Chapter 133 New Beginnings
Alex: POV
Time flew when you were in love. February arrived before I knew it, and Daniel and I had settled into a comfortable rhythm as a couple.
We'd managed to convince our parents—though with considerable effort and a few metaphorical beatings. The memory made me chuckle as I drove us toward the hospital.
"What's so funny?" Daniel asked, glancing over at me from the passenger seat.
"Just thinking about how much has changed in the past few months," I replied, switching lanes smoothly. "Remember when you were afraid to even tell your mom about us?"
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me. I thought she was going to disown me. Instead, she asked if you were coming to Sunday dinner."
We were headed to visit Olivia, who reportedly gave birth to a healthy baby boy earlier that morning.
Blake had sent a group text with a picture of a tiny, wrinkled face and the simple message: [He's here.]
"Did you remember to bring the gift?" I asked, glancing at the backseat where a ridiculously large teddy bear sat alongside a basket of newborn essentials that Daniel insisted on putting together.
"Of course. And you remembered the flowers, right?"
I nodded toward the bouquet of lilies resting on the dashboard. "Got them. Though I'm pretty sure Olivia's room is already overflowing with flowers from Blake."
The hospital parking lot was packed, but we eventually found a spot.
Daniel struggled to maneuver the giant teddy bear through the revolving doors while I carried the gift basket and flowers. We probably looked ridiculous, but I didn't care. Olivia and Blake were our friends, and this was a big moment.
When we reached the maternity ward, the nurse directed us to room 307. I knocked gently before pushing the door open.
The sight that greeted us made my heart squeeze in a way I wasn't expecting. Blake was standing by the window, cradling a tiny bundle wrapped in a blue blanket.
His face—normally so composed—was transformed by an expression of pure wonder as he gazed down at his son. Olivia was propped up in bed, looking exhausted but radiant.
"Well, look at Grandpa Blake over there," I teased, setting the flowers down on a side table. "The baby's face is all wrinkled, but why is yours matching?"
Blake looked up, his smile widening. "Shut up, Hamilton. You're just jealous of my dad skills."
Daniel placed the teddy bear in the corner of the room—it was almost as tall as he was—and approached the bed to kiss Olivia's cheek. "Congratulations, mama. How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck, then put back together with staples," Olivia replied with a weak laugh. "But they say that's normal."
I moved closer to Blake, peering down at the tiny face nestled against his chest. The baby's skin was reddish, his features scrunched up like a little old man. "He's perfect," I said softly. "What's his name?"
"Ethan Westwood," Blake announced proudly. "Eight pounds, four ounces of pure attitude. He's already got Olivia's glare down pat."
Daniel laughed. "Poor kid. He's doomed to a lifetime of never winning arguments."
I watched Olivia's face as she looked at Blake holding their son. Despite her exhaustion, there was something peaceful in her expression—a contentment I'd never seen before.
Childbirth was no joke; it was literally walking through death's door and back. Every woman who went through it deserved a medal.
I moved to Olivia's bedside and took her hand. "You did good, Liv. He's beautiful."
"Thanks, Alex," she squeezed my hand weakly. "It was worth it, even though I told Blake I was going to murder him about twelve times during labor."
"Thirteen," Blake corrected with a grin. "And you got quite creative with the methods around hour six."
I turned back to Blake, who was swaying gently with the baby. "So you're officially a dad now. Trading in your gardening tools for diaper bags and midnight feedings?"
Blake nodded, his eyes never leaving his son's face. "Absolutely. The garden center can run itself for a while. This little guy needs me more."
He looked up at me, his expression suddenly serious. "I hope you and Daniel are good, you know? Like, really good."
The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard. "We are," I assured him. "Better than good."
Daniel moved to stand beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. "We're figuring it out day by day, but yeah, we're good."
A nurse entered the room, her steps brisk and professional. "Mr. Westwood, I'm afraid we need to take little Ethan back to the nursery now. He's still running a bit cold, so we want to keep him in the warmer for a few more hours."
Blake's face fell slightly, but he nodded in understanding. "Of course." He placed a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead before carefully transferring him to the nurse's waiting arms.
"Don't worry," the nurse said kindly, noticing Blake's reluctance. "We'll bring him back for feeding time. Mom needs rest, and baby needs to warm up. Doctor's orders."
As the nurse left with Ethan, Blake moved to sit on the edge of Olivia's bed, taking her hand in his. The tenderness in the gesture made my chest tighten again. I glanced at Daniel, who was watching them with a soft smile.
"We should probably go," I said quietly. "Let you guys get some rest."
Olivia nodded gratefully. "Thanks for coming. And for the gifts. That bear is ridiculous, by the way."
"Daniel's idea," I replied with a grin. "He thought the baby needed something to ride on when he turns two."
Daniel elbowed me in the ribs. "I just wanted to make sure our gift wasn't forgotten among all the fancy designer baby stuff you're probably getting."
Blake stood to walk us to the door. "I'll keep them safely in Ethan's playroom. When he gets older, I'll make sure he properly thanks his two uncles for them."
As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Happiness for my friends, certainly, but also a quiet sense of wonder at how life unfolded. Six months ago, Blake was nursing a broken back and a broken heart. Now he was a husband and father, looking at his wife like she hung the moon and stars.
Daniel took my hand as we walked down the hospital corridor. "They looked happy, didn't they?"
"Yeah," I replied, squeezing his fingers. "They really did."
As we stepped into the elevator, I found myself thinking about beginnings and endings, about how sometimes the most unexpected turns in life led to exactly where you were supposed to be.