Family over everything

Chapter 2

It felt like he sat there forever before the doctor came out. Happy stood right away and waited. The waiting room was crawling with Son's now.

"Mr. Lowman," he said.

"How's my wife?" Happy asked.

"She is in recovery now. She is doing well. We were able to stop the bleeding and we didn't have to remove anything."

Happy nodded.

"When can I see her?" he asked.

"As soon as they move her to a room, you will be able to go back," the doctor replied.

Happy nodded again. He was rubbing his hands together. He was trying not to admit it but he was scared. He wasn't even remotely prepared to raise four kids without her. It was another hour before they came to get him to go to her room.

He entered the room cautiously. She looked exhausted still. Her eyes were closed. He gently shut the door and went to her bedside.

"How's the baby?" she asked, her eyes still closed.

"He is fine," he said.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, he is perfect. Just needs his momma to name him."

She nodded and opened one eye to look at him.

"You scared me back there," he said, honestly.

"Scared me too," she admitted.

"Al, I know you can't stand me and I seriously fucked up, but you can't leave me like that."

"Why?"

"I can't live in a world you ain't in."

"They didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I died on the table for three minutes."

His jaw dropped. He reached for her hand. She was still weak from the blood loss that she had suffered. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

"You're gonna need help when you get released," he said thoughtfully.

"Not from you," she said.

"Allison, they are my kids."

"You can keep the older three at your house. I've already talked to Lyla about helping when he arrived."

"Allison, this is stupid. Just let me come help you. Then the kids will be in their normal routine."

She shook her head. He sighed heavily.

"What are you naming him?" he asked, deciding to not push the subject right now.

"Mason Daniel Lowman," she said.

He nodded. The nurse brought the baby into the room. Allison attempted to sit up so that she could hold her baby. Happy picked him up and walked over to her.

"Here's your mama, Mason," he said.

"Happy, he looks just like the boys," she said staring down at him.

He was asleep in her arms but the little boy definitely looked like his older brothers who all looked like their dad. Happy watched her with the baby as he sat back down in the recliner in the room.

"Everyone is in the waiting room but I know you want to see our kids first so I called Gemma to bring them down here," he said.

"They should be in bed. The boys have school tomorrow," she said.

"They are too excited to sleep anyway love."

"You need to quit with that."

"What?"

"Calling me love."

"Allison, I do love you. I promise."

She rolled her eyes not really sure if she should believe him. She still loved him with everything she had. She wished that things were different but she didn't trust him anymore. He had hurt her way too much. She knew she would need help for a while though because of the recovery. She was worried because she knew Lyla had three kids of her own to keep an eye on. She sighed.

"If you come home to help, you are staying in the guest room," she said.

"Fine, as long as I can be there with you and the kids to make this easier on you then I don't care," he replied.

"Whatever. Once I am recovered, then you are back out."

He nodded. She sighed. She hoped that this didn't backfire on her. He leaned back in the chair.

"Thank you," he said.

She just nodded. Gemma arrived with the older children. She handed a sleeping Emersyn off to her father. He kissed his daughter's cheek. She barely even stirred.

"She is super tired," Gemma said.

"I see that," Happy said.

"Mama, are we going home tonight with you?" Noah asked.

"No baby, mama just had surgery today to get your brother here," she said.

Ryder made a face. He wanted to go home with his mother.

"So who are we going home with?" he asked.

"Dad is gonna take you to the house and help us out for a while," she said.

"Mama."

"Ryder Anthony Lowman,"

He crossed his arms. Happy pulled him out of the room for a moment. He knew his son was angry with him.

"Boy, I get that you are mad at me but you ain't gonna treat your mama like that," Happy said.

The little boy looked up at him. He was obviously angry. Happy sighed and knelt down.

"Look, I know that I messed up. I am trying to fix that so we can be a family again. But you aren't making things any easier by being a jerk to your mama today. She has been thru a lot to have your brother and she is going to need all of our help," he said. "Ry, I'm sorry that I messed up."

Ryder's eyes widened. He never thought for a moment that his father would ever apologize. Happy sighed.

"I'm sorry that I was a crappy dad to you guys. I'm sorry that I did this to our family. I'm sorry that you have to be the man of the house right now. I am going to do everything I can to fix it all," Happy said.

The little boy began to cry and threw his arms around his father's neck. He sobbed into his father's shoulder while Happy hugged him back.

"No more attitude," he said.

Ryder nodded against his shirt. They went back into the room.

"I'm sorry mama," Ryder said.

"I love you, my sweet boy," Allison said.

"So what's the new little guys name?" Gemma asked.

"Mason Daniel Lowman," Allison said.

"He is so handsome."

"Looks like his dad and his brothers"

Gemma nodded. Allison looked down at the baby in her arms.