Page 36 of Lucky Dance Date

“Push, Wes. Push!”

I bore down until the doctor told me to stop. But I only had a moment to catch my breath before I was pushing again.

A cry filled the room and for a second I wasn’t sure if it was mine. Then the pain was gone and the wailing remained.

“Oh she’s got a good set of lungs on her,” the doctor joked. “Congrats papa, you’ve got a healthy baby girl.”

I started sobbing; a rush of emotion too strong to fight. Then a nurse I didn’t recognize walked over with my baby and laid her on my chest.

Tears streamed down my face as I got my first look at my daughter. She was stunning, with my red hair and José’s tan skin.

“You made that,” José murmured as he reached down and ran his hand over her head.

“We made that,” I replied softly.

“What’s her name?” the nurse asked.

“Elena,” I whispered.

“Pretty.”

I smiled. “It means light.”

“She’s sure to be a bright spot,” the nurse replied. “I’ll be back in a minute to weigh and clean her.”

“Welcome to the world Elena,” José said, rubbing her back.

I looked up from my daughter to my mate. His gaze was still fixed on our newborn, but she wasn’t the only light in my life.

So much light had come into my world since reconnecting with José. No longer was my future dark and uncertain. It was now filled with hope.

I was surrounded with people who supported and uplifted me—people who believed in my dreams. They were now Elena’s lights too, just as she was a light to them.

She had a bright future ahead of her, without the darkness I’d known, and I couldn’t wait to show her how wondrous the world could be when a person was loved and supported unconditionally.

Just like I was now.

“I love you,” I said, leaning my head against José.

“I love you too,” he replied. “Always.”

I smiled. This was the life I deserved, with my new family—a family I’d chosen for myself.