Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)(57)

The next time she woke up, she found her father sitting in a chair at her other side.

“Daddy,” she whispered.

“Oh, Makenna. I’ve been trying so hard to let you sleep.” He came to her side. “But I’ve been dying to see your eyes so I could know you were really okay,” he said, so much emotion on his face. God, it was good to see him.

“I am. Or at least I will be,” she said, filling him in on what the doctors had told her.

Her father blew out a deep breath and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I hate to see you hurting.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, his concern lodging a lump in her throat.

“Ha,” he said with a wink. “Tell me how that works out for you when this little one comes.”

Makenna smiled. “I suppose that’s fair.”

Her father’s gaze dropped to where Caden slept. “So, things are…”

“Things are good, Dad. Really good. We have a lot more to talk about, but I understand what was going on and I know that we love each other. And that’s all I need to know for right now. The rest we’ll work out together,” she said, needing her father’s support.

Dad brushed a strand of hair back off her face. “Sometimes, you remind me so much of your mother. She’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become,” he said, making her eyes well up. “You’re all big heart and kind soul. And don’t ever change.”

“Aw, Dad,” she said, her eyes leaking again.

Just then, Caden pushed into a sitting position. “Sorry I fell—” he said. His eyes went wide, and he was on his feet in an instant. “Mike. Uh, Mr. James.”

“Mike is fine, son,” Dad said, nailing him with a stare. “You here for my baby girl now?”

Caden nodded. Part of Makenna felt bad for him, but a bigger part of her was proud of how confident he was standing before her father. “Yes, sir. A hundred percent. When Makenna’s better, I’d like to tell you what happened if you’re open to it. I know how important you are to her and, well…” He nodded. “I’d just like to try to make things right.”

Her father walked around the bottom of the hospital bed and came to stand in front of a much taller Caden. “It looks like you already have, but of course I’ll hear what you have to say. We all will. Because you’re part of the family now.” Her father held out a hand, and when Caden took it, Makenna couldn’t stop smiling. “Congratulations on the little one.”

“Thank you, Mike. That means a lot,” Caden said. Was Makenna imagining it, or were Caden’s cheeks turning pink, just a little? How freaking cute was that?

“Listen, Patrick’s probably climbing the walls,” Dad said. “Let me head out so he can come back. They’ll only allow two at a time.”

“I can go so you can stay and visit,” Caden said, gesturing to the door.

Her father shook his head. “Your place is right here.” He clapped Caden on the back then looked at Makenna. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in a while.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she said.

When he left, Caden leaned against the rail of her bed and bent down to kiss her forehead. “Your father’s a helluva guy.”

She grinned. “Yes, he is. And so are you.” Makenna only hoped that things went as well with her oldest brother.

The thought seemed to beckon him, because the next instant, Patrick walked into the room and came right up to her on the opposite side of the bed from Caden. “Makenna, Jesus. You scared the hell out of all of us.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m going to be fine. Thank you so much for coming down,” she said.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. None of us would. You know that,” he said, still not acknowledging Caden. Makenna’s shoulders sagged, but they had to work this out between them.

An awkward silence stretched out and Makenna was debating how to make all this right when a fluttery tingle flitted through her belly. And again.

“Oh! It’s happening again,” she said, grabbing Caden’s hand. She flattened it against her belly. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to feel it but this is the second time I’ve felt the baby move.”

Caden’s face was a mask of joyful anticipation as he leaned over her. He shook his head, his smile bringing out his dimples.

“Damn,” she said. “I guess we’re gonna have to get used to the kid not doing things when we want him to, huh?”

Chuckling, Caden nodded. “Sounds about right.”

“So, you’re in this, then?” Patrick said, finally looking at Caden. “You know what, let’s take this into the hall so we don’t disturb Makenna.”

Caden straightened and met Patrick’s intense gaze eye to eye, then nodded.

“Guys, it’s okay,” Makenna said, worry slinking through her.

“Don’t worry,” Caden said, kissing her on the forehead. “We’ll be right back.” They disappeared into the hallway, but they didn’t go so far that she couldn’t hear a lot of the conversation.

“I’m all in,” Caden said. “I know I made mistakes, but I’ve worked to fix them, and I won’t make them again.”