Page 164

I looked from my father to my mother.
“I know we have no right to see her or have a place in her life, but…”
She clutched the little lamb in her hands even harder and then I remembered. That lamb used to be mine as a baby. I put my hand to my mouth as I registered it all. She had kept it all this time. Even after everything.
“I thought Bridgette would like to have him...” said my mother.
I held back tears.
“Would you like to meet her?” I asked.
My mother and father looked at each other and back to me, nodding enthusiastically.
I led them down the hallway to the NICU. We checked in, washed our hands, and walked over to Bridgette. We found Daniel sitting in the same chair I had been in and holding Bridgette against his bare chest. He looked up as we approached and smiled warmly.
“Skin to skin,” he explained nervously as he realized he was half naked in front of my parents.
I laughed softly as I shook my head. The sight was too precious.
I heard my mother suck in a breath as her eyes took in Bridgette, who lay curled up, her little fingers pressed against Daniel’s chest.
“She’s so… so beautiful, Addison,” said my mother as she wrapped her arm around me gently. At first, my body didn’t know how to react, but I soon melted into my mother’s embrace, now realizing how badly I had missed it.
“Look at her tiny toes and fingers,” whispered my father in awe.
“She’s perfect in every way,” said my mother.
“She looks like you,” my father added.
“And you,” my mother commented to Daniel.
We spent the next thirty minutes admiring every inch of Bridgette, and there weren’t many. I couldn’t get over how small she was, but the doctor said she was strong and healthy, which were the most reassuring words I could hear.
“We should probably let you have your time,” said my mother, not able to tear her gaze away from Bridgette.
I nodded and gave Daniel a thankful look before I led them out of the room. We walked in silence down the hallway. As we approached the elevators, I stopped and looked at them both.
“I want you to be a part of Bridgette’s life. Of my life.But…”
I saw my mother’s face bristle as she waited for what was coming next.
“We have to promise we won’t drop out of each other’s lives again,” I continued.
My mother let out a sigh of relief and she pulled me in for another hug. My father came from behind and wrapped his arms around us both.
Chapter 58
Daniel
Calling Heart’s parents had been a bold move. I had never met them before, but was the father to their grandchild. I was sure that wasn’t the way they had planned things to go for their daughter. Her mother had sounded surprised on the phone, but said they would make the necessary arrangements to get out to New York as soon as possible.
When the nurse brought them to the hospital room this morning. I was taken aback. I wasn’t expecting it to be so soon, but it was probably better for them to take me off guard. My nerves of waiting to meet them would probably eat me alive. I would be practicing how to introduce myself and how to share the story of Heart and me meeting. I knew it would be a mess of a story. Now that I was a father, I would keep Bridgette far away from a guy like me. At least, the guy I used to be.
While Heart was with her parents, I decided to do another bold thing. I called her best friend. The bulldog otherwise known as Monica. I had swiped her number from Heart’s phone while she was sleeping. I held my breath as the phone rang, not knowing if this was going to go well or not. We hadn’t exactly gotten off on the right foot and I knew how fiercely protective she was of Heart.
I looked around the empty NICU to make sure I wasn’t disturbing anyone. Bridgette was still asleep on my chest, breathing calmly and soundly. There wasn’t a more soothing feeling than her little body against my chest. It felt like my whole world was right here.
The phone rang a few more times and I finally heard a click on the other line.