Chapter 1

Talia

My work phone vibrates obnoxiously on my cherrywood nightstand, waking me up from my much-needed sleep. My eyes squint at the bright screen that reads: 2:53 AM. I groan unpleasantly, rolling over to my back. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Dr. Johnson,” I mumble, already knowing that my midwife in charge, Stacy, is on the other end of the call.

Stacy responds with a cheeriness that is annoying at this time in the morning. “We need you here. Mrs. Spellman is in labor. She has asked for you forty times already.”

I sigh as I force myself to sit up in my king sized bed. “I’ll be right there.”

As soon as I hang up with her, I call the first number in my recent calls log. Roselyn answers the phone as if the time of day doesn’t matter. “What’s wrong, Talia?”

I slide off the bed lazily. “Mom, I’m surprised you’re even awake.”

She clears her throat. “I have company over. You know how great of a hostess I am.”

“Mmmhmm.” I put her on speakerphone while I change into my scrubs. “Look, Mom. I need to bring Raven over. One of my high-risk mothers just went into labor.”

“Why can’t babies come during normal hours?” She jokes with her infamous cackle. “Gran is always happy to see her grandbaby. I’ll see you in a few then.”

I quickly slide my feet into my blue Crocs then head out of my bedroom. “Okay, Mom. See you soon.”

My medium-sized Boxer, Maya, greets me as soon as I open my door. “Hey, Maya. Let’s go get Raven.”

She energetically leads me down the hall, wagging her tail happily. I turn on the light as we enter Raven’s room. She sleeps so peacefully on her stomach that it pains me to wake her up. I sit on the edge of her sports car bed, rubbing my hand gently against her back. “Sweetie, we have to go to Gran’s house.”

She turns on her side towards me, blinking her pretty hazel eyes open. Those are her father’s eyes, the constant reminder of him.

I start packing her backpack with her favorite wrestler, Roman Reigns, on it. “Get up, sweetie. Mommy has to go deliver a baby.”

This news seems to jolt her out of her sleep state. Raven stands on her bed, jumping joyfully. “Is it going to be a girl or a boy?”

I zip up her bookbag, place it around her shoulders then playfully tap her nose. “Both.”

She gasps as I pick her up, sitting her on the edge of the bed. “You’re trying to trick me, Mommy. How is that even possible?”

I grab her sneakers and start putting them on her. “Well, she’s having twins.”

“Twins?! I want to be a twin, but only if it’s a boy.”

I chuckle as I tie her shoelaces. “You’re enough of a boy already.”

She nods. “You’re right. Mommy, why do I have to go to Gran’s? I’m a big girl, so I can just stay here while you’re at the hospital.” She gestures for Maya to come to her then pets her lovingly. “Besides, Maya would protect me.”

    I stand up, grabbing her favorite teddy bear from off her bed. “Well, the police wouldn’t see it that way, so I have to take you to Gran’s, okay?” I hand her the bear as if it’s part of the compromise.

“Okay. Just let me grab Roman.” She picks up her Roman Reigns action figure off the nightstand then walks out of her bedroom. “Come on, Mommy. Those twins aren’t going to deliver themselves.”

We arrived at my mom’s house to see her waving happily on the porch. Raven and I hold hands until we get to her, then Roselyn merrily lifts Raven into her arms. “Hey! How’s my favorite grandbaby?”

Raven giggles. “I’m your only grandbaby.”

“You’re right, but you can still be my favorite.” She notices something in Raven’s hand. “Did you bring Roman? Good.” She lowers her to the ground. “Go inside.”

    My voice mumbles sarcastically. “Where’s your company?”

         “I sent his ass home.”

   “Good.” I start walking towards my car. “I don’t need any weird men around my child.”

  I take the familiar ten minute drive to Hemmes Regional Hospital, minus the traffic. I guess one good thing comes from three in the morning.

Once I arrive, I hurry upstairs using the elevator. Stacy is there to greet me as soon as the

doors open with her clipboard in her hands. She walks quickly beside me, keeping up my pace.

“She’s eight centimeters dilated. Her contractions are every eighty seconds with a minute

and fifteen seconds in between.”

    “How’s her blood pressure?”

She reads the charts on her clipboard. “Normal. No excess fluid either.”

“Perfect.” I slide the door open to Mrs. Spellman’s room then close it after we both enter.

The attending nurse standing at her bedside smiles at me. “Look, Dr. Johnson is here.”

“Thank God.” She breathes irregularly. “I was beginning to think I would push out these babies without you.”

I giggle as I wash my hands at the sink across from her bed. “I wouldn’t want to miss seeing those two adorable faces coming out of your vagina.”

She attempts to laugh, resulting in a painful groan.

“Oops.” I turn to face her as I put on my gloves. “Wrong time to make you laugh.” I look at the nurse on duty. “Thanks, Becca. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

The labor goes smoothly, and we welcome two perfectly healthy babies, Troy and Tristan, into this chaotic world.

I have only been an independent practitioner for two years, but with all my residency training added in, I have delivered over five hundred babies. Each time is still just as rewarding as the first time.

The sun is still rising as I exit through the hospital doors, feeling accomplished. As I walk to my reserved parking spot, I see a familiar, tall frame leaning against my black BMW.

Damn, just when I was in a good mood here he is to ruin it.

Chapter 2

Talia

My ex-husband, Doug Grier, takes several steps towards me in the parking lot. “You don’t look too happy to see me.”

I remove my keys from my purse, avoiding his gaze. “Don’t you have some people to save or some nurses to fuck?”

His deep voice chuckles heartily. “That’s all in the past, baby.”

“Don’t ‘baby’ me.” I quickly walk around him. “What are you doing here?”

He speaks in a softer tone. “I want to talk to you.”

I open my car door with the remote then grab the handle. “If it’s not about Raven, we have nothing to talk about.”

He grabs the door as I open it, attempting to get my attention. “Talia, I’m sorry. I’ve been

an idiot. You and Raven are the best thing to ever happen to me. I’m still in love with you.”

“Go away, Doug. We’ve been done since we signed the divorce papers a year ago.” I sit

in the seat, placing my purse on the passenger side. “Actually, we’ve been done ever since I caught you and Nurse Gemma getting it on in room 832.”

He maneuvers around the car door, taking a knee beside me. “I’ve apologized for that a hundred times. I wasn’t in my right mind after losing my mom.”

I finally look at him, exhaling deeply. “When will you stop blaming your late mother for your mistakes? That’s always been your problem, Doug. You don’t take accountability.”

“I’ve changed, baby. Just give me another chance.” He attempts to hold my left hand but I yank it out of his grasp.

I turn my body to him, ready to be done with this conversation. “You killed any love that I had for you. You betrayed me and made me a laughing stock at this hospital. I’ve had to work twice as hard to repair my tarnished reputation.”

“I’m sorry for everything, Talia.” His captivating hazel eyes show some sincerity, but they no longer have that effect on me.

“Get away from my car before I call security.” I coldly look straight ahead, my arms crossed over my chest.

A familiar black Lexus pulls into the parking spot behind us. Liam Anderson immediately jumps out, striking a defensive glare at Doug. “Is there a problem?”

Doug rises off the ground to his six-foot-two height. “Isn’t it Liam to the rescue? How convenient.”

Liam is a good friend of mine from high school. He never cared for Doug, particularly developing a hatred towards him after he cheated on me multiple times during our marriage. He is slightly taller than Doug by an inch or two and definitely not intimidated by him. While they are both well-built men, Liam would win in a fair fight. I place emphasis on the word fair because my ex-husband likes to play dirty.

He walks over dressed in his scrubs for his shift, his chestnut brown hair neatly combed back and his intense green eyes not backing down. “Back off, Doug.”

“Don’t talk to me like you know me.” Doug attempts to intimidate him by taking a step forward. “At this hospital, you’re still just a small fry.”

“That’s enough.” I release an aggravated sigh, raising myself to stand where my car door is ajar. “Are you leaving or not?”

Doug glances at me. “I’ll see you later, baby.” He brushes past Liam tauntingly. “This fool had better watch his back.”

Liam moves closer to me, compassionately placing his hand on my left shoulder. “Are you okay, Talia?”

I nod with a reassuring smile. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that idiot right before your shift.”

He smiles charmingly. “It’s just another day at Hemmes.”

“Tell me about it.” I glance at the hospital that has given me so many memories, both good and bad. “What department are you in today?”

“I’m in your neck of the woods. I’ll be sure to check on Mrs. Spellman. Seeing as how you’re here, she must have delivered.”

I am filled with excitement all over again. “Yes, perfectly healthy babies. Troy and Tristan.”

His smile is still present on his face. “That’s great news. Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less. You are the best at what you do for a reason.”

“Thanks, Liam. I’ll be sleeping in but call me if I’m needed.” I step on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around the top of his back.

He reciprocates the embrace by placing his arms at my lower back. “Get some rest.”

“I will.” I slowly pull away, sliding down into the driver’s seat.

Liam gently closes my door then speaks through the closed window. “Drive safely.”

I call my mom, asking her if she can watch Raven longer in case I’m called into the hospital again. As usual, she doesn’t mind carrying out her ‘Gran duties’ longer.

My car ride home is filled with deep thoughts. Why the hell did I allow myself to get swept off my feet in the first place? Doug has always been the conceited, smooth talker that he is, but my naïve, twenty year old self fell for his charm.

We met during my residency at Hemmes, and after only a few short months of dating he had me convinced that I was the only woman he wanted. We got married six months later, then Raven arrived shortly after. In hindsight, everything happened way too quickly. I blame myself, but it’s also unfair because I didn’t have much dating history before him. I was a young, inexperienced intern and he succeeded in running his game on me.

If I could do it all over again I would for one reason and one reason only. Raven.

She is the light of my life, and I am who I am because of her. She keeps me sane with her extraordinary wisdom for her age and the way she has taught me how to love unconditionally.

That little girl is my world, and I would do anything for her.