“Hi, Selena,” he says.
They haven’t officially met yet, an oversight on my part, so when did they get on a first-name basis?
“Hello, Griffin. Would you mind getting the door for me?”
“Not at all.”
“Nobody’s here yet,” I say.
Griffin stands with Jessie in his arms and heads for the entry.Curious, I follow a few steps behind—slowly, since I’m still recovering and the pain meds are starting to wear off.
He grasps the handle and pulls open the front door. I see the suitcases first, then my mom and dad step around the corner, materializing like a mirage in the middle of a desert. My vision blurs, and I throw myself at them, ignoring the pain that radiates from my pelvis at the sudden movement.
When I pull back from the group hug, Mom cradles my face in her palms. She’s tall, like me, and she has several inches on my dad. She kisses my cheeks and passes me over to my father, who does the same.
“Stella mia,” he croaks.
I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Hi, Daddy.”
I’m a strong, independent woman, but nobody gets me like my dad does. He’s always been there for me. I’m close with my mom, too, but sometimes a girl just needs her dad. I’m lucky to have two incredible parents.
I motion for them to follow me inside, where Griffin is waiting with Jessie. “Selena, Alfonso. It’s nice to finally meet in person.”
Without prompting, he places Jessie in my mom’s arms. Her eyes well with tears as she holds my daughter for the first time. Dad looks on with something like awe.
“She looks just like you did when you were a baby,” Mom says. “The same hair, same nose, and lips. She’s perfect, Lina.”
I swipe the tears from my eyes and give her a watery smile.
“She gets it from her Nona,” Dad says. “You both do.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “My three beautiful girls, together at last.”
Griffin presses a gentle kiss to the top of my head, smoothing his hand down my hair. “I’ll get the luggage. Why don’t you show them to the living room?”
Once we’re settled on the sofa, Mama speaks in a hushed voice. “He’s a good man, Lina. Sent us first-class tickets and had his brother pick us up from the airport. You’ve got yourself a wonderful family.”
Dad nods along, listening but not taking his eyes off his granddaughter for a second.
“How long are you staying?” I ask.
“As long as you’ll have us,” she says. “We have an open-ended ticket.”
“You won’t miss Italy?”
She palms my cheek. “This is more important.”
Chapter 33
A Father In Love
? Dads and Daughters - MaRynn Taylor
1 week old: practically perfect in every way.
Angelina
Exhaustion,thy name is Angelina.
Never in my life have I been so ecstatic to be bone tired. My glamorous life looks a bit different lately: slippers instead of stilettos, nursing bras instead of lingerie, ChapStick instead of lipstick, but I’d make every one of those sacrifices over and over again to be Jessie’s mom.
