“I can’t believe we’re having our baby.” Raina grabbed Nick’s hand. She looked up at him with pure, naked love on her face. “Our baby girl is anxious to get here.”

“She wants to join the party, that’s all,” Julia added. “Now let’s get you to the car.” Julia took charge in her efficient way, taking Raina’s other arm and helping her forward. “I’ll swing by the house and pick up your overnight bag so that Ridley doesn’t have to do it. I’m sure you want your sister with you.”

“I do. Ri? Where’s Ridley?” Raina looked back at Ridley, who was following her slow steps.

Ridley looked like she was struggling to contain her own emotions as she followed behind them. “I’m right here, Ray. I’ll be there with you the whole time,” she promised.

Suddenly Raina stopped. “Can someone call our father? He should know. I mean, I think he’d want to know.”

Matt stepped forward. “I can do it. What’s his name?”

“William Ranier-Ridley,” Nick responded.

“No problem. I’ll get his information from Sam.” He looked at Raina. “Don’t worry about anything. I can’t wait to meet the newest Alexander.”

Raina nodded shakily. She had to stop moving when another contraction hit. It was extremely hard to watch. It appeared to pain Nick as much as it did her, Penny observed. He paled while watching her struggle to catch her breath.

“It’s okay, Nick.” Raina started her slow steps forward again. “At our last appointment the doctor said everything looked great.”

“It’s too soon. We had a birth plan. We’re supposed to have a relaxing, natural birth with a midwife,” Nick babbled.

Raina cried out again and leaned heavily against her husband. She put a shaky hand on her belly and grabbed Nick with the other. “Screw the birth plan. We have to get to the hospital. This hurts!”

*   *   *   *   *

THE ENTIRE ALEXANDER family had taken over the waiting area in the maternity wing of New Haven General Hospital. Matt perched on the edge of a chair next to Penny.

Julia had gone into the delivery room along with Nick and Ridley. Everyone else passed the time talking and speculating on how Nick was doing.

After an hour Elliott arrived. “Hey, am I too late?”

Bennett moved over so Eli could sit down. “No news yet. Last we heard Raina wasn’t dilated enough yet, and Nick was driving the nurses crazy.”

They all chuckled. Half the group already had bets on how long Nick would last in the delivery room before passing out. The other half was betting on Raina cussing him out during a contraction and tossing him out. Matt was undecided.

Eli turned to Jackson. “I packed clothes for the boys and drove them to Miss Bessie’s house. They’re helping her make cupcakes.”

“Thank you.” Jackson looked relieved.

Over the next six hours, they entertained each other with stories about Raina’s pregnancy, Jackson left and came back with donuts, and Penny even fell asleep sitting on Matt’s lap. After what felt like an eternity, Matt looked up to see Nick standing at the edge of the group. He looked sweaty and exhausted. Julia stood at his elbow beaming.

“She’s here. Our baby girl is six pounds and nine ounces. They’re moving Raina to a private room while the baby’s getting her tests done,” Nick said.

Matt held out a hand to his friend. “Congratulations, man. I can’t believe you’re a father now.”

Nick looked dazed. “I can’t believe it, either. She’s absolutely perfect.”

Bennett pulled Nick into a hug while Jackson and Eli slapped him on the back.

“Do you guys want to see her?” Nick shook his head. “What am I saying? Stupid question. Let’s see if the nurses have finished their tests and put her in her crib yet.”

They followed Nick down a hallway to the long glass window of the nursery.

“There she is.” Nick’s pride was all over his face as he pointed through the glass.

A nurse waved at him and then came to stand next to the glass, holding the tiniest baby Matt had ever seen. She was pale-skinned with a shock of jet-black hair that seemed determined to escape the pink cap on her head. Although she was swaddled in a white blanket, one fist peeked out of the top like she was struggling to escape. She looked like she was going to be a handful.

“She’s so beautiful,” Penny said. She looked up at Matt with eyes full of longing.

“I agree.” They hadn’t talked about kids yet, but after this, he was willing to bet they would be. He glanced over at Trent and Mara. Mara had her face so close to the glass he wouldn’t be surprised if she left a noseprint. He had a feeling there would be a lot of baby talk for them both when they got home.

It was going to be an interesting night.

He turned to Nick. “She’s beautiful. She’s going to be a knockout. You’d better invest in some guns now.” They all laughed. Behind the glass the baby squirmed in the nurse’s arms as she set her down gently in her bassinet.

When Nick pulled back, he was beaming. “Her name is Jada. Since both our mothers’ names start with the letter J, we decided to keep that going. Her middle name is May since she didn’t wait for June and came early. So, she’s Jada May Alexander.”

“I like it. Sweet, simple, and strong,” Penny commented.