Page 143 of Mine to Worship

He huffs. “So you wanna tell me you know which one is yours?”

“Of course.”

He eyes me, doubt crossing his features.

“Look for the most beautiful one,” Aubrey says.

“But they are all beautiful,” Jason replies with a shrug.

“That’s the one.” Kendrick and my mother-in-law point to a baby in the middle, our baby and I nod, the emotion of seeing her knocking the breath out of me.

“Ohhh.”

A collective gasp follows, and she pushes her small hands and legs in the air, face beet red from crying. I am one second away of bursting through the fucking door. The nurse goes to her, and picks her up, and my daughter falls asleep in her arms.

“Oh man, good luck, she’s already spoiled and demanding attention, just like you,” Jason says with a grin.

“No, she’s nothing like me, she’s perfect.”

Chapter 44

Ellia

I open my eyes to see the most beautiful smile painted on my husband’s face and emotions spread their wings inside me. I look around and panic grips me. I scoot upright and Kian rushes to me.

“They’ll bring her in a moment.”

The door opens with a nurse wheeling my baby in the hospital bassinet. I stretch my arms out and she gives her to me.

“Kira’s even more beautiful than I remembered,” I coo.

All wrinkles and the white spots are gone, in their place a soft, divine smelling baby, my baby, our baby.

I lift my hospital gown and her mouth seeks my nipple, latching on right away. I lift my eyes to Kian, and my eyes well up at the love reflecting in his. This feels surreal.

“You’re a natural,” the nurse praises me, and I place Kira on the other side. I burp her and she falls asleep.

“That’s normal,” the nurse adds, and Kian carefully picks Kira from my arms and places her in the crib next to my bed.

“Press the button if you need anything,” she adds, leaving us alone.

“I’ll let your parents come in,” Kian says.

Mom and Dad step inside. When they bend over the crib to peer at their granddaughter, their hands fly to their mouths.

“She is so beautiful. How are you feeling, honey?”

“I am good, really good,” I admit, and my mom and I exchange knowing looks, mother to mother.

When they leave, our friends bolt through the door, the girls hopping next to me.

“Congratulations, Momma. She’s precious,” Aubrey says.

“She is, isn’t she? And not just because she is mine…”

“So?” Aubrey looks at me and I give in.

“The pain is atrocious,” I say and the color in Aubrey’s face drains, and I add, “But when you hold your baby, that first moment, nothing else matters, it’s just gone.”

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