Page 126 of Pieces

“We haven’t decided yet, but I really like Rosie.”

Mom coos, clutching her hands to her chest. “Rosie… That’s perfect. She looks like a Rosie.”

I look at her, those rosy cheeks shining at me, and think maybe she does suit the name. “Rosie…yeah, I think that might be the one.”

Hudson kisses my forehead, and then hers, and it feels final. “We can pick something different if you like.”

I shake my head, stroking her super soft skin. “No, I think Rosie is perfect.”

Our little Rosie girl.

Chapter fifty-four

Hudson

“HappyBirthday,”Daphnesays,reaching up to press her lips to mine.

I smile, holding her in one arm and Rosie in her car seat in the other.

“I’m sorry I derailed all our plans,” she says.

“I’m not,” I reply quickly. “This is the best birthday ever.” Playfully, I tap her butt and tell her to get in the car.

I carefully buckle Rosie’s car seat into the back, double-checking the straps and then triple-checking them for good measure. My hands linger, tugging once more to ensure everything is secure. Daphne sits in the passenger seat, watching everything I do, her hand resting on the open door.

“Do you always triple-check everything, or is this a new-dad thing?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

“New-dad thing,” I admit as I glance over my shoulder at her. “This kid is precious cargo. Can’t take any chances.”

Daphne huffs a soft laugh. I climb in and start the engine as she leans back against the seat, the diaper bag perched on her lap.

“Ready?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.

She narrows her eyes, catching something in my voice. “Where are we going? To the dorms, right?”

With a smirk, I put the truck in drive. “Just sit back and trust me.”

Her brow furrows, but she doesn’t press, just rests her head against the window as we pull out of the hospital parking lot. Rosie’s little sounds drift up from the back seat, soft and sweet, filling the quiet.

The drive is short, but I keep an eye on Daphne as we get closer. Her gaze sharpens when we pass the turn for campus, her suspicion kicking back in.

“Hudson,” she says slowly, sitting up straighter. “You missed the dorms.”

“I know,” I reply, keeping my tone light.

She turns to me, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean? Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

When we round the final corner, the apartment building comes into view. It’s nothing flashy, but it’s clean and quiet, with a little patch of green out front that makes it feel welcoming. I pull into the lot and park, turning off the engine.

Daphne sits up, her eyes fixed on the building. “What is this?” she asks, sounding more curious than anything.

I grab the keys from my pocket, stepping out of the car. “Come on. You’ll see.”

She hesitates for a second, but climbs out, grabbing the diaper bag. I take Rosie’s car seat from the back and fall into step beside her as we head up the walkway.

When we stop in front of the door, I turn to her, grinning. “You ready?”

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