Teagan’s scream pierces my ear, her hand grabbing mine tightly. This goes on for a while, Teagan pushing and screaming, yelling curse words. I dab her sweaty forehead with a towel, run my fingers over her hair, and grip her hand when needed. Anything I can do to try to make this better, I’m doing.
And then, I seeherfor the first time.
Dr. Caruso holds up our baby, who’s crying as she makes her way into this world, and my world stops for a moment.
Because it suddenly clicks. Nothing else matters except for these two right here. My family. I already knew it before, but seeing my daughter for the first time solidifies that this is where I’m meant to be.
Tears flow down my cheeks, my emotions taking over, and I don’t care. My girl is finally here, and I’m a dad. Crying seems like the appropriate response for that.
After I cut the cord and the nurse takes her to clean her up, she’s placed onto Teagan’s chest.
“She’s perfect,” Teagan sputters as tears stream down her cheeks.
I run my finger over her tiny fingers, feeling elated. “I agree.”
We stay like that for a bit, Teagan and I staring at our daughter in awe, with no words exchanged.
It isn’t until a nurse asks, “Do you have a name for her?” that we finally break from our trance.
We have discussed names from time to time, but nothing ever stuck. Our hope was that when we looked at her, we would just know.
“What about Mila?” Teagan suggests. “It’s close to Camille, who I know is important to you. And to me, too.”
Tears swell in my eyes at the idea because she’s right. Camille and I have a deep bond, and I couldn’t think of a better name for our daughter.
“I love it.”
Teagan smiles, her eyes radiating with pure joy as she looks from me then down at Mila.
“You’re going to be the most spoiled girl in the world,” she says softly and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“And your first word might befuck.”
Teagan glares at me, but the corners of her lips lift into a smile. “Yeah, I need to stop swearing. Otherwise, that’s going to be true.”
“Nah, we will just be good parents and laugh the first time, then correct her the second time.”
We both chuckle softly as we return to staring at our daughter. She’s got a head of dark hair, exactly like her mom and me.
I wonder whose eyes she’ll have, but it’s too soon to tell. God, there’s so much I wonder about who she’ll be when she grows up.
And I can’t wait to be there every day, helping her become who she’s meant to be.
Chapter 54
Teagan
A year and a half year later
This is it.
My heart pounds wildly in my chest with each step I take.
The energy of the gym fills my veins as I get closer, and a sense of excitement and nerves formulate.
I stop just before the tunnel exit, taking a moment to myself before I’m in front of thousands of fans and cameras where millions are watching around the world.
And more importantly, my family in the stands.
