"You wouldn't love me if I wasn't.""I assure you I would."Carol turns back to me, her voice softening. "Honey, anytime you need help with the babies, you call us. Day or night. Nothing's more important than family."Relief settles heavy in my chest, dragging the rest of me down with it."Thank you
As I ruffle Niko's hair while he sits beside me, a soft knock echoes through the room, followed by the quiet creak of the door swinging open."Mind if we come in?" Carol's voice floats gently through the doorway.Niko lifts his head, quickly wiping away the evidence that he'd been crying."Hey, Mom.
AlyssaAt the hospital, the nurses whisk my babies away for the routine tests that should've been done as soon as they were born.Still, my chest tightens when they're rolled out of the room.I know it's standard. Necessary—especially considering the way they made their grand entrance on the floor o
"Mason..." I whisper, my voice cracking. "Why isn't she crying?"His face is grave. "I... I don't know." His eyes snap to King behind me. "King, cut the cord. We need to resuscitate. She isn't breathing."The room jolts into motion. King clamps and cuts the cord quickly, his hands steady even though
"Eden," I breathe, the answer falling from my lips before I can think twice.They all look at me.I glance toward the speaker where Take Me Back to Eden is playing low in the background. "I don't know... maybe it's the song. But it just feels right."King presses a tender kiss behind my ear. "Eden,"
I really need them to get out of me.The pressure deepens—low, primal, unstoppable.And then I push.Hard.With everything I've got.My whole body seizes, a guttural sound tearing from my throat as pain shreds through me—white-hot, blinding, the worst I've ever felt."Eight... nine... ten. And breat