Novel-novel oleh Emelda Martins

Lily's POVThree weeks early, my water broke at two in the morning."Alexander." I shook him awake. "It's time. The baby's coming."He shot up looking panicked. "Now? You're not due for three more weeks!""Babies don't follow schedules." I breathed through a contraction. "We need to go to the hospital."The drive was a blur of contractions and Alexander's nervous chatter."Breathing is good. You're doing great. Almost there." He kept saying."I know how to breathe." I snapped between contractions. "I've been doing it my whole life."At the hospital, they confirmed I was in active labor."Looks like this baby wants to meet you today." Dr. Martinez smiled. "Let's get you settled."The next twelve hours were the longest of my life.Contractions getting stronger. Pain becoming unbearable. Alexander holding my hand through all of it."You're doing amazing." He wiped my forehead. "So strong.""I can't do this anymore." I said at hour ten. "I'm done. Someone else can have this baby.""Just a

Lily's POVCatherine insisted on throwing an elaborate baby shower despite my protests that I wanted something simple."This is a celebration." She said firmly. "Let me do this for you and Elena Rose."So I surrendered and let her plan whatever she wanted.The shower was at Catherine's beautiful home on a Saturday afternoon when Elena Rose was about six weeks old.I arrived with Alexander and the baby to find the house transformed.Elegant decorations in soft colors. Tables laden with food. Flowers everywhere."This is gorgeous." I said to Catherine. "You went all out.""Only the best for my girl." She hugged me. "You deserve to be celebrated."The guest list was perfect. A mix of my two worlds finally coming together.Art school friends like Maya and Sophie. Business associates like Janet and board members.Rafael and his partner. Gallery owners who'd supported me early on. Foundation staff.People from every part of my life gathered to celebrate Elena Rose."This is amazing." Maya s

Alexander's POVLate at night, two weeks after Elena Rose was born, I stood in the nursery watching my daughter sleep.She was so tiny. So perfect. So completely dependent on Lily and me for everything.The weight of that responsibility was overwhelming in the best possible way.I'd spent my entire life focused on work and achievement and building power.Now none of that mattered compared to this sleeping baby."Can't sleep?" Lily appeared in the doorway looking exhausted."Just watching her." I kept my voice low. "Making sure she's breathing.""She's fine." Lily moved beside me. "You check on her every hour. She's definitely breathing."I knew I was being paranoid but I couldn't help it.This tiny person was my whole world now. The thought of anything happening to her was unbearable."I never understood why parents were so intense about their kids." I admitted. "Now I get it completely.""Because they're your whole heart walking around outside your body." Lily leaned against me. "Ter

Lily's POVAt five months pregnant, hiding was no longer an option.My belly had grown enough that loose clothing no longer disguised it.People were starting to notice and whisper but we hadn't made any official announcement yet."We need to tell everyone publicly." I said to Alexander one morning. "Before rumors spread and make it weird.""Agreed." He kissed my growing bump. "Let's do it this week. Get ahead of the gossip."We worked with Catherine to craft the perfect announcement.Something professional but warm. Acknowledging the pregnancy without oversharing."How about this?" Catherine showed us a draft. "Thompson Enterprises is pleased to announce that CEO Alexander Thompson and Chief Creative Officer Lily Rose Thompson are expecting their first child in April.""Simple and perfect." I approved. "Not too much detail but enough to make it official."The statement went out Wednesday morning through the company's usual channels.Within an hour, my office was flooded with congratu

Alexander's POVFrom the moment Lily told me she was pregnant, I'd been terrified of becoming a father.Not because I didn't want the baby but because I had no idea how to be a good dad.My own parents had been distant and uninvolved. More interested in their careers than their children.I'd been raised by nannies and boarding schools. Had learned early that needing people was weakness.Now I was about to be responsible for a tiny person who would need me for everything.The fear was overwhelming."You're reading another parenting book?" Lily asked finding me on the couch with my fourth book that month."I want to be prepared." I marked my page. "Want to know what I'm doing.""No one knows what they're doing at first." She sat beside me. "We'll learn together."But I couldn't shake the fear that I'd repeat my parents' mistakes.That I'd be too focused on work. Too emotionally distant. Too much like the father I'd had."What if I'm terrible at this?" I asked Lily one night. "What if I

Lily's POVVictoria Thompson calling herself my grandmother still felt strange even months after our first meeting.She'd been the one who rejected my mother. Who'd refused to acknowledge me as Richard's daughter. Who'd caused so much pain.But she was trying now. Really trying to make amends and be part of our lives."Your grandmother called again." Alexander said one evening. "Asking if she can come visit next week.""She calls every few days now." I smiled touching my seven-month pregnant belly. "I think she's lonely and wants to be involved.""How do you feel about that?" Alexander sat beside me. "About her being so present?""Good actually." I admitted. "She shares stories about Richard that help me know him. And she seems genuinely sorry for her past mistakes."The relationship with Victoria had grown slowly but steadily.Weekly phone calls where she'd ask about the pregnancy and share memories of Richard.Visits where she'd bring baby gifts and photo albums from Richard's child