“He’s really okay?” she asks again, still nervous.
I nod. “Got all ten fingers and toes. And you heard those lungs.”
She smiles with relief. “Get Lyra,” she tells me.
“I’m not sure they’ll let her back here.”
“I don’t care. I want my daughter to meet her brother,” she demands. There will be no arguing with her, and I don’t want to. Every time she calls Lyra her daughter, my heart swellsto the point of explosion.
“What Momma wants, Momma gets,” Igladly concede.
I walk out of the delivery room to the lobby,where everyone is waiting.They all stand, waiting on me to tell them something.I laugh at their expectant expressions.
“You didn’t come out with a baby,” Dane accuses. “She’s not still in labor, is she?”
I can't help the smile that splits my face. “Nope, but she wants her little girl.”
“Aww, come on, man,”Dane whines. “We’ve been waiting for hours.”
Camislaps his chest with a shake of her head. “Lyra, are you ready to go see Mommy?” Cami asks her.
She bobs her head quickly. “I got a brother now, Daddy?” she asks me with wide, curious eyes.
“Yep. Want to go see?”
She runs to me, grabbing my hand just as precocious as ever. “Come on, Daddy.”
I lift her into my arms, and we make our way back to the delivery.
“Sir, she can’t be back here,” I hear a nurse call out to me.I just keep walking back to Cara’s room.I shake my head with a laugh as I hear her begin to follow me. “Sir!”
I walk into Cara’s room to findmy boy at her chest. The nurses see me walk in with Lyra on my hip. They grin, probably imaginingtheir co-workers who’ve followed me into the room frustration. Dr. Anders looks over at us with a smile.
“I was wondering how long it would take before Mom and Dad brought you back here, Lyra?” Dr. Anders tells her with a smile.She learned months ago, where we go, Lyra goes.
Lyra isn’t paying any attention to her. Her eyes are solely focused on Cara and the baby in her arms.She jerks herbody in the direction of Cara. Mycue to move.
I sit on the side of the bed,looking at my beautiful wife. She’s always been so damn gorgeous,but right now, there is nothing in the world that could make her more beautiful.Nothing she could do that could make me love her more. Though I suspect I will anyway. Every day I love her morethan the day before.
“Meet your baby brother, pretty girl,” Cara whispers.
“I’m a big sister,” Lyra returns her whisper. The awe and reverence on her face isendearing.
Cara opens her arm, the one not holding the baby, inviting Lyra in. She looks up at me with those baby blues asking permission. “Just be easy,” I tell her as I nod for her to go.
Gently and more slowly than I thoughtmy princess was capable of, she crawls into Cara’s side. I watchas she ooh’s and ahh’s over her brother.
Love, raw and powerful. All-encompassing love. I am filled to overflowingwith so much of it.
There was a time I didn’t think I’d get any of this. I thoughtthe choices I madewould keep me from having it all. I was okay with that because,without those choices, I wouldn’t have my princess. She is every bit my child as the dark-eyed boy in Cara’s arms.
Butfate has a funny way of bringing things full circle. I got the girl, scars and all. This girl loves my princess as much as I do. She loves me in a way I’m not sure she would have, had things gone differently.
Igot the career I’ve always wanted. But even without that, I would be the happiest man in the world because I got the girl and the family. I have it all. And it couldn’t possibly get any better than this.
