I kissed the top of her forehead and rubbed her back. “Good thing you never have to find out.”
Sara
What we were assured was routine labor turned into an emergency C-section. I was wheeled into the OR after the baby’s heart rate fluctuated as the contractions intensified. When they finally got her out, the little troublemaker had the cord wrapped around her neck—twice. When they laid her on my chest, her big eyes shining at me with innocence, I had the feeling this one would keep us on our toes for a lifetime.
“She needs a name,” Drew whispered as his fingers sifted through her silky swath of black hair after we were rolled into a room. The birth of our baby was the first time I’d witnessed my husband left without words. He stared at her in awe from the second she came out.
“She looks like you. The big eyes and the dark hair.” I threaded my fingers through the thick locks on the back of his neck. She even had the same sweet but sneaky curl in her lip.
“You’re never dating anyone—ever. Isn’t that right, Princess?” Drew’s thumb drifted back and forth over her chubby cheek as the perfect name popped into my head.
“Diana.”
His weary head perked up. “Diana? For her name?”
“You know my royal family obsession.” I laughed as I cuddled her into my chest. “And wasn’t that Wonder Woman’s real name?”
He lifted a tired eyebrow at me. “I’m impressed you know that.”
“Funny. Want to take her for a minute?”
A grin split his mouth before he scooped her out of my arms. When Victoria was born, no one else held her in the hospital besides the nurses. Tears flooded my eyes at all the love this baby already had.
Drew walked her over to the window, kissing the top of her head and whispering in her ear. I had happy memories with Victoria as a baby, but even the best ones were sad because I was alone. Joy is always better when you can share it and sharing everything with Drew made life wonderful.
I’d teach both of my daughters they didn’t need a prince to swoop in and save them, but when a real one came into their lives, appreciate it for the wonderful blessing it is—and make damn sure not to let him go.
The End
Turn the page for a preview ofRewrite, Josh and Brianna’s story.
Brianna
THEY SAY WHENyou meet the love of your life, it’s a day you’ll never forget. Your soul sings and your body hums, all because you “know.” That innate instinct telling you, you finally found your person. Maybe it’s a look of longing across a crowded bar. Or the gasped breath you take as you slide into your seat in class next to the man of your dreams. That thunderbolt could hit you anywhere, at any time. The lightning singes you to your core where you stand, and there’s no going back.
The thunderbolt found me in Mrs. Ruiz’s kindergarten class. I met the love of my life when I was five years old. Before I knew about romance, lust, and words to love songs that are supposed to describe that “feeling.”
All I knew was that Josh Falco was my everything. Maybe I didn’t know what to call it at the time, but from the beginning, it was love.
Believe it or not, I remembered the day I met Josh, even at that young age. Maybe not every little detail. I remembered the twinge of dread in the pit of my stomach knowing the girls who picked on me so mercilessly that summer would be in my class. I was klutzy and chunky, an unfortunate combination that screamed “bully me!” Humiliation and intimidation are traumas you never forget, no matter how old you are. I learned early on that the mean people were everywhere and tended to always have control of the room.
I remembered keeping my chin stuck to my chest most of the day, not wanting to find out if the giggles behind me wereaboutme. Playtime was the best part of the day. When the kids scattered, I was still solo, but I found the most beautiful set of blocks. They were pink and purple andsopretty. I built my own princess castle, securing it with the crystal star block at the top. I pretended it was a moon or sun. My own little kingdom, until a fist made it come crashing down.
“Baby girl blocks! Brianna’s a baby!” Vinny Parker, my next-door neighbor, cackled as I glared at him through my unshed tears. He didn’t discriminate. He was just a bully—plain and simple.
It was the only fun I’d had all day, and the only time I smiled since I trudged into the classroom. My face burned as hot tears trickled down my cheeks. Why didn’t anyone want to be my friend? I couldn’t understand it. I buried my face in my hands and wished I could disappear.
A loud bang made my head jerk up. Vinny was rolling on the floor, sniffling as his hands wrapped around his middle.
“He hit me!” Vinny’s nostrils flared. He pointed to the boy standing over us from where he still lay on the floor. I knew all about superheroes since my dad was a comic book geek, but I’d never seen one up close before. The boy who came to my rescue didn’t have a cape. His green eyes hid behind the floppy, dark curls on his head as he returned Vinny’s mean stare.
Mrs. Ruiz ran over and pulled Vinny and the new boy away from each other, dragging them to the “thinking chairs” in the back of the room. Vinny hiccupped as his tears turned into an ugly cry. The other boy—Mrs. Ruiz called him Josh—didn’t utter a single sound. He didn’t look mad or mean or even sad that he’d gotten in trouble.
At lunchtime, I sat alone on the far end of the table, unpacking the lunch Mom always gave me: a ham and cheese sandwich and two chocolate cupcakes with the white icing swirl at the top. They were my favorite ones.
“Can I sit here?” Josh asked me in a whisper. Seeing him up close, I wondered where his lunchbox was or if his mom noticed the bottom of his jeans were dirty. I always got in trouble for that.
“Okay.” I moved my Wonder Woman lunch box so he could sit. “Where’s your lunch?”
