The Woman in the Trunk

He was placed on my chest just a couple moments later, wrapped in a blanket, all squishy and new.

Lorenzo scooted onto the side of the bed, wrapping an arm around both of us, protecting us like I knew he would never stop doing.

Milo Alexander Costa.

Named after his uncle Emilio.

His uncle Brio had dibs on the next one.

Yes, there were going to be more.

Celeste was right.

Everything was all but forgotten except this little human being we had created.

"Lorenzo?"

"Yeah?" he asked, looking at Milo for another moment, eyes filled with wonder. When he glanced up at me, though, the look was still there.

"I didn't mean it."

"Didn't mean what?"

"I won't cut it off. Because I want a dozen of these," I told him, beaming.

"Well, I think we can arrange that," he said, reaching up to brush some sweaty hair off my forehead. "I love you, hellcat," he told me, eyes warm.

I loved him back.

More than I ever could have anticipated.

More than I even knew I was capable of.

"I love you too. Even if you are a sauce hog," I told him, smiling.

Sure, it wouldn't be all smiles and declarations.

Wars were starting on the streets.

Between the families.

Life would never be easy.

But it didn't need to be.

Because we knew we could handle it together.