Vaelí Means Clover
—EDEN
His legs buckle beneath him, and he crashes to his knees in front of me, arms wrapping around my waist so tightly I gasp. He nuzzles my belly with his skull. A sob escapes him as he presses kisses against the place our daughter sleeps.
“You’re still here.” His forehead falls against the curve of my stomach. “Both of you.”
A broken laugh escapes him. It lasts barely a second before collapsing into another sob.
His trembling hand slides over my belly.
“Hello, my little shadow,” he whispers, blue tears dripping onto my dress. As though she’d been waiting to hear his voice again, a tiny heel answers from within. He laughs through another sob.
“I told you,” he murmurs. “Daddy would make it.”
My hands find the sides of his skull, burying my fingers into the thick shadow hair at his nape. “I would live every lifetime exactly the same way… if it always led me back to this,” I murmur.
He plucks a single clover from my hair and brushes it over my cheek.
“You asked us once what Vaelí meant.”
I nod, leaning into his touch.
“I told you I’d tell you when the time was right.”
“I remember.” I smile softly. “You never did.”
He looks at the clover between his claws.
“I finally can.” His thumb trails along my jaw.
“Vaelí means clover.” His gaze drifts to the swollen curve of my belly. “That’s why… I named our daughter Vaelína.” His eyes find mine again. “Because the first name you ever gave us…” He folds the frost-kissed clover into my palm. “... was home.”