Chapter 69
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Noah
The events of the past ten days feel like a distant memory, now she’s in my arms. The team and I moved mountains to get out of the country we were in.
When our helicopter was taken out, and we crash landed, we knew we only had a limited amount of time, and few resources to get to safety.
Our time was spent moving under the blanket of night, bribing locals for lifts, weapons, anything we might need to get to a safety checkpoint, and then get out of the country.
I wanted to call Tori, get a message to her that I was okay and safe. I can’t imagine the stress and worry she has had placed upon her, but now I have the rest of my life to make it up to her and our daughter.
At the thought of our daughter, I become aware of just how close Tori’s body is pressed to mine and the lack of baby bump separating us, and my heart sinks.
I missed it.
I missed my daughter being born, a moment I’ll never get back.
“Tori, baby, I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t make it home in time. I tried. I tried so hard to get back to you.” My confession spills out of me.
She cups my face and shushes me softly. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. We’re okay. You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
The strength and resilience of this woman never cease to amaze me, and I am so lucky I get to call her mine.
“There’s somebody you need to meet.” She takes my hand, leading me towards the couch. It’s then I notice that everyone else has left the room, likely giving us the space to have a moment together, and I’m grateful they have.
I recognize the pink gingham bassinette we chose together, and as I approach it, my palms grow sweaty, and a thick lump rises in my throat in anticipation of laying eyes on my daughter for the first time.
I peer over the edge of the bassinette, and there she lies, looking like a real life angel. Dressed in white, tucked under a pink blanket, is my daughter, and something in my chest explodes.
Tori leans down to pick her up and holds her out to me.
“Noah, meet your daughter.”
When I cradle her in my arms, she wiggles to get comfortable and makes a soft whimper.
She steals not only my breath but my heart, and I know I’d die for this little girl.
I’d protect her so fiercely and love her endlessly.
Everything I did to get back here was worth it, and I’d do it all over again to experience this very moment.
I stare at her in awe. Her little button nose like Tori’s, dark lashes, and a thick mop of dark hair on her head. She is perfect, and I can’t believe she’s mine.
“She’s beautiful,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “Have you named her?”
Tori shakes her head, “I wanted to wait until you got home, so she’s just been baby girl Jones.”
I smile down at her, a little choked that Tori has already given her the surname Jones. It’s not something we had really discussed, but something I had hoped for. I want both my girls to have my name.
“I do have a name in mind though.”
I look up at Tori as tears fill her eyes. “Oh yeah?”
“Faith.” The name sounds poetic, and oh so perfect for our angel.
Because throughout this whole experience, and truthfully, my life, having faith that everything was going to work out in the end was the only thing that kept me alive.
I smile down at our daughter, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, inhaling her scent, and wanting to bottle it up.
“Hello, Faith, I’m your daddy.”
I stroke the back of her tiny hand with my index finger, her skin so soft and delicate under my touch.
She squirms, flexing her little hand, and when her tiny fingers wrap around my finger, I’m gone.
I let the emotions flow and hot tears roll down my cheeks.
I press a kiss to the tip of her button nose and whisper, “Thank you for saving me.”