Read Online Gloria's Forever (Gloria Book 3) by Nelle L'Amour - Free Book Online Page B

their little portable beds were hooked up to IVs and monitors just like Gloria.
    “But I thought you said they were okay. Why do they have so many gizmos attached to them?”
    “It’s normal. We’re just monitoring them.”
    She sounded sincere, so I believed her. “Which ones are Payton and Paulette?”
    “I’m going to show you.”
    Wait a sec. What was she saying?
    I watched as she slipped on a surgical mask and a pair of latex gloves. “Now, don’t you move. I’ll be right back.”
    In a blink, she was inside the observation room, conferring with another nurse. Heading over to a counter, she opened a drawer and slipped a few things into the pocket of her pink smock. Her back was turned to me so I wasn’t sure what they were. She then pivoted and ambled back to the door. I cranked my head as she stepped outside the observation room.
    “I’m baa-ack,” she crooned.
    “I thought you were going to show me the Zander babies.”
    She winked. “Now, don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the expression, patience has its virtues?”
    I had, but patience was definitely not one of my virtues. And it had fucked me up more than once in my life. Acting impulsively had almost cost me my life—and Gloria’s.
    Forcing the beginnings of dark thoughts to the back of my mind, I watched as Kashunna dipped her hand into a deep pocket and pulled out a mask and pair of gloves identical to hers. She handed them to me.
    “Just put these on and follow me.”
    I hastily donned the items.
    A big, pearly white smile flashed on Kashunna’s face. “Sugar, you look good in anything. Are you a model or something?”
    Beneath my mask, I couldn’t help grinning. “No, I do PR for Gloria’s Secret.”
    “Get out! I love that store!”
    My smile widened. I promised I would send her a gift certificate.
    “Have I told you how much I love you?” She laughed as I followed my new best friend through the door to the observation room.
    My first instinct was to put my fingers in my ears. Or ask for earplugs. I wasn’t prepared for the deafening chorus of wailing babies. I’d never been inside a nursery before and had no experience with babies. Ray’s sister, Carrie, lived in Wisconsin. I’d yet to meet her and his six-month-old nephew, Conner. We’d only done FaceTime.
    “Is it always like this in here?” I asked anxiously.
    “Honey, this is nothing. Wait till they all get hungry.”
    My eyes took in all the tiny screaming babies, their faces as red as tomatoes. I took hesitant steps, my nerves getting to me, and followed bouncy Kashunna down a long row of see-thru baby-sized portable beds. She stopped at the last two.
    “Here they are, Uncle Kevin.”
    My heart suddenly melted like a bar of chocolate in the heat. Gloria’s glorious babies! Paulette and Payton. Oh my fucking God. They were so teeny-weeny but so beyond adorable. And neither was wailing. Both in the tiniest of diapers, one was clad in a pink knit cap, the other in a powder blue one. My little fashion statements. Paulette’s platinum hair peeked out from her cap. With her full ruby lips and wide-set eyes, she was the spitting image of Gloria, and Payton already looked a lot like Jaime. Awed, I waved at them. “Hi, cutie pies. I’m Uncle Kev, your godfather,” I said aloud and I swear they heard me. Yawning, their eyes made contact with mine. They had bonded with me.
    “Would you like to hold one?” asked Kashunna.
    “Seriously?”
    Randomly, she lifted Paulette out of her crib, holding her in her palms and then transferred her to me. Nerves wracked my body. I’d never held a baby before, let alone one as itsy bitsy as this.
    “Just make sure you hold her head up and you both should be fine.”
    “Like this?” I asked imploringly, cradling the infant and following her instructions.
    “Perfect. How do you feel?”
    “Fan-fucking-tastic.” My racing heart swelled with joy as my confidence soared. I couldn’t stop looking at Paulette. Her blue eyes stayed