Page 83 of Trying Not to Need You

“Hand him over, son,” Dad says, holding his arms out for Waylon.

That’s how the next hour passes. Everyone gets a chance to hold at least one baby before a new nurse comes back and kicks them all out.

“Thank you for coming,” I tell everyone, hugging each person before they leave.

“Take care of them,” Ellison tells me.

“Always, Ellie.”

“It’s time for them to eat,” Baylor says.

I jump into action, making bottles, which isn’t hard since the hospital provided us with premade ones. Baylor and I decided that she wouldn’t breastfeed so that I could help her, and so could our support system. Two babies are going to be extra hands, extra bottles, but we’re ready for it.

I hand one bottle to Baylor for Waylon and keep the other, taking Hadley into my arms and sitting on the edge of the bed, facing my wife as we feed them.

“You were incredible, Bay.”

“You were there every step of the way, Mac.”

“You did all the work, and we have proof of that in our arms.”

“Are you ready for this adventure?” she asks me, putting Waylon to her chest to burp him.

“Every adventure, baby. As long as I’m next to you, we can take on anything.”

“Sleepless nights, bottles, diapers, and more diapers.” She laughs.

“Together,” I remind her.

We’re ready. We have a shared nursery with two beds, two rocking chairs, two of everything basically. My mom, her sisters, and her best friend already have a meal rotation ready for when we get home, and there’s even a night shift rotation for the first week we’re home so we can get some rest, and they’ll help take care of the babies at night. I don’t know how I feel about that one. I want to be the one taking care of them, but they all tell me that we’ll need the help and to accept it with grace, because it takes a village, and damn, if our village isn’t the best around.

“Together.” Baylor nods.

The babies finish their bottles, get fresh diapers, and are re-swaddled, something I practiced on Lainey. She loved it, although she was pretty squirmy and much older, but it was the same concept, and I needed the practice. It was a game to her, but it worked. I hand Hadley to Baylor, and I keep Waylon as I slide into bed next to them.

This is a moment I’ll cherish forever. My family in my arms, my heart overflowing with love. This is what life is about, and I get to experience this and so much more with my best friend. With my wife, Baylor McBride.