Warrior (First to Fight #1)(23)

“Are you sure you don’t need anything? Did you get enough diapers from your shower thing?” Jack looks around the living room like he’d find an errant pack of them hiding in a planter or something.

“Yes, I have plenty. If we run out, I can always call you to run to the store for me.”

Jack brightens. “I can do that now. Where do I go?”

I laugh. “Jack. We’re fine, I promise. You’ve covered everything and Melissa made enough frozen meals for us to last through the next year. Now, go; you’ve done enough. More than enough.”

I walk him to the door but stop when he pauses in the doorway.

He opens his mouth to say something then pauses. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay alone?”

“Absolutely, Jack. I know I wasn’t prepared for the whole mom gig initially, but I’ve spent more than enough time in the hospital learning how to take care of him. I made the nurses teach me everything at least twice. I could give him his medicine and check monitors in my sleep. We’re going to be just fine.”

Jack wraps his arms around me, and I tuck my head under his chin. At six foot two, he towers over my small frame, but I always fit, like we’re two pieces from different puzzles that somehow work.

“You’re my little sister. It’s my duty to make sure you’re okay.”

I squeeze him extra tight. “And you’ve always done a great job. Now, get. You can come see us this weekend. For now, I need to get used to this all by myself for a little while.”

He gives me one last hug, then leaves. I wave at his retreating figure before shutting the door behind him. Cole begins to fuss where he is stirring in his bassinet.

We stayed in the hospital for a few months after the first surgery to recover and learn the ropes. The fact that he made it through the first stage is a positive sign. Thankfully, Cole took to a bottle and the breast milk and the special formula he has to take. I was relieved to see that he was gaining weight regularly. We’re one of the lucky ones. There were no complications from the first surgery. He suffered from no infections and has started healing nicely. For the next few months I’ve been instructed to watch who he interacts with to stave off any contact with anyone who could give him any sort of illness.

After we were released from the hospital, Jack insisted we stay for a couple of weeks at his place so he could help out. Even though I’d loved spending time with him, I’m grateful to be back in my own space without the constant in and out of the nurses—or the hovering of an over-protective Walker male. Nine weeks after Cole’s birth and we were finally home.

I settle into the rocking chair Melissa gave me as a shower gift to feed Cole. Dad and Jack both stepped up to help me finish the renovations on the house, though after Dad’s heart attack, it was just Jack. All of the rooms have a fresh coat of paint, most of the faulty wiring has been updated or replaced and my kitchen is rocking new appliances.

There was enough money left from Dad’s life insurance that I can care for Cole for the next few months without worrying. Once he’s healed and stable I’ll worry about going back to work. Until then I plan to spend each and every day of it soaking up the moments with my son. I’ve already scoped out daycares in advance, as he’ll need round-the-clock care and supervision. I dread the moment I’d have to leave him.

The phone rings and shakes me from my thoughts. I glance down to see Cole still passed out in my lap and I smile as I answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey, good lookin’,” Sofie says. “How’s my main man?”

“Sleeping. We were just taking a nap. What’s up?”

“So your no-good brother mentioned something to me that I thought you should know. And before you ask, no I’m not going to tell you why I was forced to talk to the devil and yes, I would have rather eaten meatloaf made of glass.”

“Couldn’t have been anything too earth shattering because he dropped us off not too long ago. Surely he couldn’t have ruined your day in such a short time.”

“God love you, Olivia, but you have blinders on when it comes to that man.”

“Speak for yourself. Jack’s been nothing but supportive since Cole was diagnosed. I couldn’t have done this without him.”

I hear Sofie’s sniff of derision over the line. “Anyway. Don’t you want to know what he said?”

I sigh. “What did he say?”

“Only that a certain baby daddy is coming home next week before he goes to his last duty station.”





I FINISH WASHING the dishes, my fingers turned to raisins, and shut off the water. I take a moment to rest, just to shut off my mind, and lean a hip against the counter. My head pounds in a vicious rhythm, but I set that aside.

We survived our first at-home scare. I am both terrified of the future and so very thankful for the present.

A few days ago, I picked Cole up from his nap and noticed that his skin, especially his lips, had turned a faint blue. When I pressed a hand to his little chest, he was breathing rapidly. I immediately dialed 9-1-1 and we were rushed to the hospital for evaluation.

Thankfully, the doctors were able to get him stabilized again, and after a short stay, we were allowed to go home.

Still? I lost precious moments fumbling with my touchscreen to get the right numbers. Moments where I knew if I failed, he would lose his life and it would be my fault.