Page 139 of Falling in Love with Two

“Luna!” I stop him. “I love that.”

“Luna it is.”

forty-seven

You did Good

Dylan

I’m a dad.

Holy shit, that sounds weird to say even in my head. I didn’t know how long it would take me to bond with Luna, but now that she’s here, it was almost immediate. I can’t believe I can love something so much when I’ve barely spent any time with her.

Scratch that. I can believe it. Look how fast I fell for her mom.

After working with a nurse to try to breastfeed all night, Leah finally fell asleep a couple hours ago. The nurse offered to take Luna to the nursery so that I could rest too, but I opted to keep her in here with me. I can sleep later.

After Leah passed out, I grabbed the remote to find something to watch, but I haven’t touched it since. I’ve just been staring at Luna.

Leah says she looks just like me, but I see some of Leah in her too—especially when she gets mad. She gets the same stubborn, angry look on her face. I don’t dare say that, though. I don’t need Leah making the face at me.

Seeing Leah go through the c-section was terrifying. I tried to keep a brave face for her to try to keep her calm, but I’ve never been so scared in my life. She made me promise that if any decisions needed to be made, I would pick the baby over her. At the time, I didn’t know if I could follow through with that promise. Now, I’m glad it didn’t come down to that.

Luna starts to get a little fussy in my arms, so I grab her pacifier, and that seems to satisfy her for the moment.

Whispering, I say, “See your mom over there? She’s a real badass. I hope you grow up to be just like her.”

Unlike with Leah, though, we will make sure that this little girl never knows what it feels like to have her parents abandon her. Our daughter will never experience that trauma.

Time seems to stand still as I hold her while she drifts to sleep in my arms.

Leah wakes up and says, “You know, you don’t have to hold her the whole time. You can put her down if you want to get some sleep, too.”

“I’m fine,” I tell her. “She’s so cute and little.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore, but I’ll live.”

There’s a soft knock on the door, and my mom pokes her head in. “Is now a good time?”

Leah answers before I can. “Come on in.”

She walks through the door followed by Liz.

“I thought Michelle was with you,” I say.

“Michelle came last night, but she had to work today. I’m sure she will make her way up here this evening.”

Liz adds, “You got the better sister. Congratulations.”

I stand up so that Mom can sit down, and I hand the baby to her. “This is Luna.”

Liz’s eyes go wide. “Luna Lawson? That’s so freaking cute!”

Mom looks down at the baby. “Hi, little one. I’m your grandma.”

---