Til Debt Do Us Part (Married At Midnight #4)

Chapter 40

Forty

Dare

I hold my sweet baby girl in my arms as Talia lays exhausted in the hospital bed. I honestly could look at her forever. Her eyes are a vivid shade of blue. She has the tiniest hands, the smallest fingernails, and thesoftest tufts of red hair. I can't believe I'm a father. And yet, the knowledge fills me with a sense of wonder and awe.

Talia looks up at me, her eyes shining with tears. "She's beautiful," she whispers.

"She is," I agree, marveling at themiracle in my arms. "And so are you."

Talia smiles, but it's a dogged smile. I know she's been through so much. I can't help but feel responsible for it all.

As if sensing my thoughts, she holds up a hand to touch my arm. "I love you."

I manage to rip my eyes from the baby in order to pay attention to my wife. Opening my mouth, I'm quite surprised to find I'm all choked up with emotion.

"God, Talia. I love you, too. Both of you. I feel so... overwhelmed with gratitude?"

She squeezes my arm. "Me too, Dare."

My daughter's tiny fingers curl around mine. My heart swells, tears pricking my eyes. This perfect angel is our daughter.

"Hope," Talia murmurs. "We should name her Hope."

"Hope," I echo. "I’ve always loved that name. It's beautiful, just like her."

Talia closes her eyes. "What do you think her middle name should be?"

I reply without even thinking, my voice cracking. "Hope Grace."

Talia smiles, her eyes glistening. "Hope Grace Morgan."

I choke back a sob, nodding. The name sounds poetic, lyrical. Fitting for the tiniest princess.

Hope lets out a small cry and I cradle her closer, smoothing back the fine hair on her head. She is so tiny, so fragile. I will move mountains to protect this child.

"Shh," I whisper. "I'm here. I will always be here for you, Hope. Always."

Talia reaches out and squeezes my arm, her skin warm and soft. Our eyes meet in a transcendent moment. No matter what storms we've weathered, this miracle lying in my arms makes everything worth it.

I lean down and press a feather-light kiss to Hope's forehead, breathing in that sweet newborn scent. The scent of innocence. Of hope.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself before I speak.

"Do you want me to call Burn?" I ask Talia tentatively. "Let him know that the baby has arrived?"

Talia's face clouds over at the mention of my twin.

"Burn doesn't need to meet Hope yet, Dare," Talia says softly. "Burn may be mending fences with you, but he's definitely not welcome at my bedside. He'll forever be the man who tried to keep us apart. That, and our baby's uncle. But Burn is nothing more than that. You know that, right?"

I nod, exhaling in relief. I think a small part of me has always wondered what Talia's reaction would be at this moment. And I have to say, my wife certainly doesn't disappoint.

"I know," I say. "I'm trying to be flexible."

"You've been here for me, for our daughter," Talia continues, her eyes boring into mine. "You're the one who read to Hope in my belly, who held my hair when I had morning sickness."

I clutch her hand, blinking back tears. She's right. This pregnancy deepened our bond in ways I never dreamed possible.

"Hope is your daughter," Talia finishes firmly. "Our daughter. Burn can know when we're ready."

"I agree completely," I reply. My love for this woman swells in my chest. No matter what the future brings, we have each other. Hope is the living embodiment of that love.

I lean in and kiss Talia's forehead, then Hope's, breathing in the scent of the two people I cherish most in this world.

I gaze down at the swaddled newborn in my arms, her pink face scrunched in sleep. Overwhelmed, I sink into the chair beside Talia's hospital bed.

"Let me take her for a minute," Talia says gently. She eases Hope into her own embrace.

I drop my head into my hands, choking back tears. The tidal wave of emotions threatens to pull me under. Joy, excitement, fear, protectiveness, and gratitude all war within me to be the emotion I express. I stifle a sound deep in the center of my chest.

Talia's hand rests on my knee. "I know," she murmurs. "I know. Just let it all out. You don't have to be strong right now."

I look up, meeting her understanding eyes. She knows me better than anyone. My weaknesses, my wounds, my dreams.

"I fucking love you so damn much," I grit out.

"Come here," Talia says, shifting over on the bed.

I climb up carefully, wrapping my arms around her and Hope. I smell the baby's head, breathing deeply, feeling a sense of calm settle over me. Talia leans her head on my shoulder.

"We're in this together," she reminds me.

"Together," I echo, finding peace in her presence. I kiss Talia's hair, then Hope's downy head. My family, my heart.

A soft knock interrupts us. The door cracks open to reveal the nurse.

"Special delivery," she announces with a smile. Aunt Minnie, Olivia, and little Solana file in behind her.

Their joyful exclamations wash over me as they crowd around the bed to meet the newest member of our family. Hope yawns, blinking up at the beaming faces surrounding her, and I try to keep my emotions in check.

They don't make it easy, though.

Olivia holds Hope first and cries so hard that Aunt Minnie has to take the baby from her.

"You made that!" Olivia tells Talia. "I can't believe what an angel she is!"

Then she proceeds to practically dissolve into a puddle of tears. Aunt Minnie has a very different reaction. She coos at Hope, bouncing her gently, beaming at her.

"I've been here for five minutes and she's already got me wrapped around her little finger," she laments.

Solana stands on her tiptoes, trying to get a good look at the bundle in Minnie's arms. "Can I see?"

"Here, come sit next to me," Talia says, patting the space on the bed beside her. Solana scrambles up eagerly.

Minnie hands the baby to Talia. Then Solana's eyes go wide as saucers when Talia places baby Hope in her small arms.

"Support her head just like that," Talia instructs gently.

Solana cradles Hope with care, utterly transfixed. "She's so tiny," she whispers.

Hope squirms and Solana looks up at me with alarm.

"It's okay, you're doing great," I assure her.

Solana relaxes and gazes back down at Hope. "I'm gonna be your best friend," she tells the baby seriously. "We can have tea parties and play dress up and I'll teach you everything I know."

Talia meets my eyes over Solana's head, both of us smiling at the promise. I reach out and squeeze Solana's shoulder.

"She's lucky to have you looking out for her," I say.

Solana grins up at me proudly. In this moment, with my daughter and her self-appointed guardian angel side by side, my fractured heart feels whole.

Talia's eyes start to droop as the activity and excitement of the day catch up with her. I gently take Hope from Solana's arms and settle her into the bassinet beside the bed.

"I think it's time we let Mommy get some rest," I say, lifting a protesting Solana off the bed.

She pouts but allows me to set her on her feet. I crouch down to her level.

"You were amazing today, sweetheart. But now it's time for the baby to sleep, and your mommy, too."

Solana sighs. "Okay. Can I come see Hope again tomorrow?"

"Of course," I promise, kissing the top of her head before standing. "I'll come get you first thing in the morning. Let's let them sleep now."

Solana gives Talia a quick hug, then skips out of the room. The others file out after her, clasping my shoulder and congratulating me again on the way out.

Then it's just Talia, Hope, and me.

I sit on the edge of Talia's bed and take her hand in mine. Her eyes are already drifting closed.

"Thank you," I say softly.

She forces her eyes open. "For what?"

"For our daughter. For being here. For... everything." My voice breaks with emotion.

Talia smiles drowsily up at me. "Come here," she murmurs.

I lean down and she pulls me into a kiss. It's soft and warm, filled with an innate sense of rightness.

God, it feels good to love Talia.

When we finally pull apart, her eyes are bright. "I love you," she whispers.

"I love you, too." I kiss her forehead. "Now sleep."

She sighs contentedly and closes her eyes. I sit watching her and Hope, marveling at the family Talia has gifted me. My heart is so full it feels fit to burst.

I gently pick up Hope from her bassinet and cradle her against my chest as I walk over to the window. The sun is just beginning to rise over the city, casting everything in a warm, rosy glow.

"Look at that, little one," I murmur. "It's a new day. The start of your life."

Hope stirs slightly, nuzzling into me. I chuckle and brush a finger over her downy hair.

"You have your whole life ahead of you," I tell her. "And I promise, I will always be there to love and protect you."

I turn back to look at Talia, sleeping peacefully. "We both will."

At that moment, with my daughter in my arms and the woman I love by my side, I feel a sense of peace that I've never known before.

We're a true family now.

And I will do anything for them.