Epilogue
Gio
Ifelt sick with worry. Jasper had kicked me out of the room.
I was supposed to be the calm one, and I couldn’t seem to keep it together.
He’d been gentle about it, but he insisted I step outside and get some air.
Now, I was outside and I couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening, what I was missing. The air wasn’t helping.
A hand clapped on my shoulder, making me jump. “Relax, Papa. Everything is going to be fine.”
Running a hand over my hair, I replied, “Anything could be happening right now, I should be in there.”
Eddie arched a brow. “So why aren’t you?”
“Because Jasper kicked me out.”
He pursed his lips as if he was trying not to laugh. “Why do you think he did that?”
“Because he said my pacing was stressing everyone out.”
This time he snickered. “Well, he was probably right. I know you didn’t ask for advice but I’m going to offer it to you anyway. You need to calm the fuck down—and I mean that in the most loving way—or you’re going to miss one of the most important moments of your life.”
I stared at him, so proud of the man he’d become. “I’ve had a lot of important moments, and you’ve been a big part of so many of them. I hope you know nothing, no one, is ever going to take the place you have in my heart. I love you so much, Eduardo.”
Eduardo’s look softened and he leaned into me, hugging me tight. “I know, Papa. I love you, too. I know this doesn’t change anything between us, none of us think that at all. Please don’t worry about us.”
“I’ll always worry,” I replied.
Eddie pulled back and gave me an affectionate smile. “I know. Now, get back in there and be there with your husband. This is too big to miss.”
I exhaled deeply and straightened. “You’re right. I gotta go. Thanks, kiddo.”
I hurried back inside and went to the delivery room where Jasper was holding the hand of our surrogate, and a nurse was between her legs, announcing it was time to push.
I washed my hands and put on the gown that was offered to me, rushing to the other side of the bed.
Holding her other hand, I looked up and met Jasper’s golden eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You’re here now.”
Looking down at Sarah, I felt my heart lodge in my throat, overwhelmed with gratitude at what she was doing for us.
This woman had graciously taken on the role of being a surrogate.
When we began having serious conversations about having a child, we weighed out the different options.
Jasper and I would have been perfectly happy to adopt.
I already had several unofficially-adopted kids who I loved more than life, but going through the legal process and trying to find a baby or young child came with a lot of hoops to jump through and there were no guarantees.
It could take years before getting the call, and I wasn’t getting any younger.
Of course, there weren’t any guarantees with any route we took, but one advantage to having access to Jasper’s account meant surrogacy was a feasible option for us.
I wished it wasn’t true that money was a crucial part of the process, but it was.
Jasper put a lot of care into how he used the money from the trust, desperately trying not to be like his parents or let it corrupt him, but investing into our family was an easy decision.
We were matched with Sarah through a surrogacy program as she had worked with a few same-sex couples, happy to help them build their families.
It had still been a long process with a lot of ups and downs, but we were here now.
I couldn't believe this was happening. “Thank you, Sarah. Is there anything you need?”
“I just need… you… here.” Her face contorted with pain and she squeezed my hand tight. It was all I could do not to crumple at her strength. She must have done the same to Jasper, too, because I could see the tightness in his features as he tried to maintain his composure.
“Good job, Sarah, just a few more big pushes like that.”
Time didn’t make sense, passing by in waves of pain and elation, but when the first cry rang out in the room, I thought I would collapse with relief and joy.
“It’s a girl!” The doctor exclaimed. The nurse cleaned her up and checked her airways, before wrapping her in a blanket and handing her to Jasper. Jasper held her with tears flowing down his face.
I looked down briefly to check on Sarah, who gave me a tired smile. “I’m okay. Go see your daughter.”
I walked around the table and stood before Jasper.
Jasper Russo, my husband. After everything had been settled with his trust fund, he decided to take my name.
It was one final way to separate from his family and what they stood for.
As much as I longed to be a McNeely, wishing I could shed my own name, it was different now that it was something I shared with Jasper.
It helped me reclaim it, no longer belonging to my parents, but to us.
We'd been married for three years now. I had seen him grow and change so much from the time he first entered my life.
Not only did he have his own booth at Heartcraft, he had also built up clientele for his custom glasswork, and was growing a reputation for his unique designs.
Beyond Kiss My Glass, which was bringing in its own income, and had become a teaching studio where students could learn the art of glassblowing, we had worked together to find local organizations to support with his trust fund, like Love Bank and the Heart and Sole Community Center.
I didn't think I could be more proud of the man I married, or his passionate heart.
Not until I saw him holding our daughter.
Our daughter. She was pink and tiny and so completely perfect. And her hair! She had lots of dark hair, the same color as her dad’s. This was the vision I’d dreamed of, the one that I imagined so many times. Jasper looked up to meet my gaze, both of us with tears streaming down our faces.
He spoke softly to her through an emotionally-tight voice. “Hi Melina, Melly. Meet your daddy. He was my daddy first, but I don’t mind sharing. I promise you, he’ll be the bestest daddy to you.”
Jasper pressed a kiss to her head before carefully placing her in my arms. She was so tiny. How could something so little hold so much weight? My entire world shifted at the sight of her. “Hi, Melly.” Her name lodged in my throat, I barely managed to get it out around the emotion choking me.
Melina Russo. Jasper had been the one to pick her name.
It meant “little honey,” but was often used in relation to queen bees.
And this little girl would undoubtedly rule our hive.
I was already willing to do whatever she needed.
I shook my head with wonder, in complete awe to be holding our daughter.
Jasper leaned up and kissed me before pressing another kiss to Melly’s head. He checked on Sarah, and I could hear them talking, but all I could focus on was the perfect little girl in my arms.
I brought her over to Sarah. We’d had a discussion as part of the delivery plan, so I knew she wanted to have a little time with her.
Sarah held the baby and stared at her. “You are so loved, little one, I hope you always remember that. You have a really nice family and I know they are going to take such good care of you. You were born out of love.”
Jasper tucked against my side, and I drew him in tight, as we watched this woman breathe this blessing into our daughter. She was a precious gift. They both were. The child and the woman who brought her to us.
“Thank you, Sarah. It doesn’t seem big enough, but thank you.”
She smiled and handed Melina back to Jasper. “Thank you for letting me be a part of this.”
“We’re going to get Sarah cleaned up now.
If you have any family that would like to visit, you can tell them we’ll be in room four-forty-one.
A nurse will escort you, and while you wait for us to bring you a bottle, I would suggest some skin-to-skin contact, it’s an important part of the bonding process. ”
They put a tiny little wristband on Melly’s hand, and gave Jasper and I matching ones. The nurse scanned them to confirm they matched, and she escorted us down the hall to a private room.
After a little while, a knock sounded on the door. I looked up to see Eduardo, and my full heart got even fuller. “Can we come in?”
“Yes! Yes, come in.”
Eduardo entered, followed by Yahir, Nicky, Noah, and Frankie. All of my kids in one room. They gathered around the chair where Jasper was sitting with Melina on his bare chest.
“I’d like you all to meet your sister.”
They were all careful not to disturb the resting baby, but they fawned all over Jasper and kept getting close enough to peer over his shoulder and look down at her.
I couldn’t be more proud to see my family together as they embraced the newest member.
This little girl was going to be so loved, not just by us, but by her siblings, too.
I could imagine Nicky braiding her hair, and Noah reading books to her.
Frankie making cookies with her. Yahir would be the goofy brother that would play with her until she passed out, and Eduardo.
I sighed at the sight of them, my oldest and my youngest kids together.
He was going to watch over her and protect her, and the two of them were probably going to come up with some really great ideas.
Jasper looked up and met my gaze through watery eyes. I mouthed, “I love you.”
He sniffled and replied back, “I love you, too.”