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He sounds like he can’t believe the words even as he says them.
“Yeah, you do. And she’s the most perfect little girl. She turned one two months ago. She’s started walking and talking, although it’s mostly incoherent babbles. She called me mama a couple weeks ago,” I say my eyes filling with tears. “Oh, and she looks like you. She has your eyes.”
Sterling sucks in a sharp breath. “Can I… Can I see her?”
“Of course.”
I send a text to Priya asking her to bring our daughter. A couple minutes later she appears, carrying the baby in her arms.I collect her from my stepmother before taking her to meet her father.
“Sterling, this is your little girl,” I introduce. “Her name’s Stella. Stella Harrington. She doesn’t have a middle name yet. I thought you’d like to do the honors. Stella, this is your daddy.”
Sterling’s expression is tender as he looks at his daughter for the first time. I notice a tremble in his finger as he reaches to touch her cheek. She giggles, trying to reach for his hand, and he gasps softly.
“She’s perfect.”
“I know.”
“And you named her Stella,” he murmurs. “Beautiful name, angel. You did so well. I’m grateful.”
I beam. “Are you happy?”
“Are you kidding? I have a gorgeous little daughter.” He laughs. “I’m fucking ecstatic.”
Priya coughs in the distance, cautioning him against swearing. I giggle.
“Sorry,” he tells her before looking at our daughter again with wonder in his eyes, like he can’t believe she’s real.
“Do you want to carry her?”
He nods and I slowly transfer the little bundle of joy in his arms. She looks content in her father’s arms. And I just stare at them, my eyes glassy because this is all I’ve wanted all this time and now that I have it, I know I’ll be okay.
Sterling holds his daughter for as long as she lets him until she starts to grow a little fussy. When she starts crying, I know it’s because she’s hungry, so I collect her gently, giving her back to Priya.
“Could you give her a bottle, please?” I ask.
My stepmother nods, leaving with our daughter, and then it’s just us. There’s still some things left unspoken.
“So what now?” I ask once they’re gone.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure where I stand with you,” I say carefully.
He rolls his eyes before pulling me into his arms. I rest against his chest, breathing him in.
“What do you mean, you’re not sure? I poured my heart out to you yesterday, angel. Nothing’s changed. I still want you. I want to build a family with you. You, me, Sean, and Stella.”
“Oh God, Sean,” I murmur worriedly. “How’s he going to react to suddenly having a little sister.”
“He’ll be happy about it,” he assures me. “Thankfully, he’s been getting lots of practice looking after someone other than himself thanks to Lion. I’m sure he’ll be the best big brother.”
I look up at him. “You’re the best and I don’t deserve you.”
He shakes his head. “No you are. You’ve given me all I’ve ever wanted. Even the things I didn’t realize I needed.”
We eventually break apart to take a seat on the bench once again. I lean against his shoulder, taking in an easy breath, glad that we’ve finally worked it all out. Now I just have to figure out how to bring up one other problem.
“Hey, angel,” Sterling says after a minute. “Just to be safe. Are there any other life-changing secrets I need to know about?”