Chapter 104

“Is… everything okay, Will?” Sabrina asked. His stance was rigid, as thought something else had taken hold of him.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” he answered. “It’s just… I want to be good enough for her. I need to be good enough for her.” He was thrilled to be a father, but terror had crept into his heart. There was more to it than just loving her. He was her protector, her knight. Every man in her life would be compared to him. Her life was in his hands. It was a huge responsibility and he feared he wasn’t enough.
“Will…,” Sabrina reached out and touched his shoulder. “That fact that you care like this, means you will be. Is anything else wrong?”
“No, nothing.”
A nurse walked toward the bassinet and picked up Lizzie. She smiled at them, and nodded, indicating that she was taking the baby back to the room.
“See you there?” Sabrina asked.
“Yeah, later.”
Meanwhile, in Emma’s room, Emmett was gushing about his grandchild. The nurse had come in and placed her in Emma’s arms.
“Look at her!” Emmett trilled. “She’s perfect.”
“She is,” Emma cooed. “She looks just like her father, though. She hasn’t opened her eyes yet. But I’m sure she’d got her father’s eyes.”
“I’m sure,” Emmett didn’t care who she looked like. “What’s her name?”
“Elizabeth Skye. For mom. We’ve been calling her Lizzie.”
“She would have been an amazing grandmother.”
“Just like you’ll be an amazing grandfather. You’re going to spoil her rotten and she’s going to love you.”
“I will spoil her. She’s my little princess.” Emmett’s eyes suddenly welled up with thick tears.
“What’s wrong, Daddy?”
“I don’t know how I was blessed with a second chance to be your father. How you were able to forgive for all of those years thar I neglected you. And you’ve blessed me with this gift. A chance to be a grandfather. I never thought I’d live to see this.”
“Daddy, don’t cry,” Emma said with tears in her own eyes. “I was never angry with you or upset with you. You were grieving. You missed mom.”
“That’s no excuse. You still needed me. And I failed you. Never again. I’ll be here for you and my Lizzie for as long as I can.” He pressed a kiss to his daughter’s forehead.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, Emmie.”
Sabrina and Spencer smiled as they witnessed the tender moment between Emma and her father. Will was close behind them. Emmett noticed them all lingering outside.
“Come in!” he chuckled, waving his arm at them.
Sabrina passed out the food she brought with her and the five of them enjoyed the meal together. Spencer and Will eyed each other the whole time but said nothing. About an hour later the doctor formally discharged Emma and said they could bring the baby home.
“Okay. I’m going to go home,” Sabrina announced. “I have my own baby to care for. Once a little more time passes, I’ll bring Damian to visit.”
“Thank you for everything,” Emma said with tears in her eyes.
“Bitch, don’t you start crying now,” Sabrina teased. “I’ll be back.” She hugged Emma, Emmett, and Spencer goodbye. She punched Will in the shoulder and left.
“Everyone else gets hugs and she punches me,” Will complained.
“That’s a high compliment coming from her,” Emma laughed. “You must have said something that impressed her.”
“Hmm,” Will chuckled. “I guess I did.”
After a while, Spencer left to take Emmett home, leaving Will to escort Emma home. He got her and the baby settled.
The next day Will showed up as he promised. But with him he brought two nannies.
“What’s all this?” Emma asked when she answered the door.
“You’ll need help caring for the baby. There isn’t anyone that can be here with you all day every day. But they can.”
“Who are they?”
Emma looked at the two women behind him. They had a warm sort of presence about them. They smiled at her. One was a taller, thin woman with short blonde hair. She appeared to be the younger of the two. The other was a short, pale woman with frizzy red hair. She had bright, brown eyes with a spark of sarcasm in her smile. Emma warmed to her immediately.
“Hello Miss Wells. I’m Minerva. Please call me Minnie. This is my assistant, Kelly. We’ll be helping you take care of yourself as well as your new baby.”
“Minnie is someone I trust very much,” Will said. “You’ll be in great hands with them both.”
“Please call me Emma,” she extended her hand out to both of them.
“You were right, Will,” Minnie smiled. “She’s delightful.”
“We’ll take good care of you, Emma,” Kelly spoke. She had an accent that Emma couldn’t place, but it was soothing. She felt she could listen to Kelly talk about anything/
“This is too much,” Emma said. “I don’t need all of this.”
“Nonsense, my darling,” Minnie insisted. Will ushered them in. “Having a new baby is taxing. You’ll want someone here with you, I promise.”
“Our job is to keep you sane. Babies are unpredictable and you’ll feel this is over your head. Which is normal,” Kelly added.
“Indeed. Kelly will be in charge of keeping the apartment cleaned, the groceries stocked, and cooking. I am here to care for you and that sweet baby.”
“They’re amazing,” Will said. “You and our baby are in the best hands. I’ll be around as much as I can as well.”
“Will,” Emma protested.
“I know this seems like a lot. But you’ll see,” Minnie winked. “You’ll be thankful for the help.”
“And the company,” Kelly said.
Emma quickly learned they were right. Kelly was sweet, attentive, and caring. Minnie was snarky, sarcastic, and funny. She liked them immediately. It was clear that they knew what they were doing, as they were an immense help to just that first night alone. Emma had no idea that babies got up every two hours, and by morning she was a frazzled mess. It would have been a million times worse if Minnie and Kelly hadn’t been there.
Lizzie’s first week home, Will was there every day. Emma had begun to get used to his presence and actually looked forward to his visits.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said one day.
“Just in time for dinner,” Minnie said, ushering him to the table. Lizzie’s bassinet had been set up by the table.
“Hi, Will,” Emma said as she emerged from the nursery. “Look, she opened her eyes. We were right. Will looked at his daughter and bright honey eyes looked at him. She cooed and babbled. Her small hands swatted at the air.
“Hey,” he cooed at her. “Now you can see me.”
“She is adorable,” Minnie said. “You’ll be in trouble with this one.”
“I know it. She’s got to deal with my overprotective ass,” Will smiled.
Emma placed her in the bassinet and sat down for dinner.
“I’m… glad you’re here,” Emma said.
“I am too.”
Will knew that right now their relationship was centered around their child. But he hoped that one day, he’d be able to address the state of them. They had to eventually talk about what happened between them. Being away from her only further solidified how much he wanted her. Holding her in his arms flooded him with memories. He wanted to hold her again and never let go.
One day, it was getting late, and Will hadn’t arrived. He didn’t call or text. Emma was getting worried, but still didn’t want to let on how much she enjoyed having Will over.
“He should be here by now,” Emma commented.
“He probably hit some traffic. He’s been driving in after work every night.”
“He’s not been staying in Lyncrest?” Emma was surprised.
“Oh no, darling. He has a company to run, you know,” Minnie said.
“I suppose he does.
She waited, but he never came. It stung. It didn’t take long for Will to let her down.
Meanwhile… Will was alone, standing by a car… surrounded by a fleet of police cars.
“Put your hands up, Mr. Stewart! Or we’ll shoot!”