“Can we come in?” Margo asks, already beaming like a proud aunt.
“Of course.” I motion them over weakly with my free hand.
April rushes over to the bed, taking everything in at once. “Is that him? Is that my baby brother?”
“It is,” Grant says. He carefully lifts the baby from my arms and kneels down so April can see him properly. “Come meet your little brother.”
April leans in close, and I’ve never seen her face filled with so much wonder. “He’s so tiny,” she whispers. “And he has hair!”
“You can touch him if you want,” I tell her. “Be gentle.”
April reaches out with one small finger and touches the baby’s hand. His tiny fingers immediately wrap around hers, gripping tight.
April gasps and looks up at me. “Mom, he’s holding my hand!”
“He knows you’re his big sister,” I murmur as a wave of emotion hits me.
“I’m going to be the best big sister ever.” She’s still staring at the baby in awe. “I’m going to teach him everything. How to tie his shoes and how to ride a bike and how to play hockey like Grant. And I’ll read him stories every night and help change his diapers and everything.”
“Whoa, slow down,” Grant says with a laugh. “He’s barely an hour old. We’ve got time for all of that.”
“I know, but I want to start now.” April looks up at Grant, then at me. “Can I help take care of him? Please?”
“Of course you can,” I say. “We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Margo steps closer to the bed so she can get a better look at the baby. “He’s absolutely perfect, Heather. Congratulations to both of you.”
“Thank you.” I reach out and squeeze her hand. “And thanks for bringing April.”
“Are you kidding? She’s been asking every five minutes if we could come yet.” Margo smiles. “So, does this handsome little guy have a name?”
I look at Grant, and he looks at me. We talked about names for weeks, going back and forth on options, but there’s only one that felt right. Only one that means what we want it to mean.
“Will,” Grant says, looking down at our son. “His name is Will.”
“Will,” April repeats, testing it out. “I love it. Hi, Will. I’m your big sister, April.”
“It’s perfect,” Margo says.
She comes closer, and her eyes meet mine as she brushes back my messy hair gently. She knows what this means to me. She knows how far I’ve come from that terrified single mother running from Steven to this moment right here.
I swallow the lump in my throat, overwhelmed by the happiness flooding through me. This life, this family, this love? I never thought I could have any of it. I never thought I deserved it.
But here it is. Here they are. Grant with his fierce protectiveness and gentle heart. April with her boundless energy and sweet spirit. Will with his tiny perfect fingers and loud, healthy cries. And Margo, who has been by my side through everything.
I’m so unbelievably lucky.
Grant catches my eye over April’s head, and the look he gives me is so full of love and promise that my heart nearly stops. He stands and carefully places Will back in my arms, then leans down to kiss me.
“I love you,” he whispers against my lips.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
April climbs onto the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle me, and peers down at Will. “Can I hold him soon?”
“Once we get home, you can hold him all you want,” Grant promises.
“Really?”
