A little bit of leather.
A little bit of lace.
The sweetest, most perfect bundle of joy.
I close my eyes, relishing in the sound of her cries, committing the melody to my memory.
“Oh my God!” My mother squeals. “She’s perfect, absolutely perfect!”
I feel my father drop his lips to my ear.
“Open your eyes and look, Lace. Look at our girl, see what you did,” he rasps. “I’m so fucking proud of you…so fucking proud.”
I do as I’m told, and my eyes find her once again.
Her arms flail as she kicks her legs and continues to cry at the top of her lungs. It’s such an indescribable moment that leaves me in awe and I wonder if it’s possible for her to ever know how much I love her.
“Who is going to cut the cord?”
Her father isn’t here to do the honor, but I imagine there is only one person he trusts to take his place.
Touching my dad’s hand, I lift my eye to his.
“Dad, you should do it,” I murmur. “Blackie would want you to.”
Thumbing away a tear with his free hand, he nods and lifts my hand to his lips. Giving it a quick kiss, he releases it and makes his way to my daughter. I always held my father in high regard, but I never thought it was possible to love him more than I already did. As he takes the scissors from the doctor and smiles at my daughter, I’m proven wrong. Jack Parrish has had many roles, but I think grandpa will be his best yet. With Reina on one side and my mom on the other, he cuts the umbilical cord and the three of them gush over my daughter.
A smile plays on my lips as I lay my head back against the bed and close my eyes.
I did it.
Despite the chaos and confusion that threatened to ruin me, I brought our daughter into the world and she’s healthy.
It was worth all the tears.
Every sacrifice.
All the pain.
“Welcome to the world, Jacqueline Christine Petra,” I whisper. “Mommy loves you.”
My job is done.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Blackie
Schwartz is an arrogant prick but there is no denying he’s the best. Hiring him and forking over the key to my safe deposit box was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If I hadn’t, I’m not sure what would’ve happened to me. My guess, I’d be doing some serious time for murdering Javier’s soldier. Instead, I’m clean and sober. A man who is somewhat confident in his abilities to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being the best husband and father to Lacey and our little girl who decided she wanted to meet her mom and dad a little earlier than expected.
After my release from rehab was processed, I hugged Sunny goodbye as Schwartz loaded his Range Rover with my belongings and promised to keep in touch. It was an easy promise, one I’m sure I’ll have no problem keeping. I don’t think that tree-hugging hippie knows how much I respect her. I may be the one reclaiming my life, but she’s the one who gave me the tools to make that possible and for that, I will be forever thankful to her.
We exchanged numbers and before I could ask her to promise she’d come to visit the baby once she was born, Sunny’s cell phone rang. By the expression on her face, I thought something was horribly wrong when she squeezed my arm. Then she smiled at me and something inside me told me to brace myself for the news.
“Lacey’s in labor!”
“What?”
“Reina’s been trying to get a hold of us but because of the court appearance, forget it. It doesn’t matter. You need to go! She’s coming, Dominic! Your little girl is coming today!”
“She’s coming today,” I repeated, before abruptly turning to Schwartz. “How fast does this thing go?” I questioned, patting the hood of his fancy SUV. He scowled at me but a moment later he unbuttoned his suit jacket and tossed it into the backseat. Rolling up his sleeves, he jutted his chin.
“It’s going to cost you,” he warned. “And if I get a speeding ticket--”
“I’ll pay it,” I interjected. “Just get me to my girls.” I paused, glancing back at Sunny. “Did they say what hospital they took her to?”
“Staten Island.”
“We’ll call the North site,” Schwartz said. “Just get in the car so we can do this.”
With another quick hug to the woman who just about saved my life. I slid into the passenger seat. Schwartz started up the Range Rover, and we peeled away from the rehab center. If the hotshot lawyer thing ever goes south, the son of a bitch might want to try his luck as a race car driver. While he did his best to defy speed limits, I used his phone to call Reina. I don’t know if her phone was off or if she didn’t have service in the hospital, but I couldn’t get a hold of her. I didn’t remember anyone else’s number and so, Schwartz called his secretary and had her make some calls. An hour later we were crossing the Goethals Bridge, making our way to Staten Island University Hospital.
To my surprise, I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t think about all the things that could go wrong or worry that I was too late. I knew Lacey had our girl. She suffered through hell to put our daughter first and carried her all these months, taking excellent care of her. There was no doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t see this through to the end. Of course I wanted to be there to hold Lacey’s hand and hear our daughter’s first cry, but if I didn’t make it in time, I was okay with that too. I was going to meet my little girl on her birthday and until a little while ago, I wasn’t sure that was a possibility. I’m going to be able to hold her in my arms and kiss her on the day she’s born, and that’s enough for me.
It’s everything.
Schwartz finally pulls up to the main entrance of the hospital and before he can come to a complete stop, I’m out of the Range Rover, charging into the hospital. At the reception desk, I tell them my wife is in labor and they direct me to the second floor. The elevator ride up feels like it takes forever. My heart pounds with excitement as the bell chimes, signaling I’ve arrived at the second floor. The doors slide open and the second I step off the elevator, I freeze as my eyes take in the sea of familiar faces.
“Blackie!” Danny exclaims, spotting me first.
My little brother-in-law rushes to me as everyone rises to their feet. Catching him, I lift him into my arms as all the men I call my brothers surround me.
“Where is she?” I ask no one in particular.
Before anyone can answer the double doors leading to Labor and Delivery fly open. My eyes lock with Reina’s and my breath hitches as I take in the joyful smile playing on her lips. It’s in that moment, I know my daughter has been born and I swear, my fucking heart grows ten times in size.
“She’s here?” I ask hoarsely.
Silently, she nods as tears spill from the corners of her eyes. I don’t know who takes Danny out of my arms but I’m grateful to whoever it is because my legs buckle at the realization that I’m a father. Bracing my hands on my knees, I forget to breathe as Reina rushes for me. Lifting my eyes to hers, I swallow against the lump in my throat and force air into my lungs.
“Is she…are they…”
“She’s perfect,” she says, taking my hands in hers. I straighten up and she starts to tug me towards the doors. “Six pounds, eleven ounces and nineteen inches long.”