Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 142(@300wpm)
My eyes lift to Aria. She’s standing beside me, watching Grace with tears in her eyes and the softest smile on her face. I can see it plainly on her face. She wants this.
I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do, but I ask her, “Do you want to hold her?”
Aria’s eyes go to Zach and Skyler. “Can I?”
Skyler smiles. “Of course you can.”
Zach points at Aria’s hands. “You sanitized twice?”
Aria lifts both hands. “I promise.”
He hesitates.
Skyler gives him a look. “Zach.”
He sighs. “Fine.”
I stand slowly, careful with Grace, and Aria sits down in the chair. When I place the baby in her arms, my hands brush over Aria’s, and her fingers are shaking a little. I don’t know if anyone else notices, but I do.
Aria looks down at that baby like she’s holding something precious.
“Oh,” Aria whispers, her voice breaking. “Hi, sweet girl.”
Grace makes a tiny sound, and Aria laughs softly through her tears.
Skyler wipes under her eyes. “She likes you.”
“She’s perfect,” Aria says.
Zach’s chest puffs up. “She is.”
I move to stand behind Aria’s chair and rest one hand lightly on her shoulder. I need to touch her. I need something to hold on to while I watch her hold the life I’m scared I can’t give her.
Aria leans back into my hand just a little. “She’s so tiny.”
“She didn’t feel tiny coming out,” Skyler mutters.
Zach immediately turns to her. “Do you need anything? Water? Ice chips? Another blanket? Pain meds?”
“I need you to sit down before you fall over,” Skyler says.
He shrugs her off. “I’m fine.”
For a few minutes, the room is quiet. Skyler talks about the delivery. Zach interrupts every few seconds to add things. Aria keeps Grace in her arms, looking down at her like the rest of the world has disappeared.
And I watch my wife.
I watch the way her finger brushes over Grace’s tiny fist. The way she’s looking at her with awe on her face. This is probably what I’ve been most afraid of. It wasn’t the diagnosis or having to run multiple tests. It’s watching Aria with a baby in her arms and knowing that I have a secret that can change everything between us.
Aria glances up at me. “You okay?”
I force myself to nod. “Yeah.”
She studies me for a second, and I wonder if she believes me.
Then Grace makes another sound, and Aria looks back down at her.
Skyler yawns, and Zach stands immediately. “All right. Time’s up. Momma needs rest.”
Skyler gives him a tired look. “I’m fine.”
“You just had a baby.”
“I know. I was there.”
Aria smiles and carefully stands. “He’s right. We should let you rest.”
Zach looks relieved that someone agrees with him.
Aria leans over and kisses Skyler’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you.”
Skyler’s eyes fill again. “Thank you.”
Then Aria looks down at Grace one more time. “Welcome to the family, sweet girl.”
My chest tightens.
Zach takes Grace from Aria very carefully and then settles her back into Skyler’s arms.
I hug Skyler gently. “You did good, kid.”
She sniffles. “Don’t make me cry.”
“You’ve been crying since we got here.”
“That’s different.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Love you.”
She smiles up at me. “Love you too.”
Zach walks us to the door like he’s escorting us out before we can contaminate anything. “Thanks for coming.”
Aria smiles at him. “You’re already ridiculous.”
“I’m a father now. Ridiculous is my right.”
“You’re going to be amazing,” she says.
Zach’s face softens. “Thanks.”
We step into the hallway, and the door closes behind us.
For a second, Aria and I just stand here.
The sounds of the hospital move around us. There are nurses walking by and machines beeping. I thread my hand with Aria’s as we walk down the hall.
Aria sniffs. “She’s beautiful.”
I agree with her. “She is.”
We both go silent on the way to the car. It’s like we’re each deep in thought. I have to tell her tonight. The thought makes my stomach twist, but for the first time, I don’t try to run from it.
Aria deserves the truth, and if I lose her after that, at least she’ll finally know I never stopped wanting forever with her.
CHAPTER 22
ARIA
The ride home from the hospital is quiet and not the comfortable kind of quiet either. Penn holds my hand the whole way, but there’s something different about him now. I don’t ask him what’s wrong because I think I already know.
He’s going to tell me.
The thought makes my stomach twist even though I’ve known the truth for a week. Reading it on paper was one thing, but hearing it from Penn is going to be something else entirely.
When we get home, he parks in the driveway but doesn’t move right away. His hand tightens around mine.
“Come inside with me,” he says.
I give him a small smile. “I live here, Penn.”
His eyes come to mine, and the pain there wipes the smile from my face.