Chapter 60

Avery

I was sitting out in the garden. I saw Landon walking towards me with Cassie.

“ Pretty lady “.

“ Hi princess Cassie”.

I was eight months pregnant. Landon was on vacation and he would Pop up occasionally with Cassie on the pretext of Cassie wanting to see me. He'll be back to work in a week. One day Andrea confirmed he was just worried about me. She came and hugged me.

“ Pretty lady, you still Smell nice “.

“ Thank you sweetheart. How are you?, Did you go to school today?”.

“ Yes, Daddy takes me to school ,but he's no fun. I brought you cookies“.

“ Thank you. I really needed these cookies”. I saw Jake walking towards us. When she saw Landon he Shook his head.

“ Hi handsome man”.

“ Boss “.

“ Hello Cassie”.

“ I brought cookies for the nice lady ”. She was smiling

“ And you didn't bring any for me?. The nice lady doesn't share her cookies “. She looked at me. “ Please share, nice lady, it's not polite not to share “.

Jake started laughing. “ Cassie, you'll get me in trouble, say bye let's go”. Landon said, holding her hands.

“ Bye Nice Lady. Bye handsome man. I'll bring cookies for you next time “.

“ Bye princess Cassie”.

“ Bye Cassie “.

Jake sat next to me and grabbed my cookies. “ Hey”. ,'' It's impolite not to share”. I stood up and I was wracked with a sudden pain.

“ Ahhhhh”.

“ Princess?”. Jake grabbed me. I saw Landon running towards us.

“ It hurts Jake “. I held onto my stomach.

Jake

I picked her up. “ Come on, we're going to the doctor. Landon I'm sorry. I need you”.

“ It's okay Boss. Irene, please take Cassie,Andrea will come get her “.

Landon was already running to the car. He opened the door for me and I got in. Teo was in the driver's seat. On the way to the hospital Landon Called Rusland telling him it's an emergency. She held onto my hand, crying and screaming.

“ It hurts Jake”. “ I know love, I'm sorry we'll be there soon “.

Teo was going as fast as he could. The other security details were behind us. When we pulled up to the hospital entrance, Rusland was waiting with a wheelchair. I got out and lifted her out and put her in the wheelchair. She was still screaming.

“ Mr Woods, we'll take care of her”. They pushed her away. I felt like I was losing it. Landon walked in looking for someone. I was pacing the emergency room when I saw Rusland walking towards me.

“ Where's my wife?”.

“ Operating room. She's going into labour. It's too early for her yet. The baby will be premature but everything should be okay”.

Shit. I saw Irene walking in. “ She's going into labour “.

“ Come on let's get you changed “. Irene and I followed him and changed into a gown. When I walked into the room she started crying. I went to her and held her hands. “ It's okay love. I'm here, Irene is here for you “.

“ I can't do this. I'm not strong enough”.

Irene held her hand. “ Yes you are. I promised Nadine that no matter what happens I would be here for you. After she became sick she asked me, when the time comes and you're finally Happy and you're about to become a mother. If she can't be there with you I'm to be here for you . You're happy Avery , you have everything your mother wanted for you. And you will be a great mother . You're strong enough. Your husband is right here with you, He will always be here with you, I'll be here for you too ”.

Irene never mentioned that. I looked at her and wiped the tears away from her face.
“ I love you baby. Irene is right. We'll all be here for you. You gave me a family and for the first time in my life Avery I'm happy , truly happy and it's All because of you . Soon we'll be parents and we'll be happy, I promise “.

“ Okay Mrs Woods, Here comes another one”.

“ Ahhhhhhhh, Fukkkkkkk''. She grabbed my hand,her grip was no fucking Joke.

“ Okay Mrs Woods. I need you to push for me”.

“ Jesus Christ”. She screamed, she grabbed my shirt and looked me in the eyes. “ Touch me again and I'll fucking murder you Jake Woods “. I couldn't help but smile. “ Okay”.

“ Okay, one more “.

It felt like hours , until I heard that sound.

“ Congratulations Mr &Mrs Woods. You've got a baby girl , Nurse clean her up “.

I kissed her head. “ You did it princess, I'm so proud of you “. She smiled but she was tired.

Avery

I felt like I lost twenty pounds. I wasn't doing this again. No fucking way. After the nurses took care of me They took me up to my room. When Jake walked in he came to me and kissed me. “ I love you princess,Thank you “.

“ I love you too. I'm no longer your princess, you have another princess”.

“ No you'll always be my princess “. The door opened and Dr Rusland and a nurse walked in pushing the incubator into the room. I looked at her ,she looked so cute.

“ She's quite big for a premie. Everything is okay,But we'll keep her in the incubator just to be safe . Congratulations Mr and Mrs Woods. You're Now parents “.

“ Thank you Dr Rusland”.

I saw door open and he walked in. I looked at Jake. “ I called him. He deserves a second chance “.

“ Okay. Hi dad”.

“ Hello Avery. Congratulations. I know she would be proud of you. Can I look at her?”.

“ Yes”.

He walked over to the incubator and stood looking at her. “ She's beautiful. She looks just like Nadine when she was a baby. There are pictures of your mom from When she was a baby in the attic. I didn't get rid of anything. I couldn't bring myself to do it. All her belongings are still in the house, it's hidden at the back of the attic “.

I thought he burned it all when Renee asked him to. “ Take care of her and yourself. I won't visit unless you ask me to. I have no right “.

“ It's all in the past Dad. She'll need to know her grandfather”.

“ Thank you, Thank you so much “.

The door opened and Irene pushed her head in. “ Come in all of you. I know you're outside”. Jake said.

They all trouped in one by one and went to look at her. Jake just looked at me and smiled. “ Irene You're her godmother. I know you'll take care of her the same way you've taken care of me”.

“ Thank you sweetheart”. Jake looked at me and I nodded.

“ Landon, you're godfather. I know you'll protect her the same way you've been protecting me”.

“ Thank you Mrs Woods”.

Jake

Rusland kicked them out because they were being rowdy. After everyone left. I sat with her and held her hands. “ Thank you Avery for giving me a chance at love, for giving me a family and for making me happy. I'm happy I returned to Ryedale when I did”.

“ I'm happy you returned too. You've given me happiness,so much happiness that I didn't know I could have. We'll be okay won't we?”.

“ We will love..get some rest. I'll be right here watching over you both m I'll always be here”.

“ I love you Jake”.

“ I love you too Avery”.

As she laid there asleep. I looked at our daughter. “ I promise to love you and mommy for the rest of my life. I'll always be here for both of you . I'll make you both happy and I'll spend the rest of my life protecting you both. I love you princess. mommy will always be my first princess but your my little princess too".