Make You Mine

“I’m not sure why you gave me these.” I held them out, and she gave them a quick glance.

“Thought you might see something you liked.” Green eyes cut up to mine. “Something you might’ve wished you could have.”

“I saw a lot of shots of Drew and me. Is that what you meant?”

Her expression sort of twisted, as if she just remembered something. Then she just shook her head and laughed.

“Misguided attempt at blackmail.” Taking the small stack of prints from my hand, she slipped them into her purse. “You always really loved her, didn’t you?”

“Always.”

And that was the end of that.

It’s been nine months since my last vivid dream. I don’t know if I can say I’m cured, but what I do know is I’m meeting with a counselor at Drew’s clinic on a regular basis. I’m keeping a journal, and we’re keeping on top of it. I’m not going to let the bad guys win.

So all of that has been amazing, but nothing… nothing… compares to today.

Drew started the morning feeling strange. She’s so adorable, just as I imagined she would be with her pregnant belly under one of those cute little dresses. Her skin just glows, and I only want to feed her and rub her feet and treat her like a princess.

She won’t let me do any of that shit. She says I’m trying to make her fat. You’ve heard of those ladies who love being pregnant? That is not Drew.

After waking up feeling strange, she decided to go for a long walk, to hopefully “get this thing out of me.” I’m sure she’ll feel a lot differently once our little girl is born.

It worked, because as soon as she got home, her water broke. It was all hands on deck after that.

I carried Drew in my arms to the truck along with her little overnight bag and called Ruby, who met

us at the hospital. Ruby’s mom kept going on about how long it takes for first babies to be born, but I guess Drew was really ready to give birth.

Our little angel made the scene screaming her head off in less than thirty minutes. Drew’s doctor clocked her in, weighed her, and did all that technical stuff.

Now we’re here, my little angel happily nestled on her mother’s breast eating.

“Good call, little Dani,” I tease, smoothing my palm over her halo of white-blonde hair.

Yeah, we decided to name her Danielle, in honor of her late uncle.

“She has your eyes.” Drew’s voice is soft. “She’s really beautiful.”

I tighten my arm around her shoulder, giving her a nudge. “Kiss me.”

Her head drops back, and I cover her mouth with mine. All the times I wondered where I belonged, the answer was always right here. I don’t know what brought us together or what kept her believing in me, all I know is I’ll be forever grateful.

Our lips part, and she looks down at our little girl, who has finished eating and is now nestled on her mother’s chest.

“Are you happy?” Drew looks up at me again, and I can’t even put into words…

“I never knew this kind of happiness existed.” Leaning down, I kiss her nose.

“You knew.” She kisses my lips in response. “It’s why you signed that coaster.”

“It’s why you kept it.”

The world is cruel and hard. People put you in a box and try to keep you there. What I’ve learned is when you find the person who believes in you, hold on to him or her and never let go.

Drew’s that person for me, and as hard as it got, our promise was irrevocable.

Dani makes a noise, and my chest squeezes with love. I touch her mother’s cheek, and when our eyes meet, I mouth I love you.