Friday morning, I dressed carefully. Nothing fancy—just jeans and a soft sweater, the wedding ring he'd given me catching light.
I fed the babies, changed them, and dressed them in matching outfits that said "Welcome Home, Daddy."
Then I drove to the facility with Sofia, both babies in their car seats, heart pounding so hard I could barely breathe.
Noon arrived.
The gates opened.
And Alessio walked out.
Thinner, older somehow. Four weeks had carved new lines around his eyes.
But when he saw us, his entire face transformed.
He crossed the parking lot in long strides, and I met him halfway.
"Hi, wife," he said, pulling me into his arms.
"Hi, husband." I buried my face in his neck, breathing him in. "Welcome home."
We held each other like drowning people finding air.
Then he pulled back and looked at the car where the babies waited.
"They're here?"
"They've been waiting to see their daddy."
He opened the back door, and I watched him stare at our children with naked wonder.
"Hi, babies," he whispered, voice breaking. "Daddy's home."
Ezio stared at him with serious eyes. Eva made a small sound, like recognition.
Alessio carefully unbuckled Ezio first and lifted him with such gentle reverence. "You got so big. Look at you."
Then Eva, cradling her against his chest like she was made of spun glass.
"My sweet girl. I missed you so much."
Sofia was crying. I was crying. Even Domenico —who'd arrived separately to witness the moment—looked suspiciously wet-eyed.
"Let's go home," I said softly.
Alessio looked up, our children in his arms, love and relief and joy written across his face.
"Home," he agreed. "Let's go home."
The drive to the ranch house felt surreal.
Alessio sat in the passenger seat, unable to stop turning to look at the babies. His hand found mine across the console, fingers interlacing.
"Tell me everything I missed," he said. "Every detail."
So I did. Ezio's first smile. Eva finally coming off oxygen support. The way they slept better when they were next to each other. Every tiny milestone.
He absorbed it all, hungry for every story.
