"I'm Dr. Potts. Vivian and Ellie wanted me to tell you that everything went smoothly." The doctor smiled when I heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh, and I quote, 'to get your ass in here to meet your niece, already.'"
My heart stopped.
"What do you say, Auntie Clarke?"
Nodding my head, I told her, "Yes, please."
I had only taken a few steps, Soren hot on my heels, when the doctor spoke again. "Family only, please."
"Oh!" I clung to his shirtsleeve like a lifeline. "He's my fiancé."
Dr. Potts smiled and gestured for us to follow her. I snuck a peek at Soren's face, relieved to see that he wasn't put off by my lie. In fact, judging by the arrogant smirk on his face, he was pleased.
We came to a stop outside the door marked "Baby Myers-Lim." Dr. Potts nudged the door open, holding it wide for Soren and me. My legs were like putty. The only thing holding me up at this point was Soren's hand on the small of my back. That and the tiny human bundled in my sister's arms.
"Well, look who finally showed," Viv taunted, her eyes half-closed. "Ready to meet your niece?"
I nodded, willing myself to cross the room. Viv pulled the edge of the blanket back to show off the sleeping baby in her arms. She looked just like Viv. Same nose, same mouth, same furrowed brow. Lord, my niece had resting bitch face.
She was practically perfect in every way.
Viv carefully passed the baby off to Ellie, who then placed her in my arms.Wow.I'd held babies before, but never one fresh from the oven, so to speak.
"She's beautiful," Soren said from over my shoulder. "What's her name?"
"Amelia Clarke Myers-Lim."
My watery eyes met Viv's. She smiled warmly and nodded. There was no choking back the tears after that.
We visited with Viv and Ellie for the next twenty minutes. Most of that time was spent with me hogging baby Amelia to myself while Viv ruthlessly grilled Soren. I was too tired, too distracted to defend him. Hell, it was kind of fun watching him defend himself.
"Are you sleeping with my sister?"
"No."
"But youweresleeping with my sister?"
"Yes."
"Are you sleeping with anybody else?"
"No."
"What's your credit score?"
I came to my feet, baby Amelia still fast asleep in my arms. "Okay, that's enough of that."
"Yeah, honey," Ellie said from Viv's bedside. "How about wethankthe man who drove your sister here in the dead of night, rather than interrogate him about his finances?"
"That's no fun," Viv said around a yawn.
The fatigue was finally starting to set in. It was going on two a.m. I hadn't eaten in almost fourteen hours and even with baby Amelia in my arms, I was struggling to keep my eyes open. My head was heavier than a pile of bricks.
"We better be going." I handed the baby back to Ellie. "But we'll stop by in the morning, if that's alright?"
"Of course it is." Viv reached out, taking my hand in hers. "Thank you so much for coming, babe."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
