Page 200 of Need You To Choose Me

Before I get a chance to answer, there is a soft knock on the door. I shift in the bed, a jab of pain going through my stomach. Blake’s brows furrow when I flinch.

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, turning my attention to the door. “Come in.”

Blake slips from the bed just as the door opens, and two dark heads peek inside.

“Is Munchkin here yet?” Levi asks immediately, as he slips into the room, Daniel at his heels.

He gives me an apologetic look. “I told him we should wait but…”

“I wanna meet—” Levi comes to a stop by my bed, his mouth falling open as he sees the baby in my arms. “Munchkin is a girl!”

“Yes, it’s a girl,” chuckling softly, I fix her hat so it’s not slipping into her eyes. “What do you think?”

“She’s so pretty.” Levi extends his hand and touches her fist gently. “And so small.”

“She is.” Blake places his hands on Levi’s shoulders and gives them a squeeze. “So you have to be very careful with her. Okay?”

“’Kay.” Levi looks up at me. “Can I hold her?”

“Not now, buddy. Once she wakes up.”

“Fine.” Levi’s smile falls a little, but he nods. “I brought her a toy so she doesn’t have to sleep alone tonight.”

“What’s her name?”

I look to the foot of the bed, where Daniel is standing quietly, his gaze fixed on the baby.

I swallow the knot in my throat. “Poppy.”

My gaze falls to my sleeping daughter, and I can’t help thinking of the woman who raised me. I missed her today more than usual. She should have been here. She would have been so excited to meet her great-granddaughter. Although, knowing Grams, she would probably already embrace Levi and Daniel as her own and spoiled them rotten. That was the kind of woman she was. There wasn’t a better way to honor the woman who showed me love unlike any other.

“Her name is Poppy Walker.”

Poppy’s brows furrow, and she lets out a wail in protest. I coo softly and rock her against me.

“Is she okay?” Daniel asks, moving closer.

“Why is she crying? Did we do something wrong?”

“No, buddy,” Blake reassures Levi immediately. “Babies cry, that’s all.”

Poppy blinks a few times, her unfocused gaze darting toward the three boys hovering over her.

Warmth fills my chest as she stares at them with those big dark eyes. Their voices die down, their whole attention on her.

“Hey, there, pretty girl.” Daniel gently brushes the back of his finger over her clasped hand. “No need to cry.”

I bite my cheek to stop a sob from coming, but Blake doesn’t miss it. He slides next to me and wraps his arm around me. “You okay, Blondie?”

I nod silently, my attention still on the boys who are staring at their sister.

“Can I hold my baby sister now?”

Blake pulls back, amusement dancing in his irises.

“C’mon, sit down in the armchair, and you can hold her for a few minutes.”

Levi scurries off immediately, he’s practically buzzing with excitement.

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