After the nurses and doctor finish their jobs, it’s just my family once again and this tiny pink wonder who has finally made her way to planet Earth.
Mom leans in, tears rolling down her cheeks, as she brushes her finger over the baby’s feather soft golden curls.
“Oh, she’s just the most beautiful baby. What’s her name, Skyla?”
Gage nods my way. “Yeah, what’s her name? The suspense has been killing us.”
I look to Logan and share a knowing smile.
“Go ahead,” I tell him. “I want her to hear her name come from your lips first.”
Logan smiles over at his beautiful baby girl and warms her back with his hand.
“Welcome to the world, Eden Rose,” he says, and her little head ticks in his direction.
The room breaks out into a congratulatory cry as her name echoes around us like a chime.
“It seemed fitting,” I say. “It felt as if God Himself picked a rose from the Garden of Eden and gave her to us. And now, here she is.”
My sisters take turns holding her. Gage brings Nathan, Barron, and Jaxson in, and they take turns holding their new little dinosaur, and all the while Lexy Bakova meticulously documents it for us with her camera, a timeless gift. A gift that I’ve already offered to repay when the time comes for her to have her own baby.
Soon enough, the room clears out and it’s just Logan and me and our sweet little Eden Rose.
Logan lies down with me, shirt off, as we warm the baby against our flesh.
He brushes the hair from my face as he looks lovingly into my eyes.
“This is real.” His lips curve ever so gently. “Today is the day that all of my wildest dreams came true. Thank you for making that happen.”
I shrug. “I do what I can.” We share a quiet laugh. “But I think you had more than a little to do with it yourself.”
He lands a tender kiss to her precious curls. “Just a little.” He picks up her hand and kisses the back of it. “We have our sweet angel back.”
I blink away tears and nod. “Thank God.”
“I’ll relay the message,” a woman’s voice comes from the left as my mother—Candace—my father, Rory, and Sage come this way.
“You came,” I say as they head on over and admire our new addition.
“Congratulations, you two.” Dad bends over and offers me a kiss. “She’s going to be a looker. Good thing she’s got three big brothers to look after her.”
Sage lifts her chin. “And she’s got me. I rather like her.” She sighs as she looks my way. “In fact, I love her, Mother. And I love you, too.” She gives Logan a poke. “Of course, I love you, too, Uncle Logan. You’re my official funcle.”
“Funcle?” I shake my head, unsure of where this is going.
“Fun uncle,” she says. “Rory told me all about it.”
My sister shrugs. “What can I say? I picked up a thing or two during my time on Earth.”
Sage pats Logan on the back. “We’re going to do lots of daring things that would make Father cringe all in the name of deviant fun.” She winks his way. “Don’t worry. You won’t get me killed.”
We all share a morbid laugh.
“Oh, Sage.” I reach over and pick up her tiny hand. “I love you so very much. You’re forever in my heart. I’m so thankful for these visits. Promise me they’ll only grow more frequent until one day we’re all home for good.”
“It’s entirely up to Your Grace.” She glances up at my mother and Candace nods.
“So it shall be.” She lays her hand over the baby’s head and prays a blessing over her, a protective hedge as strong as iron. “You, my sweet Eden, are the amulet in the flesh, the precious diadem of our people. Your time will come. It will be here very, very soon. And you, too, shall prosper.”
