How Hunter got comfortable enough to fall asleep is beyond Dahlia. It’s hard for her to look at the sleeping toddler in the middle of the room. Her heart is breaking for the child, Hunter, Lauren’s family. She can’t help her problem-solving mind already thinking through every scenario that could happen.
Hunter could choose to stay. Would he ask her to stay with him?
Will he have sole custody or have to go to court? She never dreamed these would be questions she would be asking.
Nobody has come in since she got here, aside from the nursing staff. A whimper comes from the bed and Dahlia pushes from the wall she is currently standing on.
Did she imagine it?
Faith’s head turns to the side and her lips part to let out a long cry. Hunter wakes up immediately and reaches for her. Dahlia rushes for the nurse button and within seconds, a nurse steps in. She starts to ask a question when Faith cries out again.
“Can I pick her up?” Hunter asks, his voice full of uncertainty and worry.
“Yes, yes!” the nurse assures him, excitement sparkling in her eyes that her patient is awake. Hunter picks Faith up carefully, adjusting the IV cord so it doesn’t get tangles up.
He soothes his daughter and Dahlia didn’t think she could ever love this man more. But the way he is talking to Faith and looking at her, it unlocks a whole new form of love.
Once the nurses check her vitals, they bring food in to see if she has an appetite. Hunter doesn’t let her go. Her eyes are as beautiful as he could imagine. They’re honey colored and pull him in. Carter was right. Hunter would do anything she asked. She calmed the moment her eyes landed on him, like she knew him all along. Tears burn the back of his throat as he holds her while she sleeps. He won’t be missing out on anything from here on out. He’s missed enough already. Whenever she cries, he’ll be there. For every monumental moment in life. He’ll be there.
She’s never going to look back and wonder where he was. He refuses to let that be her future.
“She’s beautiful,” Dahlia whispers as she pulls a chair up beside him. “She looks like you.”
Hunter chuckles, careful to not wake her up. “Don’t put that on her. She looks so much better than me.”
They both smile, and he tilts his head until it leans against Dahlia’s. “Thank you, little flower.”
“You’re very welcome, solider. I’m going to check on Zip and get some food. You still need to eat.”
A soft knock comes from the door and Lydia pokes her head inside. “May I?”
“Of course,” Dahlia answers, and Hunter notes the new tone she uses with his mother. “I was going to grab some food for us. Would you like anything?” she asks.
“Oh no, Jared and I already ate. I worry he’s growing attached to your dog already. He’s talking about us getting one.” She tries to smile, but it doesn’t work. For her, losing Lauren was like losing a daughter. It’ll be awhile for that kind of pain lessens.
“I don’t understand how this works!” Hunter grabs the strap and yanks it from the truck entirely. Dahlia stares at it like it’ll bite her. She doesn’t know either.
“Okay, well…let’s look.” She crouches and reads the less than helpful directions on the side of the car seat. She goes over them three times and it still doesn’t make sense.
Hunter’s parents are upstairs in Faith’s room with Lauren’s family. Since Hunter’s last name is on the birth certificate and there is no real reason, he shouldn’t have his child, they all agreed he could take her home. Well, to his parents’ house for the time being. Lauren’s funeral was two days ago and Faith has been asking for her mommy consistently since she’s getting better. It breaks everyone’s heart to hear it.
Hunter didn’t go to the service. He stayed with Faith and told her stories about her mommy from younger years. He keeps waiting for Dahlia to get jealous or doubt his feelings, which is why he tells her he loves her and appreciates her every chance he gets.
Surprisingly, the only person she wants to let hold her is Hunter. So, he is installing, rather trying to install, this car seat.
“First time?” A woman with a baby on her hip and a toddler holding her hand asks as she walks by. Hunter and Dahlia stare at her, confused. “First-time parents?” she supplies.
“No—well, I—kinda?” Dahlia stutters out. Technically, the answer is yes, but it’s layered with tons of complications.
“Here, take, Jill.” The woman hands the infant on her hip to Dahlia without hesitation. “You’ll need the practice and I’ll show you how to do it.”
Dahlia sweats, not the hot kind, but the holy fuck stress kind. Does it show that obvious that she needs practice and doesn’t know the first thing about taking care of a kid? Not to mention they have nothing back in South Dakota for a child. Plants are easy, sun and water. But humans?
And there is still the question of will they go back to Deadwood. She has to, right? That’s where her business is, her life. Everything she’s built for herself.
She bounces her body because that’s something every mom in the history of ever has done.
A mom? Is that what she is now?
But if Hunter stays…no she won’t make him choose between her and his child. If it comes down to it, she’ll make that choice for him. Out of love.