Page 143 of The Betrayal
I scoff a laugh, waving him away with my hand. “Of course I am sure.”
“Perfect, I’ll go and get showered,” he smiles, walking over to me and placing a soft kiss on the top of my head, mindful to not brush across the band aid.
“Cool,” I say through a mouthful of granola and now, because of my own stupidity, my anxiety hovers around a solid eight. Perfect.
Walking into the hospital, I fight with myself to not take Keaton's hand in mine. I mean, I want to, but feel like I shouldn't? Labor ward is quiet, and we can easily sneak through to where Amora was last night. The blinds to her room are shut so I gently knock on the door. We're not waiting long before my dad opens the door, eyes all glassy and a wide smile on his face. He looks exhausted. Won't tell him that though.
“Hey Sunshine,” his voice is quiet as he places a kiss on my cheek. Want to have it out with him. Won't though. Wouldn't ruin this moment for Amora.
“Hey Dad,” I whisper, stepping past him and making a beeline for Amora. “Wow,” I smirk, “it should be illegal to look this good after giving birth!” Shaking my head from side to side. I'm not lying. She looks radiant and glowing. Skin all dewy. Eyes glistening. Hair wavy and long.
“You're too kind,” she smiles at me, a blissful sigh leaving her as she looks at me.
“How was the labor?” Why did I ask.
“Horrific,” her smile slips for a millisecond. Blink and you would have missed it.
“Oh,” because, what am I meant to say to that.
“But, all went well,” she nods, reaching for a tissue off the side unit and wiping a stray tear. “Damn hormones.”
“Hey, hey, no tears,” my dad says, walking over and kissing the stray tear away as he sits on the edge of the bed. “I love you so much.”
“I know, I just keep thinking about how perfect she is,” Amora sniffles. “And I love you too,” her voice whines as she begins to cry again.
“She?” I blink, eyes batting between both of them.
“Yup,” they say in unison and my heart swells.
“Can I go and see her?” Excitement fills me as the question rolls from my tongue.
“Of course, I’ll take you down to see her,” my dad says as he stands up from the bed and walks towards the door.
“Grandpa,” I hear Xavier say to my dad as he walks through.
“I'm dad, not Grandpa, that's you,” my dad scowls, wrinkles apparent on his face.
“You will be, might as well get used to it,” he chuckles as he walks over to his daughter and gives her a gentle kiss on the forehead, lingering for a moment, “anyway, I want to be called gaga, and mum wants to be called nanny, not grandma. I am under very strict orders to tell you that,” and Amora laughs. My dad on the other hand just rolls his eyes.
“Idiot,” I hear him rumble as he steps outside the room. “Won't be long,” he calls out to Amora, smiling proudly at her.
She returns his smile with a nod.
Stepping out into the hallway, I side eye Keaton who is sitting on the chair, elbows resting on his knees, head dipped.
“What is he doing here?” my dad growls and I roll my eyes.
“I drove Arizona,” Keaton rolls his shoulders back, cocky smirk on his face as he sits back into the chair.
“Surprised you didn’t crash and hurt her again.”
“Low blow,” Keaton shakes his head.
“Didn't want you here.”
“Dad,” I snap, swatting him.
“It's fine baby,” and the way my dad fucking stiffens when he hears the pet name roll off Keaton's tongue.