“I was at the hospital. I went to see Valeria before I leave. How long have you been up?”
“I woke up a little bit ago. I need to go to the doctor today and have my stitches removed. How is our little girl?”
I smile. “Good. She was still asleep when I left. She has a really good grip, too. But mostly, she slept like a baby.”
She smiles, knowing that I finally held her hand. “She gets that from you because I can’t sleep without toss and turning.” Hadley laughs.
“Yeah, she’s not a squirmy baby yet.” I give her a small smile at my little joke.
“Are you all ready to go?”
“I’m ready. I need to grab a few things first. Keep me updated on your appointment too.”
“I give you my word that I will tell you every ache and pain I have.” She rolls her eyes. “Now, go get ready because you need to catch up to Jax Godwin. He’s number one right now, and I don’t like that.” She narrows her eyes at me and I chuckle before responding seriously.
“Don’t pressure me.”
I leave them in the kitchen for a quick shower before changing into my suit. My family is right where I left them and I smile at the sight. Hadley comes over to give me a hug and kiss. I’m unsure how I feel about leaving, but I don’t really have a choice. Once Hadley promises to keep me updated, I grab my things and leave for the road game.
~ ~ ~
If there was ever a time to ooh and aah over a baby, it’s right now. Hadley is holding Valeria for the first time and she looks so smitten. I don’t know how I’m ever going to drag her back home without Valeria. They both look beautiful though. Mama and Papa are hovering behind Hadley, catching all of little Valeria’s reactions. I’m almost surprised that my mother hasn’t tried to take her from Hadley yet. She’s probably dying to, though.
I’ve never seen Hadley smile wider than she is right now. She lifts her head, glancing at me from my seat next to her, and asks, “Do you want to hold her, Luca?”
I knew this moment was coming. I’ve been waiting for it since Valeria held my finger, since we walked in today and learned we would be able to hold her. I don’t hesitate when I nod and say, “Yes.”
Carefully and cautiously, Hadley hands her to me, resting her in my arms. Valeria blinks up at me and I’m crazy enough to think her lips lifted into a tiny smile. “Hello again,” I whisper. With her here in my arms, I don’t know how I didn’t want to experience this. She’s unbelievably precious. Unshed tears stings my eyes, but I blink until they go away. I wish she were strong enough already to take her home because I don’t know how I’ll be able to walk out of here.
“I’m really happy you came to us, Valeria,” I say, my speech switching from English to Russian from being so emotional. When I look to Hadley, her expression shows she understood what I said. Anxiety and all, I know I’m ready to care for, raise, and love Valeria with Hadley.
Epilogue
Eleven Months Later
Hadley
“Valeria Zotov, if you don’t stop drooling everywhere, I’m going to put you in a wetsuit.” I wipe her mouth again and she giggles.
“Uh-oh.” She holds up her block.
“B. That’s the letter B.” I point to the bright color block in her tiny hand.
She tilts her head and glares at me with her caramel-colored eyes.
“You get that look from your father.” I kiss her cheek. “Can you say ‘b?’”
“Uh-oh.”
“Well, that’s something,” I mumble trying to pick up her toys.
“No!” Valeria cries. She sounds like Luca when she does that.
“Valeria, we need to get going.” My words make her cry louder.
“What’s going on?” Luca comes racing down the stairs.
Valeria immediately stops crying and raises her arms. “Da. Da.” Luca goes to her and picks her up. She has him wrapped around her tiny finger.