Chapter Twenty-Three Ava
E ight and a Half Months Later
As an agonized scream tore from my lips, pain charged like a locomotive through my abdomen. Fuck my epidural that had worn off about two hours ago. This agony wasn’t how I saw things going when I made my birth plan. But like everything with this pregnancy, nothing happened like it was supposed to.
Somehow I blinked and the months flew by. It seemed one minute I clutched the pregnancy test results in my hand in the bathroom at Taverna by the Sea, and the next my water was breaking while I was on a conference call. That life-altering moment had been followed by frantic calls to my parents and Nick. Despite all the craziness, I’d managed to get to the hospital safe and sound and in record time.
Now twelve hours since arriving, I was emotionally and physically overought. I collapsed back against the pillows as tears streaked down my cheeks.
“Just one more push, Ava,” the doctor said from her place between my legs.
My energy was completely spent. I didn’t think I could raise my head again, least of all push a baby out of me. “I can’t,” I choked out.
“Yes, you fucking can,” Nick’s voice assured me from my left side.
“Easy for you to say,” I argued feebly.
Before he could utter a comeback, Mom’s face appeared in my line of sight. With a reassuring smile, she said, “ To écheis aftó gennaío korítsi mou.”
It was rare for her to speak Greek to me. To tell me I had this, and I was her brave girl was everything I needed. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Raising up, I gripped my knees while I tucked my chin to my chest. With a guttural groan, I pinched my eyes shut as I put everything I had within me into that push. And in that moment, one face flashed before my eyes.
Dare’s.
He didn’t wear his usual cocky smirk. It was the one I only saw him give to me. One of worship and adoration.
For an instant, the pain echoing through my chest outweighed the pain in my abdomen. Despite everything that had gone down between us, I suddenly wished more than anything that he was here witnessing his child be born. “What have I done?” I murmured as the contraction began to ebb.
“It’s a girl!”
A sob tore through my chest as my eyes popped wide to stare up at the wailing, bloodied baby in the doctor’s arms. “Really?” I questioned.
Unlike most moms-to-be, I had foregone finding out the gender. Instead, I decided to keep it a surprise until the very end. Although I would’ve loved a boy just as much, I’d often thought over my pregnancy how much easier it would be to parent a girl on my own. Not that a son wouldn’t have had my dad, Nick, and my other nephews for role models.
But somehow I always saw a girl.
When they placed her on my stomach, tears streamed down my cheeks. As the nurse continued wiping her off, I stared in disbelief.
I had a daughter.
Dare and I had a daughter.
And she was utterly breathtaking. The cutest little nose and button lips along with chubby cheeks that I couldn’t wait to bestow kisses on. “Oh my beautiful girl,” I murmured as the sobs overcame me.
In that moment, I never knew how much I would love her. Words could never properly describe the emotions overflowing with me. What had started as somewhat of a burden was now the greatest blessing I could receive.
At the same time, a fierce protectiveness came over me. Whatever I’d felt for Dare a moment ago quickly evaporated. I would do everything within my power to keep her from danger, and that meant keeping her away from her father’s world.
“You did it, sweetheart,” Mom murmured as she kissed my temple.
Swiping my eyes, I said, “I did good, didn’t I?”
She smiled down at me. “I’m so proud of you.”
With a grin, Nick said, “So am I. Seriously, women truly are the stronger sex. I mean, that whole passing a watermelon through a lemon sized hole is insane.”
Mom and I laughed. “Thank you for the compliments,” I mused.
After the nurse removed the towel she’d been wiping the baby’s head with, Mom gasped while Nick sucked in a breath.
She had red hair.
Immediately, the shade reminded me of Dare’s mother and sister. I don’t know why it was such a surprise. Half of her DNA came from Dare, so it made sense she would have his physical traits.
As I peered into her face, I searched my daughter’s features for more of her father’s. Even though it was still early, I could tell I’d given birth to Dare’s twin. And damn if it wasn’t a kick in the chest.
When I glanced up at Mom and Nick, I could tell they were thinking the same thing. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She’s the prettiest baby I ever saw,” Mom cooed.
“Seriously, Yaya? I’m standing right here,” Nick teased.
Pink dotted Mom’s cheeks. “The prettiest baby girl I ever saw,” she corrected.
“I’ll be sure to tell Dani and Lexiewhat you said.”
“Stop it,” Mom replied, swatting Nick’s arm.
Jerking my chin at Nick, I said, “Isn’t she the prettiest baby you’ve ever seen?”
“Absolutely.” With a wink, he added, “Considering she has two gorgeous parents, she didn’t have much of a chance at being ugly.”
While I laughed, Mom’s lips fretted. I wondered if there would ever come a time when she didn’t react to mentions of Dare. The moment of tension was broken by the doctor finishing stitching me up and heading out of the room.
“Now that the baby is here and you’re all fixed up, why don’t I go get your father?” Mom asked.
“That sounds good.”
Although I wouldn’t have minded my father being in the delivery room, he had balked at the idea. He was old school in so many ways.
As soon as Mom slipped out the door, Nick asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to call him?”
“I’m sure.” At his sigh, I shook my head. “Did you really think I would change my mind?”
Nodding, he replied, “I thought holding her in your arms might soften your resolve.”
“Holding her just makes me all the more protective.”
“Dare would never hurt you or his daughter.”
“Deep down, I know that. It’s what his world could do to us that’s my issue.”
“I still think you’re making a mistake.”
“Maybe I am. But it’s mine to make, Vον?? .”
His brows shot up in surprise. “You want me to be her godfather?”
“Was there any other choice?,” I teased.
“You have six other nieces and nephews.”
“You’re the only one for me.”
Tears pooled in his eyes. “Flatterer,” he mused.
“I try.”
Gesturing to the baby, Nick said, “I’m sure she’s going to have me wrapped around her little finger.”
“I’m sure she will.”
Dad poked his head in the door then. “Is it okay to come in?”
I laughed. “Yes, I’m decent.”
“Good.”
He and Mom made a beeline across the room to my bed. Instead of zeroing in on the baby, he leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Did you finally decide on a name?” Mom asked.
“It’s still a toss up between Phoebe and Chloe.”
“Oh I adore Chloe,” Mom said at the same time Dad said, “Phoebe is a classic Greek name.”
While playfully rolling my eyes, I joked, “You two are no help.”
Jerking his chin at Nick, Dad asked, “What’s your vote?”
“I still say she needs to give her an American name.” With a pointed look, he added, “One that isn’t Greek or Irish.”
At the mention of the baby’s paternity, Mom suddenly became obsessed with the bow on my daughter’s cap while Dad cleared his throat and stared down at the floor. Shooting Nick a look, I mouthed, “Asshole.”
He merely winked at me. The baby must’ve noticed the shift in the room’s vibes because she let out an ear-piercing shriek before ratcheting up with cries. “What’s wrong, my love?” I crooned as I shifted her in my arms.
“She’s got some hella loud pipes,” Nick remarked with a grimace.
“Maybe she’ll be a singer,” Dad mused.
“Are you our little piper?” Mom asked, as she ran her finger across the baby’s cheek.
“Yes, she is an excellent piper,” I laughed. And then it hit me. “Piper,” I murmured.
“What about it?”
“That’s what I’m going to name her.”
“Seriously?” Nick asked.
With a nod, I replied, “It’s important for a girl that she not only has a strong voice, but she isn’t afraid to use it.”
Smiling, Dad replied, “You might regret encouraging that when she becomes a teenager.”
“Probably,” I laughed.
“So is it Piper Chloe Carras?” Mom suggested. It didn’t escape me that she included my last name and not Dare’s.
I shook my head. “Piper Helena.”
Mom’s hand flew to her mouth. “You want to name her for me?”
“You’re my mother. Who else would I name her after but the most important woman in my life?”
When a sob choked off in her throat, Dad wrapped an arm around Mom’s shoulder. “It’s a well-deserved honor.”
She swiped her cheeks. “Truly.”
In that moment, I once again told myself that I was making the right decision for myself and my daughter by not allowing her a place in her father’s dangerous world.