Page 79 of Defiant Devotion

And as I blinked and opened my eyes to the sensation of Ben’s lips on my temple, I heard it.

A cry.

A single cry.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t stem the flow. Something intrinsic in me snapped into place. Hearing my baby’s cry for the first time was a moment I would never, ever forget.

Smiling in relief and laughing at the miracle of life, I opened my eyes to the precious baby the doctors wrapped up and held high.

“You did it,” Ben said. He kissed me again. “I love you. I love you so much. You did it.”

I laughed again, almost lightheaded and hysterical coming down from that experience. “We did it. We didthat. We had that.” I pointed weakly at the baby.

Irina brushed my hair back, also crying happy tears as she stood by and held my other hand.

“Oh, my God,” Eva said.

Even though she wasn’t here, because we were Baranovs and nothing was impossible, we got our way to have her “watching” via a FaceTime call. She couldn’t be in the room with me, but Irina sat a phone to the side so she’d be here remotely.

“Sonya.” Eva sobbed happily. “Oh, Sonya.”

I laughed again, my heart so full it would burst. “We did it,” I told Ben, gazing up at him with so much love. I was overcome by so many emotions and feelings that I couldn’t keep up. I couldn’t react or focus on anything but the new life the doctor brought to me.

“No moreitorthat,’ Irina said.

I accepted my baby as the doctor placed him or her on my chest.

“A girl,” she announced with a proud smile. “You did it, Sonya. You are amazing. The longest labor I’d ever witnessed.” She looked at her watch and laughed once. “Just past midnight.”

I cried a little more, looking at the face of my sweet baby girl.

Ben leaned over, hugging me as we both admired our first daughter. As hellish as giving birth was, I would never pass up on experiencing this miracle again.

“Jennifer,” I said softly, “welcome to the world.”

Ben kissed my brow again.

“Your mommy and daddy already love you, Jenny.” I drew in a deep breath, confident that naming her after the brave woman who’d shown me compassion in my escape was the right thing to do.

Ben and Oleg delivered my letter to the Petersons, and I had no doubt they’d upped the deposit of money I wanted them to give. Mere thanks weren’t enough. I would be eternally grateful for their compassion toward me when I needed it the most.

“She’s beautiful,” Irina said.

“Henry’s going to have his cousin to grow up with now, a boy and a girl. That’ll keep us busy,” I said, gazing at every little wrinkle of her pink face.

“Until Kelly’s boy or girl is here,” Ben said.

“Then add two more!” Eva said from the phone.

Irina reached over to bring the phone over. She probably had only heard it all, but now she could see.

“Oh, Sonya.” She cried, happy tears leaking down her face. “She’s precious.”

“I love you, Sis,” I replied.

“I love you, too.”

It meant the world to me that I could share this experience with her. And it mattered deep down in my soul that I’d made this happen.

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