Just One Night by Carly Phillips (fiction book recommendations txt) 📕

the hospital and were directed to the maternity ward, where Linc found his mother in the waiting room, pacing the floor. There were no other people present.

“Mom.”

She rushed over and wrapped her arms around him, accepting his hug before stepping back. “I don’t know what happened. We ate dinner. She said she was exhausted and went up to her room. Then I heard her cry for me. She was doubled over and her water had broken.” Glancing at Linc, then Jordan, his mother had tears in her eyes.

“She’s thirty-six and a half weeks, right?” Jordan asked.

Linc did the mental math. Braden Prescott had said she had two weeks to travel. They had stayed in Florida with her for a week, and it had been about another week and a half here in New York.

“Yes,” his mom said. “And the baby can be born healthy. As long as the lungs are developed and the digestive system is okay, everything will be fine.”

Linc blew out a deep breath. “Then we’ll believe everything is going to be okay. The power of positive thinking, right?”

Both Jordan and his mother nodded, but Linc knew they were all still shaken.

“Is Aurora alone?” Jordan asked.

“They put her in a wheelchair and took her away.” His mom wrung her hands, and Linc glanced at Jordan, giving her a slight nod.

She rushed out of the waiting room, and Linc knew she’d insist on seeing Aurora or at least getting someone to ask Aurora if she wanted Jordan with her during delivery. She shouldn’t be alone. No way would she want Linc with her, and his mother didn’t seem inclined to want to be part of the birth. That left Jordan.

“Come on, Mom. Let’s sit.” Linc led his mother to a chair, and they settled in to wait.

As time passed, he kicked his feet out and glanced at the old, cracked ceiling. His phone buzzed with a text from Jordan, letting him know she was with Aurora and staying. And the baby should be born soon because Aurora was already eight centimeters dilated.

Of course, his thoughts turned to Jordan in the delivery room. His heart hurt for her, knowing the memories and might-have-beens he was certain were going through her mind.

Linc wasn’t good at waiting, and he kept glancing at the time on his phone and the clock on the wall. Neither seemed to move. His mother put her head on his shoulder and dozed while he leaned his head back against the wall and shut his eyes.

“Linc!” Jordan’s voice woke him. He raised his head and the weight of his mother lifted from his shoulder.

“How is she?” his mom asked.

“Aurora is great.” Jordan smiled wide, her cheeks flushed, eyes gleaming. “And she had a healthy baby girl. Six point one pounds and eighteen inches!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” His mom rose to her feet and Linc followed. “I’m so relieved.” She glanced up at him. “Now that we have news, I’m going to the ladies’ room. Maybe after, we can see them.”

Linc grinned. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you.” He paused until his mother had walked out before turning to Jordan and placing his hands on her shoulders. “You okay?”

“It was amazing, Linc. A true miracle. And she’s so lucky there were no issues with the early delivery.” She smiled wide. “And the baby is precious. You have a niece!”

Relief rushed through him that everyone, including Jordan, it seemed, was fine. “When can we see them?”

“They just want to get her settled in a room.”

Something dawned on him and he said, “I’m going to make sure she has a private room.”

Jordan shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course you are.”

He laughed at her reaction. “She’s a Kingston, isn’t she?”

A little while later, after Linc had paid for a private room for his new sister, they were all there, the baby in Aurora’s arms. He had no doubt if he hadn’t thrown his weight around with the hospital, not only paying for a private room but making a big donation, they all wouldn’t be allowed in. They were given leeway, which was what he’d wanted.

“How are you?” his mom asked her.

“I’m tired and sore.” Aurora glanced at Linc and blushed.

Yeah, he didn’t want to think about the details either.

“But happy,” she continued. “I thought I’d be alone and afraid and have nowhere to go after I had this baby. I didn’t know if I’d have to give her up.” Her eyes watered and she pulled the infant closer. “But thanks to you all … I just feel so lucky.”

Walking over, his mom brushed a hand over Aurora’s hair, much as she’d do if it where Chloe lying in the bed. “You’re not alone and you never will be.”

God, Linc loved his mother. She took a shitty situation, her husband’s mistress’s child, and brought her into the family easily. When she looked at Aurora, she only saw a young woman in need. And Linc admired her.

Jordan stood by his side, and not giving a damn who saw, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, wanting to share this moment with her.

“Does anyone want to hold her?” Aurora offered.

“I do but since Jordan was there for the big event, I think she should get the honors,” his mom said.

Beside him, Jordan stiffened. “It’s okay, Melly. You go ahead.”

Linc tugged her into him and she didn’t try and pull away.

His mom smiled and was soon sitting with the infant in her arms.

“Have you thought of a name?” Linc asked.

Aurora shook her head. “Not yet. I figured I had more time.”

“It will come to you.”

Melly cooed at the baby and eventually looked up. “Jordan, come. You should hold her, too.”

His mother had no idea about Jordan’s past or her miscarriage, had no idea this might be bringing up painful emotions for her.

“Mom–”

“I’d love to,” Jordan said, pulling out of his embrace. She took the chair next to his mother, and they carefully transferred the infant.

He watched her every move as she gently