Abel (5th Street 4)

“I’m sure Andy’s eating it all up,” Abel said, walking over to Roni. “No publicity is bad publicity, according to that ass**le, right?”

Abel outstretched his arms, and Roni handed him his baby girl. Having her in his arms was enough to dispel the annoyance that had begun to build at the very thought of Andy. He was finally getting used to it, and holding her didn’t feel quite as terrifying as the first few times. He walked back toward Nellie, and she was already holding her hands out. “Give me a sec with her, will you?” he teased.

Hector and the rest of them hung out for a bit more before heading back to his gathering. Abel and Nellie were finally alone with their baby girl. Sitting back in the recliner, Abel wouldn’t admit that he felt as drained as he was sure Nellie had every right to be. But his wasn’t just physical. Emotionally, he’d been put through the wringer ever since the horrific scare Nellie had given him months ago. After that, he’d had to deal with all the doctor visits, planning their intimate but still emotional wedding, and then the last few weeks leading up until today. But staring at his two girls now, as Nellie held his Reina in her arms, it’d been worth every second of the emotional ride.

“She’s even more amazing than I thought she’d be,” Nellie said, staring down at their baby.

“I couldn’t agree more.” He smiled, his eyes going from one of his amazing girls to the other. “But. . . ” He let his head fall back on the recliner. “Are you sure you wanna do this a few more times?”

In the past few months, as they’d moved in and made that perfect house their home, they’d discussed a few things. With all the extra bedrooms in the house aside from the now decked-out nursery, naturally the question of how many more children each wanted had come up. Nellie told him at least one more. She didn’t like the idea of their child growing up without siblings. Abel thought two was good too but that three might be even better. Now he wasn’t so sure his heart could take doing all this two more times.

When she didn’t respond, he glanced up at her, hoping the question hadn’t upset her. To his relief, his beautiful wife didn’t look upset. She was still staring at Reina, completely awestruck. Abel couldn’t help smiling.

After taking what looked like a very satisfied deep breath, she kissed the baby’s nose and looked up at him with a smile so full of adoration that it warmed him. “I’m game if you’re game.”