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“Let’s go to the room. Just in case she’s asleep,” I say, trying not to sound too eager.
The truth is, I’ve been waiting all week to see her again. It took everything in me not to get into my car two nights ago and drive over here. But I didn’t. I forced myself to be content with the reports from the men guarding them while I did everything to keep her family and mine from finding out the truth. But we can’t hide it forever.
When we enter the room, Elena gasps before rushing to the bed to clear off the clothes on top of it. I catch sight of some bras and a couple of panties as she sweeps them all into her arms.
“Shit,” she mutters.
“Take your time,lupacchiotta.” I chuckle, moving to the crib. I hear a muttered, “Pervert,” before she moves to the closet.
Meanwhile, I turn to my little girl.
“Hey,principessa,” I say softly.
She’s awake with a chew toy that’s shaped like a dog in her hands. When she notices me, her mouth opens and she makes soft babbling noises.
“Aw,” Elena says beside me. “I think she recognizes you.”
I smile. “I doubt it.”
“You can pick her up,” Elena says.
I don’t need any more prompting before reaching inside the crib and grabbing her. I spent about three hours researching the right way to hold a baby, to give it the right support and ensure it’s comfortable. As soon as my daughter is in my arms, my chest clenches.
This is only the second time I’ve met her and I’m pretty sure I’m already attached. She blinks at me, big blue eyes that practically sparkle. When I look at her, everything in me feels settled. I’m at peace. I never knew a child could do that to you. I spent the past week thinking about how insane it is that I’m a father. It’s something that I knew would inevitably happen. I was always going to have kids, I just didn’t think it would be so soon.
And while a part of me is terrified I’ll fuck up, another part of me is excited about how it’s going go. Fatherhood is just another challenge. And I never back down from a challenge.
When Elena gestures at the bed, I sit down on the edge while cradling Cassie’s head. I’m at a loss on what to do next.
“I should probably go,” Elena suddenly says, pointing at the door. “Give the two of you some space.”
“Hey, wait. I actually had some things to talk to you about. I’ve got a couple of questions.”
Elena arches an eyebrow. “Why am I not surprised? Let me guess, you spent all your free time researching everything and anything that had to do with babies and now you’re curious about ours?”
I narrow my eyes, not at all pleased that she was able to guess that so efficiently. I’m not that transparent. Elena laughs before moving to sit beside me on the bed.
“Come on, let’s hear it,” she prompts.
“First question,” I start. “When’s her birthday?”
“May 26,” she replies.
“Okay. And what’s her middle name?”
Elena pauses. Her eyes meet mine and there’s something vulnerable in their depths.
“I didn’t give her one. I was hoping you would. It didn’t feel right to decide on all her names without her father. So on her birth certificate, there’s only her first and last name. Cassiopeia De Luca.”
My throat tightens. Suddenly, I can’t look away from her.
“That was… thoughtful,” I finally settle on.
She nods. “It was the right thing to do. When you think of a middle name for her, we can get it changed. You’ll also probably need to sign her birth certificate, too. As her father.”
I’m not sure what to say. I look down at the baby in my arms. She can’t understand what we’re saying, but her eyes are fixed on my face like she can.
“I never meant for you not to be a part of her life, Rome. I just had to take a little detour first.”
