Chapter Thirty-Four
Chantel
The precious baby girl slept soundly in her father’s arms. The father whose genetics didn’t make her, but whose heart would shape her.
Caleb was fully invested. He always had been, even before he knew she existed.
Just like I knew he would be.
He was awe-inspiring. And even though he wasn’t the reason I’d pursued medicine, he was my continued inspiration to never give it up.
“What are you going to name her?” I whispered.
“Not sure yet.” He yawned, the toll of the longest day of his life finally catching up with him.
“Let me take her. You should get some sleep.”
Without argument, he placed his brand-new, nameless daughter in my arms, then climbed into the hospital bed beside Zadie. She was already sleeping soundly, and he curled around her like he’d been doing it his whole life.
He’d made quite the spectacle, dropping to one knee minutes after they’d placed the baby in Zadie’s arms. The ring had been in his pocket for months, apparently. Prince fucking Charming had every nurse on the floor swooning, and Zadie had sobbed so hard they’d almost called the doctor back in.
She’d said yes, obviously. The diamond was a simple three-stone setting, but it caught the fluorescent light every time she shifted in her sleep, flashing like a tiny beacon on her finger.
“Viens, ma belle,” I cooed, adjusting the bundle against my chest. “Let’s go see some people.”
I carried her to the waiting area, savoring the weight of her. So small. So new. So completely unaware of the chaos she’d been born into and the extraordinary number of people who already loved her.
For Zadie and Caleb, this little girl would be their one and only. Their single chance to bring life into the world. Their one shot at building a family from scratch.
Incroyable.
“Who’ve you got there?” Dylan’s voice was a low hum as I settled into the chair beside him.
“She’s nameless.”
“She’s pretty.” He ran his finger over her tiny hand, his touch impossibly gentle for a man built like a weapon. “So small.”
“She’s perfect.”
“Guess she didn’t get too many of her sperm donor’s genes. Probably a good thing.”
“Where is he?” I scanned the room, even though I already knew he wasn’t here.
“Don’t know. I’ve called him. A few times now. But you know how he likes to ignore me.”
“Should I try?”
“Enchanté.” His brow furrowed, the old endearment landing softly between us. “He knew this day was coming. If he wanted to be here, he would be.”
Fucking Sean. Always messing things up. Messing everything up.
“I hope Zadie’s not disappointed by him again.” The thought of my best friend being let down one more time made my stomach clench. He’d already hurt her so thoroughly.
And so had I.
“I think she’s well past counting on him,” Dylan said, his voice low but edged with steel. “You’re the only one who still has expectations for Sean. Maybe it’s time you let go too.”
“Maybe.” I sighed and kissed the top of the baby’s head. She smelled like milk and warmth and the beginning of everything. “Did you get ahold of my aunt?”
“Yeah. Sylvie’s on her way. She’s going to lose her mind over this baby.”
“Wait until she sees the ring on Zadie’s finger and finds out her youngest is getting married. She’ll really lose it then.”
“Yes, she will.” He stroked my hand, his thumb lingering over my bare ring finger. The empty space where a band should sit. “That’ll be a fun wedding.”
“Most definitely.”
“You going to wear that blue dress again?” His voice dropped to something private. “I’d like to watch you dance in it. And then take it off you after.”
“I just might.” I leaned into him, smiling as the memory surfaced—midnight sky, his hand in mine, the feeling of finally being seen by the only person whose eyes had ever mattered.
My mind was still drifting in that warmth when Sean came stumbling into the room.
Wild, untamed, classic Sean. For a moment, the way he staggered made my pulse spike. But it wasn’t alcohol fueling him. And it wasn’t anything chemical. It was pure, unfiltered, nervous terror.
“Is that...?” He stared at the baby in my arms like he was looking at something holy.
“Yes.” I held his gaze. “This is your daughter.”
He lowered his big, familiar body into the empty chair beside me. He barely acknowledged me or Dylan—too enchanted by the tiny face peeking out of the blanket. So I turned and placed her in his waiting arms.
Sean was not who he showed the world. Zadie had never known the real man beneath the obnoxious charm and the reckless, self-destructive choices. How could she? He’d already been lost when they’d met.
But I knew him. All of him. All too well.
As he held the child he’d helped create, I watched something I hadn’t expected. Sean, a man who’d been shattered for as long as I’d known him, looked whole. Even if just for this moment, it was long enough to make a difference.
This baby. One tiny, perfect girl. She’d already done what none of us could. She’d started healing the people who would love her. Brought light into lives that had been stumbling through the dark for too long.
Dylan’s arm settled around my shoulders. His mouth found my ear.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “But I still love you.”
The last jagged piece of my heart slid back into place.
Zadie came into the room, exhausted and glowing, with Caleb close behind. He had his hand on the small of her back, guiding her even though she didn’t need guiding.
They looked down at their sleeping daughter in Sean’s arms. Zadie’s hand found Caleb’s. Their fingers laced together.
“What’s her name?” Sean asked, still mesmerized.
“Her name,” Zadie whispered, “is Hope.”