Then he slowly shook his head.
“I can do this,” he said firmly.
Unbelievable.
I took a prolonged inhalation of the gas.
Ahh. That was better.
“One day they’ll write sonnets about your bravery,” I told him, then started giggling.
He didn’t appreciate my words—his frown said it all.
We might’ve had a rough beginning, but I wouldn’t change a thing. If I did, I’d have missed all the wonderful people I met along the way.
Laurent dragged the chair closer and took my hand.
“You’ve got this, baby,” he said, pride radiating off him.
“We’ve got this,” I replied, placing the gas mask back over my face.
We really did.
?? ?? ??
“Why was she screaming about Klingon?” Garrett asked.
Laurent chuckled. “You heard that?”
“I heard more than I wanted to. I ended up getting coffee. She had me blushing.”
“She’s something else,” Laurent sighed.
“Which one?”
“Both.”
“Are you going to let me hold her yet?”
“No. Once Lucia wakes up, I won’t get a chance.”
I smiled at his words. He wasn’t wrong.
“Let him hold her for a minute,” I croaked, opening my eyes. “Ugh, I need some water.”
“Here,” Laurent said, carefully placing Lia in Garrett’s arms.
“Congratulations, Lucia. She’s beautiful.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, smiling as I caught sight of her little dark curls poking out from beneath her second-hand hat.
Laurent helped me sit up before handing me a glass of water.
We didn’t need to say anything.
Lia completed us.
We were a family—not a perfect one, but nothing in life ever was.
