“How about Rusty and I go?” I asked. “Give you some time with Carina.”
Jacques nodded, and I washed up, slipped my Henley on, and followed Rusty out to the waiting room.
Cara rushed over the moment she saw us. “How’s Mum?”
“She’s a trooper,” Rusty said. “Peanut’s a sweet baby girl.”
Cara squealed and threw herself at Rusty and me, hugging us tight. “That’s the best news ever. Congratulations,” she whispered.
When she pulled back, I announced, “Jacques and Carina had a baby girl a couple of minutes ago. He made it just in time, so thank you for rushing home. Peanut is healthy and is just beautiful.”
Cheers rose up, and the guys congratulated us with slaps on the back and fist bumps. I was sure they felt weird about saying anything to us, and not a single one of them questioned why we were in the delivery room—I guess it was one of those “better not to ask” scenarios—but they got over the awkwardness quickly enough. We weren’t Peanut’s dads in their eyes, but they’d known us almost as long as they’d known Jacques. They probably assumed we were the single best friends who never moved out.
“Who won?” Rusty asked when the noise level died down.
I snorted out a laugh. I hadn’t even thought about that.
“We did,” Hux scoffed as if it were a foregone conclusion. “Carina going into labor lit a fire under Gauthier’s ass. I’ve never seen him skate faster. He got the W, then pushed us to get on the plane as quickly as we could.”
Coach added, “His post-game interview consisted of Gauthier walking in and announcing he couldn’t answer questions because his wife was in labor and he needed to get home for his baby’s birth.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. It would have stunned the reporters silent. Jacques always made the effort to be the poster child for responsibility.
“All right, y’all,” Coach said. “Let’s leave these good people in peace.” He shook mine and Rusty’s hands and nodded. “Pass on my congratulations to Gauthier.”
“Thanks, sir,” I answered. “We will.”
“Coach, I’ll stay,” Hux said. “Cara will want to see her mom before we go.”
“Y’all be safe,” he responded.
The nurse walked out and spoke quietly to Rusty before she grinned at me. “Well done on the delivery, Travis.”
“Thanks, Belle.”
“It’s a special moment,” Roe said as she walked away. His smile was soft and wistful. “I got to hold Asher and Zali when they were born. It’ll stay with you forever.”
“I’m—” I started, my voice choking up. “I’m so in love with her already. Was it like that for you?”
“With Zali, definitely. With my first, Asher, I was terrified.” He looked at Cara and Hux and his sad smile turned happier. “Enjoy every exhausting, wonderful moment,” he said. “Start taking photos right now and don’t stop. She’ll grow up before you’re ready, and if she’s anything like her big sister, she’ll be a handful.” He grinned wickedly at Cara.
“Hey,” Cara joked, “I’m a delight.”
“You are.” Roe wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and kissed her head.
“Carina’s about to move to the room. We can go and wait there if you like,” Rusty said.
I wanted that more than I could express.
Chris was bundled up in the corner, his hoodie pulled low and his hands in his pockets. I caught Kamirah’s eye and gestured for them to follow. The seven of us walked up the corridor in search of Carina’s room. When we entered, Carina was freshly showered and holding a sleeping Peanut while Jacques dried her long hair with a towel.
I moved around to the other side of the bed and looked down at the swaddled baby in Carina’s arms. I had no idea who she looked like, but the shock of dark hair the same color as mine and Carina’s had my belly flip-flopping. Our little girl was utterly beautiful.
Everyone else filed in and congratulated Jacques and Carina. Hux and Roe hugged Jacques and pressed kisses to Carina’s cheek. When Kamirah and Minns walked in, she handed Jacques a gift basket of different-colored pastel terry toweling rolls.
“Different sized rompers all the way to fitting a two-year-old,” she explained. “I’ll take it home with me so you don’t have to carry it around and bring it over with the other gifts I have once you’re settled in at home.”
Without missing a beat, she prompted, “Now let me see this little bundle of joy.” Kamirah sat down on the edge of the bed and peered over the swaddling to get a look at Peanut. “She’s so precious,” she breathed.
