Page 125 of Pieces

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Dad clears his throat from the doorway, and Hudson and I both glance up to see him standing there, with Mom just behind him. His usual stoic expression is softer, his eyes rimmed with red, as though he’s been holding back tears. It’s a look I’ve never seen on him before, and it catches me off guard.

Mom, on the other hand, wastes no time. She hurries into the room, her hands flying to her mouth as she spots me holding the baby. “Oh my gosh, she’s here!” she exclaims, her voice bubbling with joy.

“Congratulations,” Dad says, stepping farther into the room, his voice quieter than usual. “She’s beautiful.”

“Thanks, Coach,” Hudson replies, his voice still thick with emotion.

I glance at Dad as a tired grin spreads across my face. “Grandpa,” I correct, teasing.

Dad stops by my bedside, letting out a small chuckle as he shakes his head. “Grandpa,” he agrees, the word sounding strange but not unwelcome coming from him. He leans down and presses a kiss on my forehead, his hand brushing my hair gently. “You did good, Daph. I’m proud of you.”

Tears prick at my eyes, and I nod, swallowing back the lump in my throat.

Hudson shifts beside me, his gaze moving from the baby to Dad. “Thanks, Coach. For, you know, everything.”

Dad claps Hudson on the shoulder, and something passes between them, but I don’t get a chance to ask because the door swings open again, and a familiar voice fills the room.

“Well, this is underwhelming. I thought there’d be balloons or at least a banner.”

My head whips toward the door, and there he is. Finn. My twin brother. The one who was supposed to be halfway around the world right now.

“Finn?” I choke out. “What the hell are you doing here? You’re in Australia!”

He steps inside, shrugging like it’s no big deal, his backpack slung over one shoulder and that signature grin plastered across his face. “Not anymore. Thought I’d swing by for the big moment. Looks like I was right on time. Surprise!”

Still trying to process the fact that he’s standing here, I can only blink. “You flew all the way back for this?”

“Duh,” he says, tossing his backpack into the corner like he’s moving in. “What kind of brother would I be if I missed the birth of my niece? Or nephew.” He squints at the baby in my arms. “Which one are we dealing with here?”

“Niece,” I say as I glance down at her.

Finn takes a step closer, his teasing grin fading into something softer as he leans down to get a better look. “Wow,” he says quietly, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “You made a human.”

“We did.” I chuckle. He straightens, his gaze flicking to Hudson for the first time. Finn’s head tilts slightly, studying him like he’s sizing him up. “And you must be Hudson,” he says finally, holding out a hand. “The guy who managed to keep my sister sane through this whole thing. Respect.”

Hudson stands and takes my brother’s hand. “And you’re Finn. Daphne talks about you all the time.”

“She does, does she?” Finn says, smirking as he glances at me. “All good things, I hope.”

I roll my eyes, cradling the baby closer. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Finn turns his attention to the baby, his expression softening as he leans down slightly to get a better look. “She’s perfect. Definitely got the better end of the gene pool.” He glances at Hudson with a teasing grin. “No offense, man.”

Hudson raises an eyebrow but smiles. “None taken.”

“Wow,” Finn says again, quieter this time. “She’s tiny. Like, really tiny. How does something that small make such a big entrance?”

I laugh. “She’s not that tiny, trust me.”

Finn tilts his head, his brow furrowing. “You sure? I’ve seen bigger burritos.”

Hudson snorts, but I’m too tired to do more than roll my eyes.

“What’s her name?” Mom asks from across the room.

“Well,” I say, looking at Hudson, waiting to see if he has anything to say first.

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