Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
The mood was light and happy as they finished dinner. When the meal wrapped up, Lizzie recruited Alex for clean up, and sent Brooke and Aiden into the living room to relax. Or so she said. Brooke had a feeling her mother was giving them time alone. Though Brooke hadn’t had a private moment to tell her mother she and Aiden were dating, as she’d already learned, a mother sensed some things.
She followed Aiden into the living room, taking a seat on the couch. He settled in beside her, ignoring the space on the other side.
He slid an arm over the back cushion, behind her head, and turned to face her. “Now that your mom isn’t moving back into the gatehouse, are you going to stay?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’ve been thinking it was time to move into my own place anyway. I have the money saved and I only stayed as long as I did so Mom wasn’t alone. She clearly doesn’t need my company anymore,” she said with a wry grin.
“So I guess we’re both looking for a new place to live.”
Her breath hitched at his words. Could he be hinting at them moving in together?
Before he could continue, his cell rang. He groaned, pulled the phone from his back pocket, and slid his finger across the screen to answer the call. “Jared? Everything okay?”
Brooke couldn’t hear his reply but Aiden’s sexy lips turned upward in a huge grin. “Okay, great. Brooke and I will be there right away.” He tapped the off button and met her gaze.
“Charlie’s in labor?” she asked, feeling the excitement as she spoke.
“She sure is. I need to tell Dad.”
They rose to their feet at the same time Alex walked out of the kitchen, her mother alongside him. “Jared called.”
“I just heard,” Aiden said. “Two cars or one?” he asked his father.
“Let’s take two in case anyone wants to leave early,” Lizzie suggested.
Aware her mother would be the one dragging Alex out if the night went on too long and he got too tired, she stifled a laugh and nodded.
“Sounds good,” Aiden said.
When they arrived at the hospital and made their way to the waiting room, the rest of the Sterling siblings had already arrived. Even Remy and Raven, who had just returned from vacation were there.
“Where’s Dad?” Dex asked as they joined the crowd.
“Dad and Lizzie are on their way,” Aiden said.
“Is there any news?” Brooke asked, turning to Fallon and Noah.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. We just got here, too. I had to get Aunt Clara to stay with Gabbi,” she said of her former boss, now partner at the gallery they co-owned. The twins were huddled together in the corner, bouncing with excitement.
“Not yet,” Remy said, joining them. “We were with them when her water broke and drove them to the hospital. Jared said Charlie’s contractions were only five minutes apart by the time we arrived.”
The next hour consisted of everyone hanging out in the waiting room, eager for the arrival of the newest member of their family. Remy left to meet Alex and Lizzie at the entrance of the hospital and bring them to join the family. Aiden kept the twins entertained with wild stories of his worldly adventures. Though Brooke was sure he exaggerated most of them, the girls were fascinated. Noah was busy on his phone, and Dex was in a corner with Samantha, their heads together as they talked in low voices. And Brooke listened to Fallon and Raven chat while taking in the warmth of the scene around her, grateful to be part of it.
The automatic doors leading to the delivery rooms opened and Jared stepped into the room, a dazed look in his eyes. “Kylie Gigi Sterling has arrived! We named her after both our moms.”
Brooke glanced at Alex, who had tears in his eyes. “That’s wonderful news.” She turned to Aiden who’d stepped up beside her and pulled her into a hug.
Jared’s happiness spread through the waiting room, and everyone rushed forward to congratulate him, making it quick because he was eager to get back to Charlie and the new baby.
They waited for a chance to see the new family and finally, Jared reappeared, ushering them in a few at a time, starting with the twins. He wrapped an arm around each girl and led them out the door and toward their mom and new sister.
Seeing the tender happiness that they shared made Brooke think about her own future. She wanted this one day; the love, the babies, and a husband who looked at her like she hung the moon.
Before she could think on that further, it was their time to go in to see the family. Charlie was exhausted but glowing. Jared hovered like a new dad.
And Aiden sat in the visitor’s chair, cradling his niece in his arms. He looked up at her, warmth and other emotions in his eyes, and she knew. He was the only person she wanted this kind of future with.