Page 75 of Military Daddies' Nanny

“She looks exactly like you, Nancy,” Nathan says, voicing my thoughts.

“A perfect little angel like her mother,” I say wistfully, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Oh, she’s so beautiful.” Drew’s voice is filled with the same wonder ours holds.

The nurse places her in Nancy's arms, and we watch in awe as Nancy's entire face transforms with love. "Hello, little one," she coos softly. "We've been waiting for you."

I can't take my eyes off them. Nancy, exhausted but radiant, cradling our daughter. Our daughter. The words echo in my mind, filling me with a joy I've never known before.

"Do you want to hold her?" Nancy asks, looking up at Jamie with a tired smile directed at the camera. Her curly brown hair comes into focus, followed by her tiny, wrinkled face. My hands ache to hold her as Jamie hands the phone to Nancy and carries our daughter in her arms. Despite the urge, I’m still a little worried. What if I drop her? What if she doesn't like me and cries when I hold her?

Yet, as she coos and nuzzles into Jamie, my fears melt away.

“You can come in now, guys,” a nurse says, making our heads shoot up from the phone.

We hurry down to the room. I zero in on Nancy, as do the guys, and we take turns placing kisses on her sweaty forehead.

“You were wonderful, Nancy,” Drew says, kissing her fingers as he watches her reverently.

“You were so strong and brave,” Nathan adds, standing beside Drew.

“Now it’s our turn to look after you and the baby. You have nothing to worry about,” I pledge.

Nancy smiles and holds out her hand for our daughter. Jamie places her in Nancy’s arms carefully and she looks up at us in excitement.

“Guys, meet your daughter,” she says, her voice filled with exhaustion.

Nancy passes her over to me. She's so light, so fragile. I cradle her close to my chest, marveling at her tiny features. Her features are so identical to that of her mother.

Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away. "Hola, mi amor," I whisper to her. "I'm your papa. Well, one of them, anyway."

I pass the baby to Drew. The look on his face as he holds her for the first time is one I'll never forget—a mixture of awe, love, and fierce protectiveness.

"She's beautiful," he murmurs, gently stroking her cheek with one finger. "Just like her mother."

Nathan takes his turn next, his eyes suspiciously bright as he cradles her. "Hey there, little one," he says softly. "Welcome to the family."

Jamie hangs back, her phone in hand. "Mind if I take a few pictures?" she asks. "My sister, Temple, is dying to see her new niece."

We all nod our agreement, and Jamie snaps a few photos of the baby with each of us. As she does, I can't help but marvel at the situation we're in.

Here we are, four adults and a newborn, creating a family that defies convention. We'd decided months ago not to do a paternity test. It didn't matter whose DNA the baby carried—she was ours, all of ours.

"What's her name?" Jamie asks, lowering her phone.

We all look at Nancy. We'd discussed names, of course, but had decided to wait until we met her to make the final decision.

Nancy smiles, looking around at all of us before her eyes settle on the baby. "Esperanza," she says softly. "It means 'hope' in Spanish."

My throat tightens with emotion. It's perfect.

"Esperanza," Drew repeats, testing the name. "I love it."

Nathan nods in agreement. "Welcome to the world, Esperanza."

As Jamie starts texting the news and pictures to her sister, I find myself overcome with emotion. I step out of the room for a moment, needing to collect myself.

In the quiet of the hallway, the reality of what's just happened hits me full force. I'm a father. Me, Carlos Rodriguez, the orphan kid who never thought he'd have a family of his own.

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