“Hey baby. I’m your mommy.” My eyes tear up a little. Nova wraps her little arm around me, and I bring her to me. I lean down so I can whisper in her ear.
“You want to come with me when they take her to clean her up, or do you want to stay with Aunt Katie?” I want to give her all the options. She looks at the baby and Kathleen for a little bit before answering.
“I’ll stay with Aunt Katie. She may need me.”
“That’s my girl.” She is getting too old on me. I miss my little princess. She’s growing into a big girl, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
I take the baby from Kathleen and follow the nurse to the nursery. After they weigh her and clean her up, I sit with her for a little bit. I want some time alone with her before I take her back.
I’m being selfish, but I know I will have to share her shortly.
“Hey, my pretty angel,” I tell her. “You are so loved already.” She isn’t crying. Holding her has a calming effect on me. I haven’t been dealing with the dark too much since I met Kathleen. She keeps me in the light for the most part. The only times I’ve slipped had to do with Mary or Fred.
All of that is behind us. Kathleen is working on her law degree. We settled her ordeal years ago, but we are deeply involved in the breakup of the trafficking organizations. It’s a passion of ours, and we are using all of our resources to make it happen.
I want to change the world for the precious life that I am holding in my arms right now.
Her complexion is so pretty. She’s a beautiful baby, and I’m not being totally biased, because I thought the same of my niece and nephews. She has light fuzz on her head. No hair yet, but it will come.
I helped make this. This is a production of me. All the years that I hid behind walls and told myself that I would never have this… I was waiting onher. I was waiting on Kathleen. I was waiting on this miracle in my arms. They were the ones I needed, to fix everything that was broken. And they are. Slowly, they are fixing it all.
I talk to the baby for a little bit longer before I take her to her mother and cousin. I’ve had my time with her for today. Now, it is time to name her, then share her.
“We need a name,” I say as I walk through the door.
Nova and Kathleen giggle as I lay the baby on her mother’s chest.
“We already have it picked out.” Nova says.
“Really? Without me.”
“You won’t mind.”
“Well tell me what you two brilliant women have come up with.”
They look at each other and give one another a secret look before Kathleen turns to me. “Do you remember one of our talks on the Isle of Man?” I shake my head as I wrack my brain. I don’t remember anything to do with a baby while we were there.
Well, except practicing to make one.
“You said that if you had a baby girl one day, you wanted to name her after your bike. At first, I told you no. Over time, I’ve thought about it. Now that I’ve seen her face. It fits.”
A smile slowly creeps across my face and I know my eyes are tearing up again. Damn tears.
This woman. I love her so damn hard.
“Nova, tell your uncle what the baby’s name is.”
Nova rubs the baby’s head then leans down to kiss it.
“Say hello to Ireland Elizabeth James.”
The tears roll down my face as I kiss every one of my girls. Two are missing, but I’m getting three of them right now.
“Ireland, you’re so precious,” Kelly coos.
“Kell, when are you going to give us another one?” Micah asks.
“Um.. we’ve had this talk. That’s a never.” She doesn’t even look up from Ireland when she answers.
