Chapter 59
Addison
“ I ’m outside,” said Daniel through the phone. I smiled and walked swiftly to the window.
There he was, leaning against the town car in that effortlessly casual way, but instead of his suit, he wore jeans and a sweater.
He must have felt my eyes on him because he looked up and grinned, making my heart pitter-patter.
I wondered if I would ever get used to the sight of him, or if I would permanently feel this combination of goosebumps, jitters, and a racing heart.
“Be right down,” I said before hanging up.
“You going to go see baby?” asked Monica from the couch that had been her bed for several weeks.
I nodded.
After Bridgette was born four weeks ago, Daniel and I were able to stay a few more nights at the hospital, but eventually we had to leave to make room for other patients.
I wished we could have stayed there forever, or at least until Bridgette was released, but that wasn’t how things with preemie babies worked.
It was the most painful thing ever to leave the hospital knowing she wasn’t coming with me.
Daniel practically had to pry my hands off of her incubator and held me as I sobbed through the hallways.
He took me back to his place to comfort me and I stayed for a few nights before going back to my apartment in Brooklyn with Monica.
He only let me because he knew I wouldn’t be alone.
Since then, it had been a waiting game. Daniel came and picked me up from Brooklyn every morning with a cup of coffee, instead of tea.
It felt so reminiscent of our first weeks together that it made me smile as we drove the long stretch back to Manhattan.
Almost the entire time we would talk about Bridgette and wondering if that would be the day she could be released.
In the other moments, we got to know each other more.
I learned more about his childhood. His vivacious mother and his serious father.
A match that was likely to combust and everyone betted on it, yet it worked.
Their wildly different personalities meshed well together like a pair of hands that were meant to hold each other.
I could tell from the way Daniel spoke about them that he was very fond of them, but since they lived in Europe, he didn’t see them very much.
Little by little, I was discovering the different pieces of Daniel, and he was discovering mine. It was as if we were putting together our own puzzles, even though we fit together seamlessly.
When Daniel saw me step out of the building, he walked swiftly toward me and wrapped his arms around my lower back as I looked up at him.
He just stared at me for a moment before gliding his hand up the length of my spine to the back of my head, gently tilting my face up toward him before meeting my mouth with his.
I felt the breath leave my body as I leaned into him.
He pulled away and stroked my cheeks with his thumbs. “Are you ready to go see our girl?”
“Mhmm,” I said, still trying to right myself after his kiss.
Armand opened the car door and Daniel and I slid inside the backseat. As the car pulled away from the curb and began its journey to Manhattan, I lay my head on Daniel’s shoulder.
“Do you think today is the day?” I murmured.
“I have a good feeling,” he said.
I did too, but I was trying not to get my hopes up.
Last week, Bridgette was able to be taken from the incubator and weaned into an open crib.
It was a huge development and the doctor had told us it wouldn’t be long now.
Today she was just past thirty-seven weeks and had already grown so much.
She didn’t even look like the tiny baby we had met all those weeks ago.
Her fingers were plumper and her cheeks were rounder.
The doctor said she was strong. A tough cookie.
Daniel made sure to let the doctor know that she took after me.
Instead of our usual chatter on the drive, we remained mostly silent. A bundle of anticipation. When we arrived at the hospital, we walked hand in hand up to the NICU. The nurses all said their hellos. They had grown used to us being here every day.
When we arrived to the special care nursery, we rushed over to see Bridgette, who was playing with her fingers and looking up at a cloud mobile that hung above her crib.
“Good morning, beautiful girl,” said Daniel.
Bridgette turned to him and cooed.
I gently picked her up and gave her a hug, swaying as I held her and breathing in her perfect newborn scent.
“Ahhh. Addison. Daniel. You’re here,” said the doctor, walking in with a smile that I tried to dissect. Hoping today was the day.
“As always.” Daniel chuckled as he ran his finger over Bridgette’s cheek.
“I have good news,” said the doctor.
My breath caught. I looked at her hopefully.
She nodded, as if to answer my question. “Today is the day.”
I could already feel the tears streaming down my face as Daniel held Bridgette and me to him. I barely registered what the doctor was saying because my head kept echoing…
Today is the day.
Life could begin for us three. Really begin.
We spent the next several hours waiting to be discharged. It was a lengthier process given Bridgette’s history. The nurse also had to take us through care instructions. I didn’t care though. We got to take our baby home today.
Around 4 o’clock, we carried Bridgette out of the hospital for what I prayed would be the very last time.
Armand had insisted on setting up her car seat in the town car and was waiting at the curb for us.
When he saw me holding Bridgette, I could have sworn his eyes had teared up.
I positioned her so he could get a better look.
“She’s beautiful,” he whispered.
Those were definite tears.
“Thank you, Armand. Thank you for everything,” I said, and I leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
His face turned red as he opened the door for Daniel and me.
We gently eased Bridgette in the car seat and took too long making sure everything was just right before we began our drive to my place in Brooklyn.
The whole time we stared at our beautiful girl who sat between us, drifting off to sleep by the lull of the car.
When we got to my building, Armand came around and helped us out of the car.
We unstrapped Bridgette from the car seat and Daniel scooped her up.
She looked like a pink fuzzy teddy bear in his strong arms. The contrast was the sweetest thing I had ever seen.
She yawned and blinked a few times as she realized the change of scenery.
“Welcome home, baby girl,” I said.
I opened the door to the building and we carried Bridgette up to the second floor. I unlocked my door and pushed the door open. I slightly stumbled backward as I saw what was inside.
There were pink roses everywhere. On the tables, the counters, lined against the walls.
There was a white balloon arch above every window.
There was an array of desserts on my small dining room table.
Powdered donuts, chocolate croissants, berry tarts.
But besides all of that, there were friends and family.
Monica stood in the center of the room with a glass of champagne in hand, grinning cheek to cheek.
Next to her were my parents, and on the other side of her was who I could only assume was Daniel’s brother.
Shelley was also there, and a few old coworkers from the nonprofit. Freddy and Virginia.
“Since you never had a baby shower,” said Daniel softly in my ear.
I looked up at him and just shook my head in awe.
“Is this… is this…okay? For…” I looked to Bridgette.
He nodded reassuringly. “I talked to the doctor today. She’s strong enough.”
I felt a wave of relief.
After I greeted everyone and gave them all hugs, Daniel placed Bridgette gently in my arms and put his hand on my lower back as he guided me further into my small apartment.
I went to Monica first, who cried when I handed her Bridgette.
She cradled her in her arms and rocked her back and forth, taking her all in.
“She’s perfect. Just perfect,” she murmured.
“Did you do all of this?” I asked, looking around.
Monica nodded. “With a little help.” She looked up at Daniel and winked. “It was his idea.”
“You two?” I pointed between them in surprise.
“We’re besties now,” said Daniel with a laugh.
My mouth dropped open slightly as Daniel went to grab two glasses of champagne from a table nearby. He returned quickly and handed me one.
“I’d like to make a toast,” he said.
Everyone turned their attention to him.
“To Heart. Er, Addison. The strongest woman I know. I don’t know how I deserve you, but I will never take one single day with you for granted. I love you for the woman you are, and now for the mother you are. Cheers everyone.”
He raised his glass and everyone followed suit.
I looked up at him with teary eyes as we both took a sip of champagne.
“I love you,” I said, standing on my tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek.
“I love you,” he said.
He stared at me a moment longer before looking around the party proudly. I saw his eyes land on Brody and Freddy. I knew he was eager for them to meet Bridgette. I scooped her from Monica’s arms and handed her to Daniel.
“Go,” I said, giving him a nudge. “Go introduce her to her uncles.”
He looked at me and down at her before walking over proudly to his friends.
“The whole dad thing looks good on him,” said Monica.
“It does, doesn’t it?” I sighed, taking another sip of champagne.
I admired him for a moment, already thinking about getting him alone later tonight. If we would have a chance for that now that we were a family of three. We had so much to navigate, but I was eager to do it together.
I turned to Monica. My best friend who had done so much for me during everything. I wanted to thank her, but I stopped myself when I caught something in her eye. I hadn’t seen that look in a really long time.
“Monica?” I asked curiously.
“Hmm?” she said dreamily.
“Whatcha thinking about?” I asked, nudging her.
She giggled. Actually giggled. Monica, the bulldog acting like a giddy character from one of her novels.
“Monica…”
“Okay, okay. I met someone…”
“Oh, my gosh!” I squealed. “When? How? What? Who?”
“Calm down, calm down.” She laughed as she put her hands up.
“This is crazy,” I whispered, after I realized people were looking.
“I know. At first, I thought the whole thing between you and Daniel was crazy, but then…”
I waited for her to finish, but she shook her head.
“I’ll tell you everything later. This is your day,” she said.
I pulled her in for a hug. “You better.”
We made our way over to where Daniel was now surrounded by his brother, Freddy, and my parents all admiring Bridgette.
Never would I have ever pictured all of these people in a room together, but here we were.
It was one of those moments you wanted to take a mental snapshot of and keep forever. I would never forget this.