Page 113 of Agony of Our Regret

“I’ve missed you too.” I stepped back and smiled at Audrey before hugging her. “I didn’t know you guys were coming.”

“Keeping him back was a nearly impossible task,” she admitted, as she stepped back. “He wanted to be here the second you went on bed rest, but the guys insisted they had it handled.”

Dad smiled with teary eyes. “I can’t believe my little girl is a mom.”

Luca strode forward with Charlie in his arms. “It’s time to meet your granddaughter, Charlotte.”

Dad gasped as stared down at her, and Luca gently handed her over. Dad cradled her to his chest and cried. He blinked up and smiled at me before all of his attention was on the baby.

“Oh, you are absolutely beautiful,” he whispered. “So perfect.”

Audrey squeezed in next to him. “She’s truly beautiful.”

I thanked them and soaked in the moment. It was beyond surreal to be standing here, surrounded by all five of my guys and their parents and seeing my dad fall in love with my daughter.

A peace I never could have imagined settled over my heart.

Her pursed lipsquivered slightly in her sleep. I rocked gently, letting the glider do most of the work as I watched my baby sleep in the peaceful silence.

Her hair was brown but not quite as dark as mine or Vince’s.

Her eyes were harder to tell. A mix of gray, blue, and brown. We’d have to wait several months for them to settle on one color.

Her skin was pale.

I couldn’t tell who she took after. Just the way I wanted it.

Maybe in a few years, it would become more obvious, but I hoped she had her own unique look. An impossible mix of all of us.

“I hope you’re kind and gentle like your daddy, Vince. He might be the strongest man in the world, but his heart is soft. He’s sweet and loves to laugh. He’ll teach you to sing and play guitar if you want.”

Her eyes fluttered, and I smiled.

I claimed one of the night feedings, so I could have some time alone with her after such a full day.

“As terrifying as it will be to watch, I hope you’re as fearless as your dad, Sky. He’ll be the one to take you on all the rides and show you how to jump off the diving board and swing so high you’ll see over the fence. You’ll never have to be scared because he’ll always be there to catch you.”

I stroked my finger down the slope of her nose.

“I hope you’re as thoughtful as daddy Gavin. He’s one of the most brilliant people I've ever known, but I don’t want you to feel pressure to be good in school like him and Sky. You’ll be smart in your own way. We all are. I hope you think things through. I want you to ponder and wonder. Ask questions andseek answers. Be curious. Drive him crazy learning about the world around you.”

I couldn’t wait for the days of her following him around, asking why to everything she saw and heard.

“I hope you’re as considerate and sensitive as daddy Noah. He has such a big heart, and you’ve already captured it. He’s aware of everyone around him. He wants the people he loves to be happy. He feels so deeply, and I hope you do too. It’s important to know yourself and your emotions. You can help him learn to express them as you do the same.”

Her brows pulled together for a single moment before relaxing.

“I know. It’s a big ask, huh?” I waited a moment, making sure she was back asleep before speaking again. “And I hope you’re as confident as your daddy Luca. He’s always known exactly who he is and doesn’t apologize or change. I hope you stand up for yourself and what’s right, just like him. I hope you always know how loved you are, my sweet girl. No matter what, you will always have so many people around you to support you. I felt alone a lot, and knowing you won’t feel that way is such a relief. You have more family than I could have ever dreamed of.”

I carefully lifted her to kiss her cheeks. “I will love you forever. I will protect you. I will pick you up no matter how many times you fall.”

She smiled, and my heart nearly burst.

This was true happiness.

EPILOGUE

SIX YEARS LATER

---