Allysa is three days overdue.
Weโve lived in our new apartment for a week now. We successfully got all of our stuff moved the day Ryle was off, and Allysa and I went furniture shopping the second day we moved in. We were practically settled by the third day. We got our ๏ฌrst piece of mail yesterday. It was a utility bill for establishing service, so it ๏ฌnally feels of๏ฌcial now.
Iโm married. I have a great husband. An awesome house. My best friend just happens to be my sister-in-law and Iโm about to be an aunt.
Dare I say it . . . but can my life get any better?
I close my laptop and get ready to leave for the evening. Iโve been leaving earlier now than I usually do because Iโm so excited to get home to my new apartment. Just as I begin to close my of๏ฌce door, Ryle uses his key to open the front door to the store. He lets the door fall shut behind him as he walks in with his hands full.
Thereโs a newspaper tucked under his arm and two coffees in his hands. Despite the frenzied look about him and the urgency in his step, heโs smiling. โLily,โ he says, walking toward me. He shoves one of the coffees in my hand and then pulls the newspaper out from under his arm. โThree things. One . . . did you see the paper?โ He hands it to me. The paper is folded inside-out. He points at the article. โYou got it, Lily. You got it!โ
I try not to get my hopes up as I look down at the article. He could be talking about something totally different from what Iโm thinking. Once I read the headline, I realize heโs talking aboutย exactlyย what I was thinking. โI got it?โ
Iโd been noti๏ฌed that my business was nominated for an award
for Best of Boston. Itโs a peopleโs choice awards the newspaper holds annually, and Lily Bloomโs was nominated under the โBest new businesses in Bostonโ category. The criteria are for businesses
that have been open less than two years. I had a suspicion I might have been chosen when a reporter for the paper called me last week and asked me a series of questions.
The title readsย โBest new businesses in Boston. Votes are in for your top ten!โ
I smile and almost spill my coffee when Ryle pulls me in, picks
me up, and spins me around.
He said he had three pieces of news, and if he started with that one, I have no idea what the other two could be. โWhatโs the second thing?โ
He sets me back down on my feet and says, โI started with the best one. I was too excited.โ He takes a sip of his coffee and then says, โI got selected for the training at Cambridge.โ
My face is taken over by a huge smile. โYou did?โ He nods and then he hugs me and spins me around again. โIโm so proud of you,โ I say, kissing him. โWeโre both so successful, itโs sickening.โ
He laughs.
โNumber three?โ I ask him.
He pulls back. โOh, yeah. Number three.โ He casually leans against the counter and takes a slow sip of his coffee. He gently places his coffee back on the counter. โAllysa is in labor.โ
โWhat?!โ I yell.
โYeah.โ He nods toward our coffees. โThatโs why I brought you caffeine. We arenโt getting any sleep tonight.โ
I start clapping, jumping up and down, and then panicking as I try to ๏ฌnd my purse, my jacket, my keys, my phone, the light switch. Right before we make it to the door, Ryle rushes back to the counter and grabs the newspaper and tucks it under his arm. My hands are shaking with excitement as I lock the door.
โWeโre gonna be aunts!โ I say as I run to my car.
Ryle laughs at my joke and says, โUncles, Lily. Weโre gonna beย uncles.โ
โข โข โข
Marshall calmly steps out into the hallway. Ryle and I both perk up and wait for the news. Itโs been quiet in there for the past half an hour. Weโve been waiting to hear Allysa scream in agonyโa sign she deliveredโbut there were no sounds at all. Not even the cries
of a newborn. My hands go up to my mouth and seeing the look on Marshallโs face has me fearing the worst.
His shoulders just start shaking and tears pour out of his eyes. โIโm a dad.โ And then he punches the air. โIโm a DAD!โ
He hugs Ryle and then me and says, โGive us ๏ฌfteen minutes and you can come inside to meet her.โ
When he closes the door, Ryle and I both release huge sighs of relief. We look at each other and smile. โYou were thinking the worst, too?โ he asks.
I nod and then hug him. โYouโre an uncle,โ I say, smiling. He kisses my head and says, โYou too.โ
Half an hour later, Ryle and I are both standing next to the bed, watching Allysa hold her new baby. Sheโs absolutely perfect. A little too new to tell who she looks like yet, but sheโs beautiful, regardless.
โYou want to hold your niece?โ Allysa says to Ryle.
He kind of stiffens up like heโs nervous, but then he nods. She leans over and puts the baby in Ryleโs arms, showing him how to hold her. He stares down at her nervously and then walks over to the couch and takes a seat. โHave you guys decided on a name yet?โ he asks.
โYes,โ Allysa says.
Ryle and I both look at Allysa and she smiles, teary eyed. โWe wanted to name her after someone Marshall and I both think the world of. So we added anย Eย to your name. Weโre calling her Rylee.โ I instantly look back over at Ryle and he blows out a quick breath like heโs a little in shock. He looks back down at Rylee and
just starts smiling. โWow,โ he whispers. โI donโt know what to say.โ
I squeeze Allysaโs hand and then walk over and take a seat next to Ryle. Iโve had a lot of moments when I thought I couldnโt love him more than I already do, but once again Iโm proven wrong. Seeing the way he looks at his new baby niece makes my heart expand.
Marshall sits down on the bed next to Allysa. โDid you guys hear how quiet Issa was through the whole thing? Not a single peep. She didnโt even take drugs.โ He puts his arm around her and lies down next to her on the bed. โI feel like Iโm in that movieย Hancockย with Will Smith and Iโm about to ๏ฌnd out Iโm married to a superhero.โ
Ryle laughs. โSheโs kicked my ass a time or two growing up. I wouldnโt be surprised.โ
โNo cussing around Rylee,โ Marshall says.ย โAss,โย Ryle whispers to her.
We both laugh and then he asks me if I want to hold her. I make
like I have grabby hands because waiting for my turn has been killing me. I pull her into my arms and am shocked by how much love I have for her already.
โWhen are Mom and Dad coming in?โ Ryle asks Allysa. โTheyโll be here by lunch tomorrow.โ
โI should probably get some sleep then. Just got off a long shift.โ He looks back at me. โYou coming with?โ
I shake my head. โI want to hang out for a little while longer. Just take my car and Iโll catch a cab home.โ
He kisses me on the side of my head and then rests his head against mine as we both look down at Rylee. โI think we should make one of these,โ he says.
I glance up at him, not sure if I heard him correctly.
He winks. โIf Iโm asleep when you get home later, wake me up. Weโll start on it tonight.โ He tells Marshall and Allysa goodbye and Marshall walks him out.
I glance over at Allysa and sheโs smiling. โI told you heโd want babies with you.โ
I grin and walk back over to her bed. She scoots over and makes room for me. I hand Rylee back to her and we snuggle together on her bed and watch Rylee sleep, like itโs the most magni๏ฌcent thing weโve ever seen.
