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I hear the yelling on the other end of the line, but Sam smiles. “I agree. So get here,” she says.
After a few more curse words, Sam gives him the name of the hospital and hangs up. “They’re coming. The cops are giving them a ride, so it’ll be quick.”
She takes my hand again, but I sit up and hold out my arms. Sam closes the space, letting me cry on her chest. “I know, sweetie. It’s all over. Everyone’s okay.”
I cry for a few more minutes until I can finally breathe easier. The pain in my back is not as bad, though the doctors can only give me Tylenol since I’m pregnant. But I don’t care, Tommy is alive.
When we pull apart, Sam is wiping her eyes. “So, twins? Does Tommy have super sperm or what?”
I burst out laughing, and Sam rubs my leg. “You’re so fucked, Tilly.” She laughs. “But me and Greg can help. TJ taught us a lot.”
“We haven’t even told Ma,” I admit. “Everything happened so fast.”
“Oh, Henrietta is gonna burst. She’s like a super mom. She’ll be the perfect Gam Gam.”
“Gam gam?” I ask with a raised brow.
Sam shrugs. “That’s what she told TJ to call her, though he can’t even say mom yet. Weird, right?” We both laugh.
“Are you nervous?” Sam asks.
“Terrified. I don’t think I’m very maternal,” I say. Admitting it aloud is hard, but I trust Sam with everything. There’s no judgment between us.
Sam blows a loud raspberry. “And I was? No. It just kinda hits you. I mean, look at how you fell. He yanked you to the side. You should have landed at least half on your stomach. But somehow, you protected those boys and landed on your back.” I look at my own hands, still not certain any of what Sam said is true. “Mothering is about being selfless and patient. Putting your kids first. You’re the most selfless person I know. And all those surf lessons? You’re always patient and kind. Yeah, you’re going to be a kick-ass mom. No doubt.”
I nod and feel some of the stress lift away. Sam pats my arm. “And you won’t be alone. Tommy’s gonna be a great dad. Besides, me and Greg, and even Miranda. We’ll all be around to help out. Not to mention Henrietta and even my sister, Penny.”
That makes my heart swell with warmth, and happy tears sting my eyes. “Thanks, Sam,” I say softly.
Sam straightens up and has a smug expression on her face. “You liked that little pep talk? See? Mothering.”
“So you’re my mom in this little fucked-up family?”
Sam laughs loudly. “Fucked-up family? Til, this is the happiest family I know. Blood doesn’t make you related. No way. We found our family, and I’m never letting go of it.”
There’s nothing funny about her words. It’s absolutely true. Sam is my sister as much as Miranda is, maybe even more. “I love you.”
“Love you too, bitch. Now lay back until your stud gets here,” Sam says. But there’s a hint of moisture in the corner of Sam’s eyes, and I know the moment is just as poignant for her.
Though I still don’t like being told what to do, I lay back against the pillows. If it’s Sam telling me, from now on, I’ll do exactly what she says.
Ten minutes later, Tommy comes roaring through the emergency room. When he sees me in the bed, he climbs into it and sobs against me. My arms go around him, and we cry together for several minutes as Sam and Greg watch from the corner.
Eventually, his crying turns to kissing. His lips peck all over my face, then move down to my belly. He kisses my stomach over and over.
“I’m never leaving. I’m gonna marry your momma, and we’re gonna have twenty kids, and I’m gonna spend every day rubbing her feet and worshipping the ground she walks on, and—”
I laugh and cover my stomach. “Okay, okay. That tickles.”
Sam is laughing too. “Twenty kids, Tommy?”
“Um, yeah babe, your mouth is writing checks my uterus can’t cash,” I say. The entire group laughs, but the nurse comes in.
“Matilda, there’s a couple here. Should we let them back?”
I nod, knowing it’s probably Miranda and Henrietta. But to my surprise, Grayson is with her instead.
Eyes red, Miranda comes over and kisses my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Tilly. Grayson and I were talking, and I didn’t—”
