Coyotes Ever After (Colorado Coyotes #7)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Ben

Rain pelts the car’s windshield as I change lanes, scowling at the slow driver I’m passing. I’m twenty minutes away from the airport, but it feels like an eternity.

This was my worst fear. Not only is Stella in labor and I’m not home, but all flights out of Tampa are grounded. Throughout her pregnancy, I’ve assured her that I can get a quick flight out of any city I’m in so I can be there.

My heart’s been racing since she left me a message that she was going to the hospital. I’ve tried to call her more than a dozen times since then, but she hasn’t answered.

I haven’t even been able to tell her I’m on the way. My phone was on silent during a team meeting when she called. Telling her how much I love her and promising I’m on the way in phone messages isn’t enough.

It feels like we’ve been trying for this baby forever. My wife is radiant and happy most of the time, but the past couple of years, her light has been dimmer. Every day of every month has been a time we could get pregnant, a time we couldn’t, a time we were waiting to see if a test would be positive, a time we were grieving our loss, a brief time of cautious celebration, or Stella counting the days as our baby developed.

It was hell seeing her face fall every time she looked at a test and it was negative. And a different kind of hell watching her question her own worth as she hoped and prayed to carry this baby to term.

I exhale heavily as I stop at a red light, tapping my thumb on the steering wheel. When the Tampa team heard about my wife being in labor and all outbound flights being grounded, the team’s captain, Connor Kravitz, immediately brought me his car keys and told me to go.

Even though we’re on opposing teams, hockey is a brotherhood. Connor has a wife and kids, and I could tell he felt my panic as he led me out to his car at a full run.

His large SUV is loaded with amenities, but it’s clearly a broken-in family car. There are two car seats in the back and an empty Goldfish bag on one of the seats. Connor assumed I’d be taking it all the way to Denver, and he didn’t even blink. I’ll have to send him and his family something nice to thank them for this.

When I make it to the Atlanta airport, I have to park a long way from the terminal. I drop a pin where I’m leaving the car and text it to Connor, promising to mail the key back to him. He said his wife has an extra that they can use to pick the car up.

I run toward the terminal, pumping my arms to gain speed. I didn’t even take my bag with me; my teammates will make sure it gets home.

Mila’s assistant Quentin texted me detailed directions to the security checkpoint for private flights; I’ll have to do something nice for him, too. He said Mila is at the hospital with Stella, and I can’t help wondering how that’s going.

I can’t get an answer from either of their phones, though. That probably means Stella is at a point in her labor where she can’t even think about her phone. It’s a knife to my gut. I want to be there for her right now more than anything.

As soon as I get through security, I check Quentin’s directions again. I’m about to start running when I see a woman holding a sign with my name written on it in black marker. I walk up to her.

“Ben Hogan?” She grins at me. “I’m Gemma Cartwright, your pilot. Let’s get you home.”

She has a British accent and is maybe thirty years old. I hope she didn’t just get her pilot’s license last week. But this is no time to be picky. I’d get on a rusty plane with one wing to reach Stella.

Gemma takes me to her plane, explaining on the walk that she’s a private pilot for high-dollar clients—mostly celebrities and pro athletes. Our conversation distracts me a little from my worries about Stella.

“I can’t mention names, of course, but there’s a rapper who brings a different woman on every flight, and let’s just say he makes sure all of them join the mile-high club.” Gemma smirks. “But he pays well. I’ll have my plane paid off within the next three years if business keeps up.”

Once we’re on the plane, I stare at my phone screen as I wait for Gemma to get through her preflight work, willing a text or a call to come through. I still can’t believe I missed Stella’s frantic call that she’s in labor.

I run a hand through my hair, looking out a small plane window at the endless concrete runways.

Closing my eyes, I imagine my wife, helplessness rising inside me hard and fast. What if there are complications? What if she needs a C-section and I’m not there with her?

I push the button Gemma showed me to use when I need to talk to her. “Are you going as fast as you can?”

“We should be moving within five minutes.”

I stare at my watch. Three minutes later, the plane’s wheels finally start rolling. Elbows on my knees, I bury my face in my hands, hoping Cam has gotten to the hospital by now.

If Mila’s still there, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s in the hospital waiting room working from her laptop. She’s not exactly a nurturer.

“Come on, Stella. Push . Give it everything.”

When I run into my wife’s hospital room a few agonizing hours later, my jaw drops when I see it’s not a nurse but Mila who’s encouraging Stella. She’s standing up close to the bed by Stella’s shoulder, bending down, my wife’s hand clasped in hers.

“I see lots of dark hair,” Dr. Halverson says with a smile.

Cam meets my gaze and smiles. She’s standing near Stella’s feet, with a view of... holy shit . I’m not sure I want to look there again. I’m in awe of women in general, and Stella specifically.

“Ben’s here, Stella.”

Stella locks eyes with me, her face red as she continues to push.

“Okay, rest,” Dr. Halverson says.

Stella exhales hard, her body going slack.

“You’re here,” she says softly, her tone exhausted.

Mila lets go of her hand and starts to move away.

“No.” Stella’s tone is strong and certain now. “You’re staying right there. Ben, come to my other side.”

The nurse who’s standing there moves aside so I can be next to her. My throat tightens with emotion as I kiss her damp forehead. Her hairline is soaked with sweat.

“You’re here.” Her soft smile quickly turns into a grimace, her back arching up off the bed. “Oh God...I need to push.”

I put an arm around her shoulders, supporting her upper body as the doctor encourages her to keep pushing.

“That’s it,” Mila says. “Dig deep, Stella. Keep going.”

“I can see the baby’s whole head!” Cam says. “Oh, what a perfect little head. So beautiful. You’re close.”

“Take a break from pushing,” Dr. Halverson says. “Everything is looking great; just give me a few seconds.”

Stella meets my gaze, panting lightly. I kiss her temple and speak in her ear in a low tone that’s only for her.

“You’re incredible. I love you so fucking much.”

She turns her upper body toward me slightly, panting and moaning softly.

“Perfect, Stella,” the nurse says. “Keep breathing.”

“Okay, you can push,” Dr. Halverson says. “Get those shoulders out and the hard part will be over.”

Stella whimpers and takes a breath in and out.

“Come on, babe,” I say. “Keep pushing.”

She looks helplessly over at Mila, who gives her a steely look.

“I’d do it for you if I could,” Mila says. “But only you can do this for your baby. You’re strong, Stella. Now push with every fucking thing you’ve got. You’re almost there.”

Stella groans and finds a new strength, her whole upper body tensing as she pushes. Her expression is agonized. I hate that I can’t do anything but witness her pain.

She lets out a long cry and the nurse gives her a bright smile.

“That’s it, Stella! The shoulders are out!”

Sucking in a breath, Stella’s face lights up when she sees our baby in the doctor’s arms.

“You have a son,” Dr. Halverson says, giving us a quick peek at his face.

Stella bursts into tears and collapses back against the bed. She’s boneless, her hold on Mila’s hand relaxing.

“A boy.” Stella smiles at me. “We have a baby boy.”

“You were amazing.” My voice is choked with tears I can’t hold back.

The doctor quickly delivers the placenta while another doctor and another nurse hover over the baby off to the side.

When the nurse puts our son in my wife’s arms, she gets an expression that’s more peaceful and euphoric than I’ve ever seen. She was made for this moment.

Mila and Cam slipped out of the room, so it’s just the three of us. Stella cuddles our son and kisses his forehead, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“You want to hold him?” she offers.

Slowly and gently, I take him from her. I’m flooded with love as I look at his perfect little nose, cheeks, eyes and lips.

“Joseph Benjamin,” Stella says softly. “He looks like a Joseph.”

She wants to name him after my dad’s father, and I’m overwhelmed by emotion as I hear her say the name, an ode to both my grandpa and me.

I look over at the woman I never dreamed would be mine until fate intervened. “I love you so much.”

“I love you.” Her eyelids flutter sleepily.

I kiss Joseph’s soft little forehead and he gives me a wide-eyed look.

“Hi,” I say softly. “I’m your dad.”

I pass him back to Stella so she can try nursing him. She looks up at me.

“I want Mila and Cam to hold him and take pictures for us.” She pauses.

“Quentin and some of the front office people are in the waiting room. I’m not letting them in here, but they’ll want to see Joseph when he goes to the nursery.”

She turns serious. “I know we didn’t decide on godparents for sure, but...I want Mila to be his godmother.”

I nod in agreement. I underestimated Mila. She came through for me and Stella today in a way I’ll never be able to repay.

“Let’s have a little bit longer of just the three of us before you get Mila and Cam,” Stella says.

I bend and kiss her on the forehead. “You did it, babe. We have a perfect son.”

She smiles at me and I reach for my phone. I need to capture the most perfect moment of my life in a picture so I can revisit every detail in the decades to come.

I could never forget this feeling, though. Stella and Joseph are my heart. There’s no me without them. I’m the luckiest man in the world.