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Her.
And she is absolutely beautiful. She has full cheeks and a mop of thick dark curls, like her brother and like her dad. But she doesn’t have his eyes, no. She has her mother’s crystal blue orbs. She stares up at me as she takes a break from her wailing to study the new face staring down at her.
Her little lips start to chomp, and her pink tongue pokes between her little rosebud lips.
“She’s hungry. Does she have a certain type of formula? I got Sergio to grab every different brand he could.” I walk into the kitchen and Al follows.
“This is the one Katie has been using.” He places the tub on the counter as I fire up the bottle prep machine.
I sterilized plenty of bottles earlier not knowing if Al would be home with the baby tonight but just to be sure.
I go about the kitchen cooing and singing to the baby as I make the bottle.
Once the bottle is ready, I place it to her little mouth, and she starts to guzzle the milk.
“Well, I see you’re like your brother and Papa.” I smile down at her lovely little face as she gazes back at me.
When I look up at Al, he’s silent and has a deep frown on his face.
“I’m sorry, did you want to feed her?” I go to hand the baby back.
“No,” he shakes his head.
“Then why are you pulling that face?” I question as I round the island and sit on the couch to get comfy, crossing my legs.
“I’m just surprised you’re still here.” He shrugs and looks away. “I expected it to be just me and Aurora tonight.”
Aurora.
It’s beautiful and it suits her.
“Our parents left after Elena’s event. They all checked into a hotel as I thought it would be best for us to have the apartment to ourselves.” I bring Aurora to my shoulder to wind her as I look at Al. “I don’t understand, do you not want us here?” My voice cracks as I ask the question.
My heart is breaking right now. After all the ups and downs, we had finally glued all our little pieces into place since I fell pregnant with Andrea. But I feel like it’s all shattering into tiny shards around me.
I wipe my cheek on my shoulder as I try to hold back the tears that are threatening to pour out of me like a fountain.
Urgh, fucking emotions.
Since my pregnancy, they have been all over the place.
“No, no,angelo.Of course, I want you here. I just thought… well, I just thought you wouldn’t stand by me after this.” He kneels in front of me as he wipes the tears from my cheeks. “I can’t give her up, Cam. I owe it to her to be a father to her. She’s already lost her Mama.” He shakes his head.
“Al, I want us to do this together.” I lean down to kiss his forehead.
“Fuck, Cam. I knew I loved you before, but knowing that you’re willing to help me raise my daughter. Fuck, I can’t put into words how much love and respect I have for you.” He leans back on his heels as he looks up at me.
“Ourdaughter, Al. I know she lost her Momma, but she needs me as much as she needs you. One day, when she’s old enough to understand, and if we feel it’s right, we’ll tell her all about her birth momma. But I will be her momma, Al. I will love and care for her as I do for Andrea. She needs me as much as she does you to keep her safe in our world.
“I’ve already told my papa that she’s part of this family, and if he can’t accept her, then he won’t be in mine or Andrea’s lives.” I shake my head as I recall the conversation from this morning. “They wanted me to go back to Boston with Andrea, then your papa said when he turned five, they would take him from me. I’m not losing you, Andrea, or Aurora, Al. You’re my family, and we need to stand strong as one.”
“Fuck, Cam. I love you so fucking much.”
As I stand, Al pulls me and Aurora into a hug.
Andrea starts to cry through the monitor.
“I’ll get him.” Al disappears off down the hall.
