Chapter 38
Present
Upper-East Side, New York City
I received the phone call on May first, at three in the afternoon.
Matteo and I rushed to buy a bouquet of pink peonies before making it to our destination – Mount Sinai Hospital on Madison Avenue, Upper-East Side.
My heels clicked against the floor as we hurried towards one of the private Suites, my hand interlocked with Matteo’s.
We made it in front of the door just as Maria and Zach arrived form another corridor, Zane already waiting outside for us.
I froze for half a second outside the suite, my pulse thudding louder than the soft hospital hum around us. The hallway smelled faintly of antiseptic and fresh flowers – peonies everywhere, pale pink against crisp white walls. Matteo squeezed my hand, grounding me.
Maria tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes bright. “Did it happen?”
Zane, already posted by the door like a proud sentry, nodded.
“She’s here,” he said quietly, a smile breaking through his usual composure. “Healthy baby girl. Kali’s inside with Trevor and Natalia.”
Something warm bloomed in my chest.
We knocked softly, almost ceremonially, and pushed the door open.
The world inside felt hushed and glowing – lights dimmed, curtains half-drawn to let in the late afternoon sun. Natalia looked up immediately, soft exhaustion etched into her features, but she was radiant with happiness.
Trevor sat on the edge of the bed beside her, completely undone. His entire focus was on Natalia and the tiny bundle in her arms, wrapped in soft white and pink.
We stepped in slowly, instinctively lowering our voices, smiles spreading without effort.
“Hey,” Natalia whispered, her voice hoarse but happy.
Maria’s eyes filled instantly. Kali pressed a hand to her mouth. I felt tears sting mine before I even realized I was crying.
We gathered around the bed, careful and reverent. One by one, the girls leaned in. Maria kissed Natalia’s cheek first, murmuring something only she could hear. Kali followed, then me – I brushed a kiss against Natalia’s temple, giving her a hug.
“How do you feel?” I whispered. “You’re okay?”
Natalia nodded, smiling. “I’m perfect.”
Only then did we turn our attention fully to the baby girl.
She slept peacefully, lashes dark against flushed cheeks, lips pursed in a tiny, serious pout. A whole person. My heart clenched at the sight.
For a moment, nothing else existed – just love.
Natalia’s smile widened as she looked around at all of us, eyes shining despite the exhaustion. She adjusted the blanket in her arms, careful and reverent, and spoke softly, like she was introducing us to something sacred.
“Everyone,” she said, voice warm and proud, “Meet Amaya Rose Moretti-Su.”
Zach smiled down at Maria, gentle in a way that still surprised me, rubbing slow circles over her lower back as if anchoring her. I watched Maria for a moment – her mascara smudged, tears streaking through her makeup – and then I looked back at the baby.
My chest tightened.
“She is beautiful, Natalia,” I said quietly, my own eyes burning. “Absolutely perfect.”
Trevor leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to the top of Natalia’s head, his voice thick with emotion. “You did so good, my love.”
Everyone spoke at once then – soft praise, whispered congratulations, checking in on Natalia, asking how she felt, if she needed anything. She nodded, smiling through it all, basking in the warmth like she deserved.
“Okay,” Kali said, already beaming, “My turn!”
Natalia laughed softly and passed Amaya to her. Kali cradled the baby with surprising gentleness, her tough edges melting instantly. She looked down at Amaya with a grin.
“Hi, little warrior,” she murmured. “I’m your favorite aunt. I’m gonna teach you how to fight.”
Trevor snorted. “You better.”
Kali ignored him, already pacing carefully around the bed, bringing Amaya to each of us like a precious offering. When she reached me, I leaned in, heart fluttering, taking in the tiny fingers, the soft baby smell, the quiet, steady breaths.
Maria stayed by Natalia’s side, brushing damp hair away from her face, fingers tender and familiar. The noise of the room faded around them as they talked softly – catching up, laughing quietly, tears and smiles blending together. Sisters.
I watched them, warmth blooming in my chest, knowing we were witnessing the start of something new. Not just a life – but a family reshaping itself, softer and stronger all at once.
Matteo drifted toward Trevor with Zach and Zane, their voices low and warm, the kind of conversation men only have when something in them has shifted permanently. Trevor looked wrecked in the best way – soft-eyed, smiling too much, nodding like life had finally made sense.
I sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, and Kali immediately passed Amaya into my arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The moment Amaya settled against my chest, something in me stilled. She was warm and impossibly light, her tiny body curled in trust, one small hand fisted into the fabric of my sleeve. Love hit me fast and clean – sharp enough to steal my breath.
I looked at Kali, and she looked back at me, both of us softened, undone.
“Oh,” I breathed. “Hi, Amaya.”
She sighed in her sleep, lashes fluttering, and my heart cracked wide open.
I glanced up without thinking – and caught Matteo watching me.
His expression was unguarded, reverent, full of something deep and frighteningly tender. Like he was seeing a future unfold in front of him and didn’t want to blink in case it disappeared.
Earlier that week.
We were in bed, tangled in white sheets, the city humming far below us. Matteo had been tracing lazy patterns along my ribs, voice low and deceptively casual.
“Have you ever thought about kids?” he asked.
I giggled immediately. “Don’t even think about it! Absolutely not. I’m twenty-five, Matteo. No way.”
He smiled, unfazed. “Not now. One day.”
I rolled onto my stomach, pointing a finger at his chest. “Future Francesca can think about that. Present Francesca is busy.”
For days after, he’d teased me – never pushing, just playful comments, raised brows, that infuriating smirk. I’d kept him at arm’s length with a figurative stick, pretending not to notice how obsessed he was with me. How easily he could consume me if I let him.
Back to present
An hour ago, I thought I was too young.
But sitting here, holding Amaya, feeling her against my heart, seeing Matteo look at me like that –
Maybe I was ready.
Matteo’s mouth curved slowly, knowingly. Like he’d read every thought in my head.
I rolled my eyes at him, unable to stop the smile that followed, then looked back down at the baby in my arms.
“Don’t get any ideas,” I whispered to Amaya softly.
She slept on, blissfully unaware.
But my heart?
My heart had already begun to change.
Several quiet moments passed, the room settling into a softer rhythm. Maria finally pulled back from Natalia, wiping beneath her eyes and laughing under her breath as if embarrassed by how undone she was. We switched places carefully – Maria easing onto the edge of the bed as I stepped aside.
She took Amaya into her arms with reverence, Zach immediately moving closer, one hand steadying the baby’s back like it was instinct rather than thought. He smiled down at them, something peaceful and certain in his expression.
Kali and I turned our attention back to Natalia, who looked more relaxed now, propped against pillows, cheeks still flushed but glowing.
“Are you and Trevor staying overnight?” I asked softly.
Trevor shook his head. “Couple more hours. Then we’re heading home. Private doctor’s already arranged.”
Natalia nodded. “I just want her in her own crib tonight.”
“Of course. What about Richard and Maya?” I asked, glancing between them.
“They already came by,” Natalia said. “They left a little while ago – said they’ll come over to the townhouse later.”
I nodded, then hesitated. The question hovered on my tongue – your dad – but I swallowed it back. This was her moment. I wouldn’t shadow it with old wounds.
Natalia looked down at Amaya in Maria’s arms, her expression shifting – thoughtful, steady.
“And actually…” she said quietly. “We’re going to invite my dad, too.”
I blinked, surprised. “Really?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Carmen and Kim will be here soon. I know they’ll be happy to hear.”
Something warm and fierce swelled in my chest. I reached out and squeezed her hand gently.
“I’m proud of you, Nat,” I said. “That takes a lot.”
She smiled, eyes glassy but calm. Trevor leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
I would be the luckiest person in the world if I ended up half as happy as both of them made each other.