Doctors begin to work on her immediately. “Starting neonatal resuscitation.”
“Is she out?” Cin asks, fear shining in her eyes. “Why isn’t she crying?”
“It’s okay. They’re working on her.” I struggle to hold tears at bay, needing to put on a brave face for Cin.
“Her Apgar score is low,” a doctor says.
“What does that mean?” she sobs. “I want to see her now.”
Suddenly, her head lolls to the side, then a loud beep resounds in the room.
“Patient flatlined.”
“Cin!” I shout.
“Please step back,” Dr. Channing says.
Becoming hysterical will only hinder the doctors in their efforts to resuscitate Cin, so I give them a wide berth. My world is cracking, soon to implode on itself. I drop to my knees and do something I’ve never done in my entire life. I pray.
Five months later
Five months ago, my soul mate died. I cursed God and beseeched him to give her back. She lost more blood than expected, sending her body into shock. It took three fucking minutes for doctors to revive her, but I swear it felt like hours. The team had to work extra hard to resuscitate our daughter, but almost twenty minutes later, her piercing cry reverberated through the operating room. Cin was released six days later. In the weeks following the birth, Cin and I lived in a nightmare. We decided to forgo selecting a name, instead choosing to focus on our baby’s health. It was hell not knowing from one day to the next if she would survive. The hospital became a second home for us. Sebastian blamed himself for leaving the toy car on the step and started having trouble sleeping. Being no stranger to insomnia, I made it a priority to put his mind at ease.
Both of our families pulled together, offering unwavering support. Revenge for Josh’s deception was put on hold. The old man, Ricky, Katrina, and Lilah came to visit. Even Anneli and I came to a truce. Our daughter’s diagnosis improved as the weeks went on, and we finally chose a name—Arabella Elise King. She’s beautiful, the most precious thing I’ve ever beheld. She’s a mixture of us both. Arabella’s eyes are a green and hazel blend and her hair is black and wavy. I ordered Cin to pack and move in with me pronto, not caring that my command angered her. I refuse to live separately from my daughter. She deserves to be brought into a household where both parents are present. Sebastian has settled into his bedroom and the nursery is done. It’ll be awhile before she’s mobile, but the entire mansion is already childproof. Four months to the day Arabella entered the world, she was discharged. I gave Cin thirty days to plan our wedding. The task was accomplished with the help of her mother and Anneli. We’re not ready to leave Arabella, so the honeymoon is being postponed.
It’s our wedding day. Forty guests are in attendance. I never thought I’d be a jittery groom, but here I am, nervous as fuck. An enlarged photograph of Cole is stationed to the left of me. This day wouldn’t be complete without him. The doors of the church open and I’m in awe at the sight before me. Cin is wearing a simple veil and an off-white knee-length dress. She didn’t go the traditional route. She chose to walk down the aisle with Arabella in her arms and the boys walking alongside her. Our family is finally whole. The ceremony is short, and after the photographer takes pictures, we head to the Falcon.
Today is like a dream. Uncertainty has filled me for the last year, but finally I’m optimistic about the future. I’m all smiles, mingling with family and friends.
Josh ambles up beside me. “Can I talk to you privately?”
“Sure.”
We walk over to an empty table and sit.
“I’m sorry for not speaking up.” He takes a breath. “It was a shitty thing for me to do.”
“Josh, it’s okay.”
“I’d be pissed if I were you.”
“Grudges are a waste of time.”
“Hopefully your mindset will rub off on your husband.”
I laugh. “One can hope.”
“What’s so funny?” Art appears at my side.
“Oh, nothing,” I snicker.
“Josh, do you mind if I dance with my wife?”
“Not at all.”
Art grasps my hand and leads me to the middle of the banquet hall. We wrap our arms around each other and sway to the music.
“You’re due for a spanking later.”
