Page 164 of Beautiful Storm

“Romeo and Juliet.” She cringes as alight blush coats her cheeks.

“Okay…I sense a story.” I laugh, living to tease her.

“I love the Baz Luhrmann musical, but I always wanted to do a modern take on the ideas and themes of the story. It’s been done so many times now, but I still keep it close by to remind me of my passion. It gets lost sometimes. Especially when I’m making a docudrama about a football team.” She laughs to herself before continuing on. “I was going to make Juliet a fighter. She was going to stand up to her family and fight for her love. She was going to be bold and brave and… They both were.” She shakes her head. “Romeo would have been a protector and—”

“What about Juliet?” I smile, cutting her off, something about the passion shining out of her giving me an idea.

“Did you tune out? I said I would have—”

“No.” I chuckle. “What about the name Juliet? For Jelly Bean. J for J.”

“Juliet?”

“Yes. You were born to create big things, and the Juliet you just described is the type of person I’d love our daughter to be. Brave, bold, passionate like her mom. Your version of Juliet.”

“You mean,ourversion of Juliet.”

“Yes, I mean our Juliet. What do you think?”

“I love it.” We both stare down at Juliet once again sleeping peacefully, like all she needed was a cuddle from her mom. “Juliet. Our beautiful Juliet.”

“My beautiful family.”Thank fuck they’re both okay.

Amelia smiles as the nurse pops her head in to talk us through breastfeeding and other options for Juliet, before advising us that the doctor will be in soon.

When she’s gone again, I stare down at our tiny girl tucked securely in Amelia’s arms as she attempts her first breastfeed and a rush of awe washes over me, until Amelia glances up in a panic. “I’m so scared, Luke. What if something happens? What if—”

“The doctors are monitoring you. We’re going to do everything they tell us to do and we’re going to keep you safe. You’re going to make a full recovery.”I refuse to believe anything else. I can’t. I’ll break again.

“Not me.” Amelia shakes almost violently. “Juliet.”

“Amelia J—Jay Rosenberg, you need to get that thinking out of your head right now. Because I am here to tell you that I am taking both my girls home from the hospital, and we are going to have a long, incredible life together. Forever. With no ongoing complications. Got it?”

“Forever?” She quirks her brow, the tension in her shoulders shifting.

“Yes,forever,” I repeat, my gaze boring into hers. “Whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. You both are. Because I think I’ve loved you all my life, and I plan to love you for the rest of it.” Amelia opens her mouth to speak but I cut her off. “Don’t even think about arguing with me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” She shoots me a sassy grin. “Believe it or not, that’s exactly what I want. I can’t imagine my future without you, and I’m trying really hard not to regret the past.”

“Don’t regret it. Ever. Let’s just focus on building a beautiful life from here on out.”

“Deal. I love you.” She yawns through her declaration, though she tries to hide it.

“I love you too. And after we’ve spoken to the doctor, it’s time for you to sleep.”

“I can’t, I—”

“You can and you will. I’ll stay awake for Juliet, and I’ll wake you if she needs you. First step to recovery is rest. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Remember how you asked me never to change?”

“Yep.”

“I don’t feel the same about you. I wouldn’t mind it if—”

“Don’t bother finishing that lie.” I bop her nose and she laughs before yawning again. “You just told me you loved me, and we both know you love me exactly as I am.”

“Ugh, fine. I’ll sleep.”

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