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“We’re not, babygirl,” Kaiden says, pausing to look back at me with sympathy. “We just thought you needed space.”
“I don’t. I don’t want you to go again,” I cry again, desperately. “I’m scared you’ll disappear. I’m still half convinced this is either the cruellest dream or the most beautiful nightmare. If you go, it might not be real.”
They look to Axel, who nods, and Kaiden and Zie come back to me in an instant.
“Axel?”
“I’ll be right back, princess. I have someone I want you to meet.”
Axel disappears through the doors of the chapel, leaving me alone with Kaiden and Zie. My heart races with anticipation, wondering who this mysterious person is that Axel wants me to meet. Moments later, the doors swing open once more, and Axel returns with a petite figure sleeping in his arms.
“Princess, I would like you to meet someone very special,” he says, his voice filled with warmth and affection. “This is your daughter, Rose.”
Behind him, Zie’s mum enters the chapel, her eyes shining with unshed tears. I try to get up, to go to Rose, but my legs won’t work.
Kaiden springs into action, rushing to my side and helping me to my feet. As I take hesitant steps toward Axel, my heart pounds with a mixture of overwhelming joy and trepidation. Is this real?
“She’s real,” Mrs Montgomery tells me softly. “You have the most beautiful daughter, Odile.”
Axel gently places Rose in my arms, her delicate features so familiar yet foreign at the same time. She stirs and opens her eyes, revealing a pair of deep green irises that mirror my own. Asurge of love and protectiveness washes over me, overpowering any doubts or questions that lingered in my mind.
I cradle Rose against my chest, feeling the warmth of her small body seep into mine as I try to hold back my sobs. She gazes up at me with innocent curiosity as if she knows exactly who I am.
“This is our daughter,” Axel whispers, his voice filled with a tenderness I’ve never heard before. “She’s all of ours, my love.”
Tears stream down my face as a wave of emotions crashes over me. The pain and confusion of their disappearance, the bittersweet realisation of their sacrifice – it all fades away in the presence of this precious life we’ve created together.
“Rose,” I murmur softly, tracing a finger along her tiny hand. She’s already gone back to sleep, the peaceful slumber of the truly innocent. “You are a miracle. An angel. Baby—” My voice cracks with raw emotion.
Kaiden and Zie stand beside us, their eyes shimmering with unspoken promises and shared happiness. They reach out to touch Rose’s cheek, their fingers intertwining with mine.
“Welcome to our family, Rose,” Kaiden says, his voice thick with emotion.
“Thank you,” I whisper to Zie’s mum. Before now, I never knew how I’d feel towards this woman, had never quite decided if her fate would match that of her husband’s. But knowing that she’s been raising my daughter, loving and protecting her, and waiting for this day to give her back to me, all I feel is overwhelming love and gratitude for the woman.
She smiles, tears glistening in her eyes, and pulls me into a tight embrace. “You’re welcome, my dear. It has been an honour to care for Rose, to watch her grow into the beautiful soul she is. But now it’s time for you to experience the joy of being a mother. I just hope you’ll keep me around to dote on my surrogate granddaughter.”
“Of course,” I tell her. “We’ll need all the help we can get, and I feel like I owe you everything.”
“Nonsense, child. Your mother was my best friend, and I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect her or you from the horrors you were forced to endure. Raising Rose was my attempt at penance for that, but she brought me so much joy, it hardly seems fair.” She gives me another hug. “I should get Rose back to bed.”
I nod, but I can’t find the strength to hand her over. I’m scared to let her go for fear of losing her too.
As I hold my daughter close, I feel a newfound sense of completeness. The pain of their absence and the uncertainty that plagued our lives suddenly feels distant, replaced by a deep sense of purpose and love. We are a family, bound not only by blood but by the unbreakable bond we share.
“Why don’t we go home? All of us, together. Rose can sleep in with us if it makes you feel better.”
I nod and let Axel put his arm around me to guide me back to the house. It’s just as well, because I don’t think I could find my own way back even if I could tear my eyes away from my beautiful daughter’s face to watch where I was going.
Once we’re home, we place Rose in the nursery, because I’m worried about the paint fumes in her room. I sink to the floor and slide my hand between the bars of her cot, unwilling to let her go for even a moment.
“I’ll show Mum to the guest room,” Zie murmurs.
“I’ll grab supplies,” Kaiden offers.
“Supplies?” I frown. Mrs Montgomery gave us Rose’s bag with all her things in it.
“So we can be more comfortable sleeping on the floor in here.”
