Page 66 of Secret Babies For My Brother's Best Friend

Chris nodded his understanding. “I know. And I know there’s more to talk about, but I want you both…” He looked at me, smiling slightly. “I want you both to know that I love you. That’s all we need for now.”

I couldn’t help the relieved laugh that spilled from me then, fresh tears joining the rush of emotion that took me over. For the baby, for my amazing brother, and for the official end to the guilt and fear that had been torturing me all that time.

“I guess that means it’s a good time for you to hold your goddaughter,” Julia said, holding out the baby to me.

I stared at her, stunned. “Me? Godmother?”

“You.” Julia laughed.

I took the baby, cradling her gently in my arms. She had her mother’s graceful features, but there was no arguing her shock of hair belonged to her father.

“She’s perfect,” I said, touching the tip of my finger to her little nose. “Absolutely perfect.”

“And there’s one more thing,” Chris said.

“Oh, I don’t think I could handle any more.” I laughed through more sniffles. “My hormones are making this more embarrassing than it needs to be, I swear.”

“You’re going to love this one,” Chris replied. “We’ve decided to name her after mom.”

Just as I predicted, my polite tears turned into a full-blown ugly cry. We barely spoke about my parents who died when I was only five. Chris always said it was to protect me, but I had a suspicion it saved him a lot of heartache too.

I clutched the baby to my chest and placed the gentlest kiss to the top of her head. “Welcome home, Diana,” I whispered to her.

Chapter 27

Luca

IglancedatScarlettagain, and she still wasn’t giving any sign of being nervous. I, on the other hand, was ready to kick down the obstetrician’s door. We’d been waiting for ten minutes past our appointment time, and my patience was wearing thin.

“We should’ve gone to my doctor,” I whispered tersely, picking up my fifth waiting room magazine. I wasn’t reading them, just flipping through the pages to keep my hands busy.

“Your doctor?” Scarlett fixed me with an incredulous look. “Tell me, Luca, how long have you been seeing your gynecologist?”

I bit the inside of my lip and chuckled softly. “Okay, you win. But there has to be a way to speed this up. People have lives to live.”

I spoke up on that last bit, and the rest of the patients waiting all looked over at us. I felt Scarlett slide down in her seat a little, but I didn’t care. I was used to people being surprised when someone demanded basic competence from service staff.

“Luca, stop,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “Please don’t make a scene. I don’t mind waiting, and you have nowhere else to be.”

“That’s not the point,” I argued, tossing the magazine back onto the haphazard pile I’d created. “The point is—”

“Scarlett?” A middle-aged woman in a white lab coat emerged from the consulting room and waved a manila folder in our direction.

I’d been so engrossed in making my point that I hadn’t noticed the previous patient leaving. I got to my feet quickly and held out my hand to Scarlett. She shook her head slowly but allowed me to help her up. We interlocked our fingers and walked in together.

“First scan, I see,” the obstetrician, Doctor Halliway, remarked. “Big day!”

She had an easy smile and an air of authenticity that made me trust her immediately.

“I know I’m late,” Scarlett said with an apologetic tone. “But life has been crazy these past few weeks.”

She glanced at me for a split second and then averted her gaze. I knew what that meant, of course. I was the reason behind the crazy. But I also knew she didn’t mean it in a bad way. Both of our worlds had been turned upside down, and we’d been scrambling to find a stable place to land. Funny how that happened with Diana’s arrival. That little baby seemed to bring everything right side up without even lifting a finger.

“It’s nothing to be sorry about,” Halliwell said with a dismissive wave. “Thousands of women bring healthy babies into the world every day without having seen a doctor even once.”

“I guess you’re right.” Scarlett sighed.

Halliwell smiled warmly. “I am. Now, what do you say we get the admin out of the way so we can get to the fun part, huh?”

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