“Do you want to hold her?” I ask.
She nods and I carefully pass her over, she’s so small that I’m scared I’m going to break her.
“Hey, bubba.” She smiles as she looks down at her. “You are so cute.”
I get a lump in my throat as I watch on.
She rearranges her and the nurse lifts her onto her nipple and she begins to suck.
How the hell does she know how to do that already?
My kid is a genius.
The nurses finally leave us alone and I sit on the side of the bed and kiss Claire’s forehead.
There are no words for what I’m feeling.
Love drunk…
“Tris.” Claire smiles down at her. “She’s perfect.”
“Like you.” I hold her close. “Thank you, I have never loved you more.”
We both smile down at her.
“What do you want to name her?” Claire asks. “It’s your pick, I like all of the names on your list so it’s up to you.”
I stare down at her and smile, I know exactly what to call her. “Summer Claire Miles.”
Claire’s eyes cloud over. “It’s the perfect name.”
“For the perfect child, did you see how smart she is knowing how to do that when she was born like five minutes ago?”
Claire giggles.
“The kid is a genius.”
“Patrick, walk faster.” We hear squabbling from the corridor. The boys come into view and they all stop at the door, wide eyed.
“Come and meet your sister, boys.” I smile proudly.
“A girl?” Patrick frowns.
Claire smiles. “A little girl.”
Harry winces. “A girl?”
“Yes, a girl,” I snap.
Thank fuck not another boy.
The boys all crowd around the bed and watch on in silence, half shocked. Who am I kidding, completely shocked.
As am I.
“Her name is Summer.” Claire smiles dreamily as she looks down at her. “Summer Miles.”
The boys all goo and ga over her.
She finishes feeding and Claire rewraps her.
Harry holds his arms out. “Can I hold her?”
I break into a cold sweat; I get an image of him accidently dropping her on her head or some shit. “Um…” I glance to Claire.
“Let her rest now, baby, she’s had a big day, you can hold her tonight.”
Phew…
I stand back and look around the room at my four children and wife.
So much to love.
Claire
I watch Summer sleep in her crib, so peaceful and serene. Her little arms are up by her face and every now and then she sucks her bottom lip. She has dark hair and olive skin, rosy lips.
An angel.
She looks so much like her dad; the perfect little bundle of joy and I had no idea the level of peace she would bring me. It’s as if my whole being has let out a deep sigh of relief.
She’s here.
A little girl to love forever. I was a young mother last time, caught in a whirlwind of business. Desperate to keep working and prove my worth to myself and the world.
This time will be different, nothing else matters. I know my worth now and I’m going to savor every single second of time with this beloved baby girl.
“Knock, knock,” sounds at the door.
“Come in.”
“Hello, is now a good time?”
A familiar face comes into view with a huge bunch of flowers and I laugh. “Gabriel, you came to visit me.”
“Ahhh, bella.” He kisses my cheeks and holds my arms as he looks me over. “Look at you, all glowing and momlike.” He glances over to the crib. “This is her.”
“It is,” I gush. “Look how beautiful she is.”
This is a big deal for Gabriel to come here and see me, he and Tristan don’t get along and although I know that will never change, they do tolerate each other for me.
He smiles down at the crib and rubs his hand over her hair. “So precious.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
“What is her name?”
“Summer.”
He smiles.
“Summer Miles.” He raises an eyebrow and I giggle. “Don’t say it.”
“Her complexion is so dark compared to your other children,” he says as he looks her over.
“She looks just like her father.”
“Oh.” He softly strokes her hair with his fingertips. “You poor darling.”
I go to sit up and wince and he frowns. “What’s happening, are you in pain?”
“I had a C-section.”
He frowns. “Why?”
“Long story, it was planned, I’ll be fine in a few days.”
“I bought you flowers.” He digs something out of his pocket and passes over a little pink gift box. “Open it later.”
“Don’t you want to see what Gracie bought us?” I smirk.
He chuckles. “You know me too well, Claire.” He takes a seat on the chair in the corner of the room.
“How is Gracie?” I ask.
“She’s leaving me.”
“What?” I frown. “What do you mean?”
“She’s bought a place in god knows where and has handed in her resignation. Her last day is on Friday.”
My face falls. “Well…did you tell her?”
“Tell her what?”
“That you’re hopelessly in love with her.”
He rolls his eyes. “Where do you come up with this shit? I am not in love with Gracie.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Why the fuck would you say that?”
“Because it’s true.”
He exhales heavily. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yes. I do, I’ve seen the way you look at her. You’ve loved her for years.”
“Enough.”
“Well…you need to stop her from leaving.”
“I already tried. She won’t stay.” He puffs air into his cheeks. “It’s probably for the best anyway.”
I watch him for a moment, I know him, he would be really down about this.
“Anyway.” He sits up. “I just popped in for a quick visit, I have to go before the firing squad arrives.”
I giggle.
“Can you take a photo of me holding Summer to put on the front page of Ferrara News tomorrow?” He winks.
“Can you imagine?”
“Maybe I could be her godfather.” He raises his eyebrow mischievously.
“Tristan would have a heart attack.”
“That’s the point of it.”
“You are so bad.” I giggle. “Behave.”
The way Gabriel purposely baits the Miles brothers is next level. If we hadn’t been such good friends before I met Tristan, I wouldn’t understand it. But Gabriel’s different, he isn’t who they see.
I know the real him.
Mind you, I don’t blame them at all for disliking him. Tristan and I have had the biggest fights in our relationship over my friendship with Gabe, but he’s staying in my life. It’s nonnegotiable, he was a dear, dear friend to me after Wade died and at a time when I felt totally alone, he always had my back.
As much as Tristan dislikes him, I know he respects him because of how he’s protected me in the past. Not that he’ll ever admit it.