Jameson didn’t say anything more. With a smirk I knewwell, he climbed in the bed with his family and wrapped his all three of us.
After a few minutes of gazing at her, he whisperedagainst my forehead. “She’s beautiful honey...justlike her mother.”
Once again, we were lost in our tiny bubble ofperfection. For a few hours at least, until Spencer and Jimi came walkinginside holding the other little Riley that was added to the family tonight.Alley was lucky enough to have him, with drugs, in the hospital, although shedid have Lane, at a dirt track, in the back of Jameson’s hauler.
Cole Jacob Riley, very different from Lane, was aspitting image of Spencer with his black hair and big blue eyes. He lookedalmost identical to him when he was a baby, so Nancy said.
“Where the hell are your clothes?” Jameson asked Jim, whowas still in his underwear, when he walked in to check on us.
“I had to wrap her up in something.” He motioned to Arie.“Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to my sponsor about a new hauler.”
I let the boys argue amongst themselves and got lost inmy little wonders, my son and daughter. Axel seemed curious and he kept peekingat Arie as if she wasn’t real.
“Baby?” he asked pointing at her with his chubby littleindex finger.
“Yes, this is your sister, Arie.”
Axel smiled, his eyes focused on her. “Baby,” herepeated.
My fairytale just got better. Just when I thought my lifewas everything I wanted, Arie was brought into the world, adding to theunbelievable happiness I felt. The thing about fairytales was having faith inthings that don’t come true, and appreciating them when they do.
In Lap – Jameson
A tiny hand freed from the blanket and her delicatefingers curled around my pinky. I smiled down at her so pure and innocent. Iwas too overcome by the child in my arms to speak. My daughter.
I was the father of a daughter now.
For months I prepared myself of the idea of having adaughter and my gut instinct told me Sway was carrying a girl even though theultrasounds revealed nothing. I had no idea how to react around a girl. Evenwith Lexi, my niece, I never knew how to be around her. With Axel and Lane, itwas easy for me. I related to them. With Arie, would I know what to do? Andwhat happens when she gets older? And dating?
Oh god, talk about fears.
I placed a soft kiss on her forehead, rocking her gentlywhen Spencer came inside holding his newborn son. “Hey.” He said softly peeringdown at Arie. “She’s beautiful.”
“She is.” I glanced up at the baby in his arms. “How’sCole?”
He smiled. “Good, he looks like me.”
We talked quietly for a little while before my fears offathering a little girl emerged.
“Is it different with Lexi than with Lane?”
Spencer seemed to contemplate this for a moment beforeanswering. My gaze focused on Arie when he spoke. “Having a daughter isdifferent. I find myself easier on Lexi than Lane. Just...be prepared to give in...alot.”
I chuckled softly, trying not to wake the babies. If thiswas anything like the way Sway owned my heart, as well as Axel now, I was soscrewed.
Even though I was supposed to be leaving for Atlantaright now, I couldn’t force myself from this angel in my arms. Just her tinypresence relaxed me.
Thankfully, Alley was in a hospital bed and couldn’t bossme around, although she had her phone with her.
Jameson,you’re supposed to be in Atlanta right now. Tell Spencer to get his ass back inhere.
“Your wife is looking for you.” I told Spencer as hereached to trade babies.
“She’ll get over it.” he cooed down at Arie. “You sureare pretty sweetheart,”
“Look at you big guy.” I spoke softly cradling Cole to mychest. He was big compared to Arie. He had at least two pounds on her. Colelooked identical to Spencer when he was younger, as Lane and Lexi looked morelike Alley.
Sway woke up about an hour later when Spencer choked on afry he’d shoved in his mouth after mom brought us food.
