Holiday Hockey Tale: The Icebreaker’s Impasse By Ivory Row

124 : Coco's Wish Part 3 Easton A few months later , we're playing our first away game of the season . Jackson steals my phone and dials Luci's number after showing me his phone . She answers and I can already hear the guilt . " Sweetness , what are you up to ? " I roll my eyes as Jackson sighs loudly . " Nothing … " She says over the phone . " Uh huh . Are you driving somewhere? " " I'm not driving …. " Suddenly , I hear Cole's voice . " And you brought Cole . Are you here already?

" I shake my head waiting for her answer . " Maybe . " " Sweetness , you can't lie for s ** t . I know you're here and you're not alone ." " That app …" She mumbles . I chuckle . " Comes in handy ." " I brought several someones with me . " Jackson stands up , nodding ruefully . " Yeah , well , that doesn't reassure me . You are very pregnant , Luci , and I don't like you driving long distances without me . Now where are you ? I'm coming to see you .

There's about to be a herd of hockey players headed for you . " I'm already walking . " The box with your dad , but you can't come up here ." " Who's going to stop me from seeing my son and my very pregnant wife ? Your beautiful ass had better be in a chair when I get there ." I growl playfully . I race up there with the others following me . When I step in , I see Dad fussing at them , but he's laughing .

Luci stands there making a plate , probably for Cole , who is happily staring out of the glass . They all laugh harder when I stomp over to her and take the plate away . Setting it on the table before I lift her up and march her over to a chair . " I think I told you where I expected that perfect ass to be . " I growl and she shivers . " If you weren't so pregnant , I'd punish you later , Mrs.

Reed ." I nip her earlobe and she tilts her head back to stare up at me, those big brown eyes glowing . 1/5 +15 Point 124 : Coco's Wish Part 3 " I am fine to be here . The doctor cleared me . I have four weeks to go , Easton . And we wanted to come watch your first away game this season . " " You scare me when you do things like that . I can't handle it if something happens to you . Just tell me sweetness , please . A quick text to your obsessively protective husband .

" I put my hand on her stomach and the excited kicking starts immediately . " Han Anakin Reed seems to agree you are in trouble . " She scowls at that . " You don't like my newest name idea . Cole would love it ." She snorts . " He wants Darth Spiderman Reed as of today . You two will be the death of me . I'll text you next time . I know you worry about us ." I lean down to kiss her , slow and deep . " What do you want to eat ? I will make your plate and you will sit there .

I'll make Cole's too . " " I can stand for ten minutes , Easton . " She retorts pertly . I narrow my eyes at her and lean down to make sure she gets the full effect in her ear . " You are getting punished after all . But I'll tell you what sweetness . If you're a very good girl for me , I'll take your name suggestions under consideration . " I watch her clamp her thighs together . " That's my girl . You know exactly who you belong to . And tonight you're all mine sweetness .

Sit a lot and rest . " I go to make her plate as she bites her lip . I already know all her favorite names and without a doubt , she'll get what she wants , but I like to tease her . She is well aware of that . Dad laughs as I make plates . " You turned your back on them . " " I know . Might have to find a way to lock her in the house . She'll be in labor trying to come watch me play . " I shake my head ruefully . A week later , she's grimacing painfully at breakfast .

" Cole , go get your backpack for me and grab your shoes . I'm going to see if Grandpappy can run you to school or Uncle Jackson . " I pick up my phone and send an SOS message in our family group I created for this purpose . It's my brothers , Banning , Baker and Dad . Need someone to take Cole to school . I have a suspicion my wife is in labor . Jackson responds immediately . Already driving over to get him . I'll pick him up today if she is . " Sweetness , are you having contractions ?

" I walk over to massage her shoulders gently . " I think so . My back is so tight . " Her face is contorted with pain . " Jackson is on his way for Cole . Feel better to sit or stand ? " 215 +15 Point 124 : Coco's Wish Part 3 " Sit on the ball . " Her voice is pained . " Let me get it . Then I'll grab your bag and as soon as Jackson drives up , we're going to the hospital . " I roll it back from the living room . Jackson is already opening the front door . " Coconut ….

Uncle Jackson's Millenium Falcon is here to take you to school . " Cole races to hug Luci and then me before launching himself at Jackson . He gives me a serious look after he takes in Luci hunched over in pain . " Go East . I'll lock up the house . " He moves to the kitchen and checks the stove , turning off lights . I grab her bag and then lift her up , running toward the garage . " Getting worse . " She says tightly . I race to the hospital . She's writhing in pain by the time we arrive .

" My wife's in labor . " I tell them as I rush her inside . They get us in quickly and I lay her gently on the bed . She's biting her lip with the pain . " You want the epidural if they ask ? " " Yes . " She pants out . I hold her hand and help her breathe through the next two contractions as the nurse comes in and begins placing her IV , starting fluids and checking her and baby boy's vitals . Our doctor comes in and starts talking . I don't hear a word , focused on her . " Breathe sweetness .

" I whisper . " Luci , you want the epidural ? " Dr. Brown asks quickly after examining her . " You are dilating nicely , but we have time if you want it . " She nods . Ten minutes later , the anesthesiologist places it . After half an hour , she's still crying with the pain and I page the nurse . " Oh honey , I think it failed . " She frowns sympathetically at Luci . " I'll call Dr. Brown . " He comes in explaining epidural failure . They can't replace it either .

I hold onto my temper and concentrate on distracting her as best I can . Two hours later , she says she feels funny . I hurry to page the nurse again . Dr. Brown comes instead and checks her again . " She's pretty much ready to push . Luci , you ready to have this baby ? " " Yes . " She cries . It all passes in a blur after that . Helping encourage her and her face is all I remember . An hour later , she cries out the loudest as she pushes . " Here he comes ! " Dr. Brown exclaims .

I turn toward the loud wailing . " Those are some healthy lungs . " Dr. Brown says gladly . I look 3/5 +15 Poin 124 : Coco's Wish Part 3 over , drinking in my newest baby boy screaming his head off . " He looks perfect Mom . " He says before handing him off to a nurse . " Easton , you can come cut the cord in a few minutes . " I nod and kiss Luci's forehead . " He's beautiful , sweetness . You did great ." I take the cool rag the nurse holds out and wipe her face . " I'll be right back .

" She nods weakly , her eyes locked on our baby boy . I cut the cord and hover as they take his vitals before diapering him . I curb my impatience to hold him . He's got such pale blonde hair , a whole head full of it . " Here Dad , he's ready for some skin to skin time with his momma . " I take him and can't stop the tears as I smile down at him . " Been waiting to meet you little man . I'm your daddy . You're gonna be more loved than you can handle . " I warn him and walk to Luci's side .

She holds her arms up for him and the nurse moves her gown so he can eat and be on her bare skin . He latches instinctively and begins eating . " He's so perfect . " She says softly , her fingers tracing all over him gently . I put my hand under the warm blanket on his back . " He is . Wonderfully perfect , like you . " The rest of our family is in the hallway and I hurry out to talk to them before they wheel her upstairs .

We decided to keep Cole at school so Luci can rest a little before he comes to meet his brother . Once they walk into her postpartum room later , I'm holding him all swaddled up in a soft blanket Cole chose . Dad comes in first to immediately steal him . " Mr. Hayden Lucas , your big brother is never going to let any of us hold you , so I'd better get my time in now . " We told Cole his name last week . He didn't get Luke Skywalker but Luci figured he'd be happy with Lucas as his middle name .

He was and already came up with Hayden's nickname . Everyone passes him around before they leave us to let Luci rest . Jackson left already to pick up Cole from school . Thirty minutes later , Jackson carries him down the hallway until he sees me . He sets him down whispering in his ear and he takes off running to me . I catch him and he frames my face with his fingers . " Daddy , he's here ? " " Yes he is . Are you ready to meet him ?

He's asleep , but you can talk to him ." I open the door and Jackson follows us . He's videoing this for me . Luci smiles at him as he whispers , " Hi Mommy . " I set him on the bed next to her . She moves Hayden closer and Cole examines him wondrously . " He's so little . " He breathes out . Luci chuckles . He's a big baby , going to take after me , but to Cole , he's little . " Ready to hold him ? " She asks .

4/5 +15 Peir 124 : Coco's Wish Part 3 Cole immediately holds his arms out like we taught him . Luci places him there and turns him to let his back rest against her while she keeps one hand under Hayden's head . " Look at me , Cole . " I whisper . Cole does , his whole face lit up with complete ecstasy . He quickly goes back to perusing his little wish come to life . " Hi Hayhay , it's me , Coco . Member , I talked to you every night ? Me and Daddy even read you some stories in Mommy's belly .

I'm your big brother . I waited a long time for you . I'm going to help Mommy and Daddy take the bestest care of you . I'll protect you and hug you . " He takes a short break . " Mommy even said someday I can feed you a bottle . I'll share all my toys and even my Dark Vader stuff . We have a good little big family . " He kisses his forehead and I swear my heart melts a little watching his expression . Pure love and he means every word of it .

Luci is crying as she kisses the top of Cole's head . " It'll be you and me and Daddy and Mommy at our house , but then I can put you in the wagon and take you to Grandpappy's . Baker lives there and so do some of our uncles . Or they live next door . That's the big family . The little one is just us with Mommy and Daddy . Oh and Skittles . She's sweet . She'll lick you probably and maybe sleep next to you in your bed . It's a good family . We love everybody in it .

" Jackson sniffs next to me . " Damn , he's something else . I love that kid's heart . You sure he's yours ? " He ends with a chuckle . " Yours will be something else too . " I answer him softly . " He's mine thankfully , but I swear he's truly Luci's somehow . Like a piece of her heart split off when he was born and he magically got it . " " Are you happy your wish came true for a baby brother ? " I ask Cole . " Yes . Can I get a baby sister now too ?

" He stares down at Hayden as Luci and I exchange looks and laugh . Jackson gives him a big thumbs up over the top of his phone and I'm glad he got that on video . " Keep on wishing , Coco ." Jackson answers him with a big grin . 44 Ivory Row alright everyone . I've dragged this out long enough . Epilogue tomorrow . 23