  Ryan came over then took her from my mom, holding her like he’d done it a thousand times. He whistled then winked. “She’s going to be a looker one day.”

  I glared at him. “If you weren’t holding my daughter, I’d punch you in the face.”