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When he furrowed his brow and wracked his memory for the right name, I said, “Brandt.”
“Right. Ten and Brandt fixed it last night.”
I nodded. “I’ll have to thank them for that. I’d forgotten all about the door. That would’ve been bad if it’d just been left hanging open all night.”
“That’s what family’s for,” he murmured, approaching me.
Cupping my hair in one hand, he leaned in to kiss Ava’s cheek. She was currently sleeping, and though I knew she probably needed plenty of rest after the traumatic experience she’d been through, watching her sleep made my heart drum a little faster. Sweaty panic gathered down my back. I found myself checking her breath every few seconds to make sure she was still alive.
“You ever going to let me have a turn at holding her?” Vaughn asked softly. “Or do you need another ten years or so to make sure she’s okay?”
He smiled to indicate he was teasing, but I honestly did need a lot more reassurance that she was fine.
The only time I’d laid her down last night and this morning was to place her in her bassinet to sleep.
But I said, “I’m sorry,” anyway, and held her out to him. “Here…”
He gently took her and exhaled in relief when she snuggled against him and kept sleeping. I watched him watch her. He really loved her; I could see it in every feature on his face.
Setting my hand on his shoulder, I finally had the presence of mind to ask, “How are you doing?”
He glanced up in surprise. “Me?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Having to go back to another hospital and face the possible end of your last family member…” I shook my head, hoping I wasn’t stepping on too-sensitive ground.
His lips twitched into a soft smile. “She’s not the last family I have left. Not anymore. But yeah…” He inclined his head. “It sucked. Brought back a lot of dark memories. I’m okay, though. I had you there. And the rest of the gang.”
“Are you…?” I swallowed and winced.
His eyebrows furrowed. “Am I what?”
I exhaled and just asked. “Are you okay that I let everyone assume you were her dad? I know that was one of your guilt problems, and I didn’t mean to exacerbate it, but I just… I needed you there. With me.”
“It’s okay,” he assured. “I wanted to be there. I was...honored that you did that.”
My lips trembled into a reassured smile. “In that case... Um, I was
hoping I could discuss something with you.”
“This sounds serious,” he murmured, watching me carefully.
I waffled a hand and smiled. “Yes, but hopefully it’s a good serious.”
“Alright. Let’s sit down while we talk,” he suggested. “I’m still a little nervous about holding her while I’m standing up. I’d prefer as much of a sturdy foundation under her as we can get.”
With a chuckle, I walked to the couch with him. “Trust me. I get it.”
We sat, and he shifted Ava enough so that she was stretched out on both our laps. Vaughn stroked her cheek, and I gently picked up one of her feet, rubbing her toes through her pink socks.
“I want you to adopt her,” I finally said.
Vaughn looked up, blinking. “What?”
“Partial custody,” I explained. “I mean, I’m not asking you to marry me or anything. This is completely separate from us—like maybe even a co-parenting, split-custody thing if you want—but after last night…” I shook my head and released a breath. “I was willing to die for her, to keep that man from going down the hall to where she was.”
“Damn,” he uttered, shaking his head and looking horrified. “I still can’t believe you had to fight that monster barehanded. Thank God he’s behind bars now and couldn’t afford his bail.”
“No doubt,” I agreed. “But I could’ve died and left her with no one.”
