Sometimes, Forever (Sometimes Moments #2) (22 page)

“You’re doing really well, Peyton,” he whispered as he bent down.

She turned her head and gave him a weak smile. “I just want to meet him already. Why is he being so difficult? He gets that from
you.
”

He chuckled. “He gets that from his mother.”

“All right, Peyton, we’re ready,” Dr Luz said.

Cooper glanced over and nodded at the grey haired man in his fifties who would deliver his son. He put his trust and faith in him to do a good job.

“Coop,” she said, barely audible. His gaze darted back to his wife. “I love you. You know that, right?”

He smiled his answer as he held her hand. “You know I do. I love you. You know that, right?”

“I do,” she said.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, a baby’s cry got his attention. He lifted his chin to see Dr Luz holding Cooper’s son up and said, “Happy birthday and welcome to the world, Little Hepburn.”

Cooper felt his heart stop at the baby boy crying. Tears welled. The sight was beautiful. Their son was beautiful. Dr Luz waved Cooper over when suddenly, he felt Peyton’s hand fall from his. Cooper’s gaze returned to find Peyton’s eyes slowly closing. She hadn’t even seen their son.

“Peyton?”

She had gone paper white.

“Peyton?” he called once more, hearing the fear in his voice.

“She’s haemorrhaging,” Dr Luz announced. Panic forced its way into Cooper’s chest. “She’s losing blood.”

There was a rush of footsteps and voices around him. Cooper desperately held onto Peyton’s hand as the doctor and his team concentrated on saving her. Her eyelids fluttered as her right hand reached up.

Then she whispered, “Callum.”

Callum.

She had reached out for the nurse who had wrapped up their son. She had named him. Their son had a name. He had always known that she wanted to name him after the man who helped change her life. Cooper had just been waiting for her to mention it. But she hadn’t. She had suggested several other names. Eli had been one she loved.

But no. At that moment, he knew. He wasn’t jealous or angry. He was content with his name. It was the right name for their son.

He was proud of her.

Our son’s name is Callum.

“Sir,” a nurse said next to him. Her hand on his arm. “We need you to leave.”

He looked at her, stunned. “I’m not leaving my wife.”

She gave him an understanding and tight smile. “We need to let the doctor do his job. Your wife will be all right.”

“And my son?”

“The nurse is checking him. He’s okay. Please,” she said, gesturing to the doors.

Cooper had never felt more helpless in his entire life. He felt like he couldn’t breathe. Like the ability to do so was taken from him. It was up to Dr Luz to save her. It didn’t make sense to him. He had been blessed with his beautiful son but was losing the love his life. He’d never felt so lost.

“Coop,” Madilynne Scott said as she found him in the hallway, outside the operating room. “Is she … Please tell me …” She had no idea how to finish that sentence, and he was fortunate that she had stumbled on it.

“She’s been in there for thirty minutes,” he revealed, wiping away his tears. “They haven’t come out and said anything.”

His wife’s best friend wrapped her arms around him. “She’s a fighter, Coop. She’s been a fighter her entire life. She’ll be okay.”

“I can’t lose her. Our son can’t grow up without her. He needs his mother. I need my wife. I can’t say goodbye to her. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without her,” he cried.

“You don’t have to. You won’t. We won’t lose her,” Mads assured.

God, if you’re listening, please save her. Please don’t take her from us.

But she hadn’t seen Peyton’s white face or felt her cold touch. She hadn’t heard the doctor say that she was haemorrhaging or losing blood.

Cooper had.

And they were the worst words he had ever heard in his life.

Callum Reid, you and I both know she deserves a life with her son. Please help save her.

After a long time of hugging his wife’s best friend, he heard Dr Luz call out, “Mr Hepburn.”

Cooper quickly tore himself away from Mads and spun around to find the doctor with a smile on his face. Every fear or doubt left him and disappeared quickly into the air.

“Your wife is stable. She’ll be unconscious for a while, but she’ll be okay.”

“Thank you,” Cooper uttered as he blinked his tears of relief away. “Thank you for saving her.”

The doctor nodded. “We lost her for a few minutes, but she fought hard. You should be proud of her. Would you like to meet your son?”

“Yes, I want to meet Callum.”

Behind him, he heard Mads make a sharp inhale. “Callum Hepburn. That’s perfect.”

He had to agree with her there.

Callum Stuart Hepburn was perfect.

He had sent most of their visitors home since Peyton was still unconscious. Their son had been born on September 17
th
at 11:09 a.m. on a beautiful spring day. Uncle John and Aunt Brenda would come back to visit after lunch. Mads and Graham had returned to the hotel to take care of things for him. Jenny had dropped off the bag after he had told her that Peyton was okay through text message.

It was now almost two p.m. and he had been sitting on the hospital chair by Peyton’s bed waiting for her. Cooper was able to hold Callum for a little while. He had whispered to his son that he’d see his mother soon. That she was just resting. Assured the newborn that they both loved him so much.

“Coop?”

Her voice had him tearing his focus off the photo he had taken of Callum on his phone to find his wife blinking at him. Then she cringed. A flash in her light blues had him reaching for her hand.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” She made a small gasp as her eyes quickly succumbed to tears. “Cooper, where is he? Where’s our son? Coop, where …”

“Hey,” he said in a soft voice, hoping to calm her. He got up off the chair and was by her side. “Callum’s all right.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes. “
Callum?
”

He nodded. “His name is Callum Stuart Hepburn, and he is the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. He’s perfect, Peyton. You’re perfect.”

“You named him Callum? Oh, Coop,” she whispered.

“And he has your father’s name as his middle name. I thought we were gonna lose you.” He bent his knees so that they were eye level. “I’ve never been more scared in my entire life.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Can I meet him? I want to see him,” she said with a smile.

He kissed her forehead, knowing that they were going to raise their son together. “I’ll get the nurse. Just take it slow, okay? You just gave birth.” Then he rushed out of the hospital room and found the closest nurse. “My wife’s awake. She wants to meet our son.”

The young nurse smiled. “I’ll get the doctor.”

Cooper stood outside Peyton’s room. She had to be checked over by Dr Luz. By the time he was able to bust Callum out of the nursery, it had taken twenty minutes.

“He’s so cute,” Mads said next to him. Then he heard the camera shutter. “I’m going to be your photographer. You go in there and let him meet his mum already. Graham will be here soon. He’s trying to pick out the best balloon.”

“Thanks, Mads,” he said as he gave her a smile and ensured he was holding Callum the way the nurse had taught him. “Ready to meet your mum, Callum?”

His son made a sigh and Cooper was in awe of it. Callum had fair hair, as light as Peyton’s. Cooper wasn’t sure what colour eyes he had. The newborn had opened his eyes before, but he had missed it. The nurse had said they appeared to be blue. He hoped his son had Peyton’s eyes. Cooper lifted his chin to find Peyton staring out the window. The worry on her face was clear. She needed to see it for herself that their son was okay.

“Peyton,” he said. “I’d like you to meet someone.”

She almost bolted out of the bed. If he hadn’t known she’d had a C-section, then he’d have laughed at her eagerness. Peyton took a deep breath as if she had the same thought. Open a stitch and she wouldn’t be able to hold Callum.

Cooper slowly and carefully made it to the side of her bed and watched her hold her breath. His heart warmed at the sight of her, trying to get a glimpse of their son.

“Callum, I want you to meet the first woman you will ever love. Say hi to Mummy, son,” Cooper said as he gently put his child in Peyton’s waiting arms.

“Oh, my God,” she cried softly. Cooper watched her tears run down her face. “He’s beautiful.”

He didn’t have to be vocal for her to know that he agreed. Cooper just stood there, taking in just how amazing the sight of them was. His wife and his son, together for the first time. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she lovingly gazed at him.

“Coop,” she said quietly as she glanced up at him. “Can you hold him and sit on the bed. I’m in a little bit of pain and I don’t want to hurt him. I’d like to stare at him a little more.”

Cooper carefully took Callum from Peyton and watched as she made room for him to sit. He saw the cringe she made. She was uncomfortable, but she was working through it. He’d find the doctor later and ask for more medication. When there was room, Cooper slowly sat down next to his wife and felt her rest her head on his shoulder.

“I’m so in love with him,” she said softly.

“Me, too.”

Then their son opened his eyes. Cooper and Peyton had both inhaled sharply. Just for a second, their son looked up at them before he let his eyelids fall closed.

“Are you sure his name is Callum?”

Cooper craned his neck to find Peyton staring up at him. “Why?”

She gave him a soft smile. “We’ll have to sign his birth certificate soon. If you want to change it to Eli, we can.”

He shook his head. “He’s a Callum, Peyton. We both know that. Thank you for the most beautiful gift you could have ever given me.”

Peyton closed her eyes and let out a slow and long exhale. “It all goes back to that day you walked into my hotel. Thank you for taking the job at the farm. And thank you for every day and every moment that led up to this. I can’t wait to take our son home.”

I’d never thought the feeling of being Peyton’s husband could be surpassed …