The only time I’d seen Scar’s face light up so brightly was when he held our daughter Angel. Now, as he took our newborn son into his grasp, the tears flowed freely down his face as he couldn’t help but smile and laugh.
“Oh, he’s so cute. He’s amazing,” Scar murmured.
I gazed down at our son, all wrapped up in a baby blue blanket. His eyes shut and he frowned, like he was annoyed at the world already—just like his dad. I chuckled at the resemblance.
“What’s funny?” Scar asked.
“Nothing. He looks like you, in the best way possible,” I said.
“Well, he looks likeyou, too.” Scar stroked the baby’s silky black hair. “He’s the best of both of us.”
Scar leaned in to kiss his son’s forehead, inhaling the sweet scent.
From outside the door, I heard Dante’s familiar—but muffled—voice. “Hey! Can we come in yet?”
Dr. Lynden sighed in exasperation. “Your friends have practically been knocking down my door. Do you want them inside?”
I looked for Scar’s approval, and he nodded. The doctor opened the door but stood firmly at the entrance, blocking Dante and nearly sending him stumbling to the floor. “You may come in. Butdon’tcause a fuss. And keep quiet, for gods’ sake, this man just had surgeryanda baby.”
Dante nodded vigorously. Dr. Lynden stepped aside, and the others tip-toed towards the bed. Gabriel handed Angel to me. She’d fallen asleep while waiting, but now roused from the commotion.
“Look, Angel,” I said softly to her, “it’s your new baby brother.”
“Oh, a boy!” Raja whined. “He’s so cute!”
“Did you decide on a name yet?” Lorenzo asked us.
“Actually, I had an idea,” I said. “It depends if Scar likes it or not, though. I want to pick a name we both like.”
“Well?” Scar prompted. “Let’s hear it.”
Suddenly self-conscious by everyone’s attention on me, I murmured, “I was thinking of a name to match Angel, so I thought—what about Tenshi? It’s Japanese forangel.”
Scar let the name sink in as he gazed at our son. “Tenshi,” he said softly, trying the name out on his tongue. My heart raced, waiting for his reaction. Finally Scar smiled and said, “I love it. It suits him.”
“Angel, meet your baby brother, Tenshi,” I said, gently lowering her. Her big bright eyes stared at him in awe. His black shiny hair was a stark contrast to her light gold. But no matter how different they looked, they were both our children, and we loved them both to death.
“That’s a great name!” Raja said.
“It’s lovely,” Gabriel agreed. “And now Noah has another boy to play with, when Tenshi’s old enough!”
Noah, now old enough to walk and talk, perked up at the sound of his name. “I play wif baby,” he declared.
“That’s right, Noah,” Gabriel said with a smile.
Dr. Lynden cleared her throat. “Maybe you could continue this conversation outside. Let’s give the new parents a bit of rest.”
“Sorry,” Gabriel said sheepishly. “We’ll be in the waiting room.”
The rest of them said quick goodbyes and streamed out, leaving Scar, Tenshi and I alone.
“So, is he fit to go home tonight?” Scar asked Dr. Lynden.
She nodded. “Of course. I’ll prepare a pack of things for him.”
As she slipped into a sideroom, I kneeled by Scar’s side. His eyes couldn’t be torn away from his son. He looked at him like he was the sun and stars.
“I can’t believe he’s here,” Scar murmured. “A while ago, you were inside me. And now you’re here.”
