Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Cassie lets out a heavy breath, giving me a warm smile. “I swear, if you go any further than the hospital food court, I’m hunting you down.”
“Fifteen minutes,” I remind her before grabbing my phone and holding it up. “I’m keeping this on. Call me if you need me, okay?” And with that, I turn and make my way out of the nursery, keeping my head down and avoiding Carter’s piercing stare with every last ounce of determination I have left.
Chapter 14
BRIANNA
It’s been four long days since Sara’s death, and today we say goodbye.
I figured I’d head over to Cassie’s place first to help her get ready because, let’s face it, trying to do anything with a newborn isn’t supposed to be easy. Plus, Jax tries, but the truth is that he’s completely useless when it comes to this baby. At least he’s trying though. They’re both completely exhausted, and even though it’s only been four days, I can see them starting to get into a routine that’s working for them.
After getting myself dressed and ready, I grab my black purse off my kitchen counter and head out to my car—well, technically it’s Bobby’s car. Though to be fair, he offered it up for me to use while I wait for my new car to come in, but that’s on him. Bobby knows me well enough to know that I would claim it as my own. Besides, he’s got more than enough cars over in New York, he doesn’t need this one.
Putting the car into gear, I head over to Cassie’s place, feeling the heaviness of Sara’s loss on my heart today. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been feeling it every day. Every time I see her baby, I feel it. Every time someone mentions how Sean’s doing, I feel it. But today, knowing we will gather to say our final goodbyes . . . shit. It stings in a way no one could ever prepare for.
As far as I’m aware, Sean hasn’t found the courage to visit his daughter since he broke down in the hospital, and I can’t blame him for that. Everybody deals with grief in different ways, and we all just have to come together to help him wherever he needs. But my heart breaks for his baby girl. She still doesn’t have a name, and I know she’s only a baby and has no idea what’s going on, but I can’t help but feel like she needs her daddy. I understand these are unusual circumstances, but he will come around. I’m sure of it.
Sara’s parents have been helpful, but with their elderly age combined with the devastation over losing their only daughter, and making the funeral arrangements, there’s only so much they’ve been able to do. So, unfortunately for Cass, all those responsibilities remain on her shoulders.
Parking my car in Cassie’s big driveway, I make my way up the grand entrance and push through the front door, knocking on the wood as I go. “It’s just me,” I call out from the foyer.
The baby’s cries are the first thing I hear, followed by Jax’s voice politely asking her to go to sleep as though this were some kind of business meeting. I follow the sound into the living room and find Jax standing in nothing but a pair of sweatpants, looking as though he hasn’t slept a wink as he bounces the little girl in his arms.
“Oh, thank fuck,” Jax mutters the second he sees me. He strides across the room, and before I have a chance to put my purse down, he deposits the sweet little angel into my arms. “I love her and all, but I wasn’t made for babies. Especially ones this small.”
I laugh as I lay her down on the couch and fix up her blanket before cuddling the blonde beauty into my arms. “You’ll pick it up eventually,” I tell him, though to be honest, I’m hoping he won’t have to. Sean is going to swoop in at some point and take this little girl, and the rest will be history. At least until Cass decides to pop out a baby of her own, but after this, I wouldn’t be surprised if they wanted to wait a little.
“Yeah, I’m not too sure about that,” Jax says, dragging his hands over his tired face. “Give me a toddler any day. I can drop one of those without breaking it.”
I roll my eyes as I get comfortable on the couch, and as I glance down at the baby, I realize this little cherub is wide awake with no chance of sleep in her near future. “When was the last time she had a bottle?”
“I don’t know,” he says. “Cass is having a shower. She said all I had to do was watch her while she slept, but then she woke up and started crying.”