The door opened again and Cane came through, looking like he seen a ghost. “How is he?” he asked me, nodding to Max.
I couldn’t respond. Cane standing next to Connor Manning was eerie. From the sandy blonde hair to the blue eyes, to the strong jawline and sturdy frame, they were so similar that it was shocking. I looked to Jada and she looked at me, her eyes wide.
Cane looked at Max, to me, and then to Jada. “What? What’s going on? He’s alright, isn’t he?”
“Yeah,” I muttered, my voice still caught in my throat. “Max is gonna be fine.”
“Blaine is out in the waiting room. He really wants to come back, but I told him I had to ask you first.” He laughed a little. “I thought I’d throttle that cocksucker if I ever saw him, but after today, he got a pass.”
“How considerate of you,” I chuckled, shaking my head.
“He apologized. I think he felt my need to kick his ass right off the bat. But once he started explaining to me how he came to find you guys because you wouldn’t answer—how he saw Sam’s car out there and Max standing there through the window . . .” Cane shrugged. “If he messes with you again, though . . .” He cocked an eyebrow, making me smile.
Connor cleared his throat and extended a hand to Cane. “I’m Connor Manning. Nice to meet you.”
Cane furrowed his brows and turned to see Connor standing there for the first time. He shook his hand. “Cane Alexander.”
“This, uh, probably isn’t the right time or place to do this, but because Max is going to be alright, I’m going to forgo standard procedure for a minute,” Connor said, clearing his throat. “Your wife was saying you just took a call from your mother that you haven’t seen in a while.”
Cane looked to the floor. “Yeah.”
“Is her name Kellie Manning, by any chance?”
Cane’s head snapped to Jada then to Connor. “Yeah, actually, it is. Why? How did you know that?”
“She’s my mother, too.”
MAX
“Let me get the door,” Kari said, rushing forward and pressing the handicap button to open the doors to the maternity wing at the hospital.
“I can use my arm, sweetheart,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s been a week. I’m fine.”
“Whatever,” she said, trying not to laugh as we went down the hall to room 301.
Cane was sitting in a heavy wooden rocking chair, holding a bundle of pink blankets, his back to us. Jada was propped up in a bed beside them, tussling Cane’s hair while watching him hold the baby.
“Hey,” Kari said excitedly, trying to not be too loud.
Jada looked up and her smile grew. “She’s so gorgeous, Kari. She’s so beautiful.”
“She looks just like her mother.” I barely heard Cane’s voice. He was speaking with such reverence that it took me aback a bit.
Jada smiled quickly at Cane again before looking back to Kari. “Thank you for being here,” Jada said to her sister.
“Stop it,” Kari whispered, letting go of my hand and walking to her sister. She embraced her warmly. “I love you so much. I’m so proud of you.”
Jada wiped her eyes as Kari pulled away and turned to face Cane. She bent down and pulled the blankets back. Her hand went to her mouth as she touched the child. “Oh my gosh,” she whispered. “She’s perfect.”
“She is,” Cane said softly, never taking his eyes off the baby. He sat a pacifier on Jada’s bed.
“Can I hold her?” Kari asked.
“I just . . .” Cane’s voice trailed off. “I’ve never seen something so perfect. So beautiful. I always thought people were stupid saying they fell in love immediately. But I get it. I’d kill for this little girl.” He lifted the baby to his lips and held them against her forehead. “Daddy loves you, Annie.”
“Annie?” Kari asked.
“Her name is Annabeth Marie Alexander. Ann after Mom, Beth after my middle name. Marie after Cane’s grandmother.”
I looked over Cane’s shoulder and touched Annie’s cheek. She opened her eyes and looked at me. “Hey, Annie.” I clasped Cane’s shoulder. “You did good, Alexander.”
“Annie, that’s your Uncle Max. He’s your godfather and he’s going to help me make sure no boy ever gets anywhere close to you.”
Kari and Jada laughed until a nurse came through the curtain. “Mrs. Alexander, it’s time to take some more pain meds.”
KARI
“Can I hold her?” I looked to Cane. “Please?”
I thought he was going to say no at first, but he finally looked up to me. He drew in a deep breath and stood. “Sit down first,” he said, nodding to the chair.
I rolled my eyes but complied, not pushing my luck. “I’ve held babies before, Cane.”
“You’ve never held my baby before.” He bent down, laying Annie in my arms.