Chapter Sixty Three

Chapter Sixty-Three

Everything happened at once.

One minute everyone had been focused on Daisy.

The next—

Harper's waters were on the hospital floor.

And suddenly the maternity ward exploded into motion.

Nurses appeared from nowhere.

Doctors were called.

Monitors were wheeled in.

Questions fired in every direction.

Noah looked completely shell-shocked.

"What do you mean your waters broke?"

Harper stared at him.

"My waters broke, Noah."

"I know but—"

Another nurse appeared.

"Sir, we need to assess your wife."

Noah immediately stepped aside.

Still looking horrified.

Across the room Daisy almost laughed.

Almost.

Because somehow only Noah could sound surprised that waters breaking meant waters breaking.

Unfortunately there was nothing funny about the situation.

The twins were early.

Far too early.

And Daisy was heading for surgery.

The reality of both situations hit simultaneously.

Roman stood beside Daisy's bed.

One hand gripping hers.

The other brushing hair from her face.

Neither wanted to let go.

"You okay?"

It was the same question he'd asked a thousand times.

Daisy smiled weakly.

"No."

The honesty made his heart ache.

Because neither of them were okay.

Not tonight.

Not while their daughter was arriving months early.

Not while Harper was suddenly in labour.

Not while everything felt completely out of control.

A nurse appeared beside them.

"We're ready."

Roman's stomach dropped.

Ready.

Such a simple word.

Yet it changed everything.

Because in a few minutes...

Violet would be here.

The thought was both wonderful and terrifying.

The hospital bed began moving.

Daisy squeezed Roman's hand.

Hard.

Roman walked beside her.

Refusing to let go.

Together they moved through brightly lit corridors.

Past nurses.

Past doctors.

Past Christmas decorations still hanging from the ceilings.

The operating theatre doors appeared ahead.

Roman suddenly stopped.

Just for a second.

Fear finally catching up with him.

Daisy immediately noticed.

"Roman."

He looked at her.

For a moment neither spoke.

Then she smiled.

A small smile.

A tired smile.

The smile she'd always saved for him.

"She's going to be okay."

Roman swallowed hard.

Because he wanted to believe that.

More than anything.

The doors opened.

And Daisy disappeared inside.

For the first time that night—

Roman had to let go.

The next hour was torture.

Roman sat outside the theatre.

Noah beside him.

Both men silent.

Both terrified.

Neither willing to admit it.

The nurses came and went.

Updates arrived.

Small pieces of information.

Enough to keep everyone breathing.

Daisy was stable.

Harper was being monitored.

The twins weren't arriving immediately.

For now.

For now was all anyone had.

Then suddenly—

the operating theatre doors opened.

Roman was on his feet instantly.

Noah stood too.

A doctor stepped into the hallway.

Smiling.

Actually smiling.

And for the first time all night—

hope flooded through Roman.

"Mr Moretti?"

Roman nodded.

Unable to speak.

The doctor smiled wider.

"Congratulations."

Everything stopped.

The hallway.

The fear.

The panic.

The waiting.

Everything.

"Your daughter is here."

Roman closed his eyes.

Relief hit so hard it almost knocked the breath from his lungs.

A daughter.

Violet was here.

Safe.

Alive.

Fighting.

The doctor continued.

"She's small."

Of course she was.

"She'll need support in NICU."

Roman nodded.

Tears filled his eyes immediately.

He didn't care.

Not even a little.

"Can I see her?"

The doctor's smile softened.

"Yes."

Minutes later Roman stood beside an incubator.

And there she was.

Tiny.

So impossibly tiny.

Yet absolutely perfect.

Dark hair.

Tiny fingers.

Tiny nose.

His daughter.

Violet Moretti.

Roman stared.

Unable to move.

Unable to speak.

Then one tiny hand wrapped around his finger.

And Roman fell completely in love.

Across the hospital Daisy was waking up.

Harper was still being monitored.

Noah was pacing.

And somewhere down the corridor—

two impatient twins were deciding Boxing Day was their birthday too.

❤️📖💕👶🌸✨