"And yet you weep longer," Lily teased, cocking an eyebrow.Vandaulf slapped a hand over his chest. "Because I am sensitive. Like an artist.""An artist of melodrama," Helena growled, sipping more tea."Don't pretend like you weren't about to cry when Elara blinked at you yesterday," Vandaulf smiled."She winked," Helena said. "That's different. It was full of promise."Lily laughed, her heart expanding as she observed the tableau before her—her daughter in Brenna's arms, Helena adjusting a blanket corner, and Vandaulf observing them all as if he couldn't believe he was among this crazy, loving chaos.“She’s so lucky,” Lily whispered to herself.Vandaulf looked at her, catching the softness in her eyes. “We’re the lucky ones.”She smiled, her hand reaching out as a matter of course to stroke Elara's tiny foot as it projected past the edge of the blanket.Brenna's voice was a soothing lullaby now. "Don't you fret, dear Elara. Nana will go herself and talk each and every one of those vac
Back HomeHome, Lily put Elara into her softest onesie—pink with small stars—and fed her as Vandaulf got to work on the "Post-Prick Recovery Plan," such as he named it. It consisted of:A soft blanket fort in the living roomWarm milk for ElaraHot cocoa for LilyAn emergency container of cookie dough ice creamAnd an animated film playing quietly in the background"She won't even recall today," Lily breathed afterwards, snuggled up beside him under the cover, Elara on her chest, sleeping."But I will," Vandaulf replied, brushing a kiss across his daughter's small fingers. "I'll remember each time she ached, even a little.""That's what being a parent is," Lily said softly. "Loving them enough that their hurt is yours."He nodded. "And then numbing it in cocoa and cuddles."Lily kissed his jaw and laughed. "Best plan I've heard all day."He reached for her, running a thumb over her cheek. "She's lucky, you know. To have you.""She has us."He nodded, bringing his mouth down hard again
Elara moved in a small way, her nose wrinkling as if she'd heard, before once again relaxing against her mother's chest. Vandaulf, perched at the edge of the hospital bed, slid an arm around them both, wordless and motionless, as though he was afraid to risk even the slightest movement lest it break the delicate perfection of the moment.Outside, the gentle twilight colored the room pink. The world outside the hospital walls thrummed along—cars speeding, people living—but in this room, time was different. Sluggish. Gentle.Brenna sat with Helena on the couch, their fingers laced as they observed the young family in front of them. "Remember?" Brenna asked softly. "When Lily was this little?"Helena nodded, eyes watery. "And now she's a mother. Life really does come full circle.""You were right," Brenna breathed, looking at Helena through a soft smile. "The next generation of drama has arrived."Helena laughed between her tears. "And we wouldn't have it any other way."Vandaulf kissed
Helena, without a flicker, showed her notepad. "First latch: logged. Look on face: mixture of shock, panic, and mild alarm."Vandaulf leaned over Lily's shoulder and laughed. "And what does Elara rate it?"Helena turned the page. "Four stars. Milk is wonderful. Atmosphere could use less people glowering."They all laughed, and Lily, slowly relaxing, leaned back against the pillows with a new sort of wonder in her eyes. Her body could be tired and battered, but at this moment she was as resilient as a superwoman."She's actually doing it," Lily whispered, smiling down at the baby happily nursing. "I didn't expect it to work this quickly.""Babies know," Brenna said, leaning over to smooth Lily's hair. "Just like their moms."Lily grinned, her eyes glinting. "I don't know how I could've done this without you guys.""You mean us," Vandaulf said, slipping an arm around her shoulder and grinning smugly. "Remember, I'm your certified snack knight and emotional pillow.""And labor-forgetting
Her voice was trembling with exhaustion, yet her heart pounded with something new and powerful. A love that rooted itself deeper than anything she'd ever known.By her side, Vandaulf smiled and was a bit euphoric himself, still wearing the hospital guest band on his wrist like a badge of honor."She blinked!" he cried out."She's a baby," Helena matter-of-factly replied from the armchair. "She's not winking at you, Romeo.""But it was directed at me," he protested, jabbing his finger toward his chest. "You noticed that, Brenna?"Brenna, seated beside Helena with a camera full of baby photos, nodded seriously. "Oh yes. The baby clearly inherited her father's drama gene.""See?" Vandaulf bragged. "We're in sync already."Lily bit back a laugh. "Then maybe she can teach you how to swaddle properly before we go.""I did swaddle her!""She unwrapped herself like Houdini in under three minutes.""That was an experiment," he defended. "She was experimenting with me. And I passed.""She pushe
The hours blurred together, marked only by the rise and fall of pain, the soft beeping of machines, and the gentle encouragement of the nurses. Lily’s world shrank to the bed, the cool touch of a damp cloth on her forehead, and the steady pressure of Vandaulf’s hand in hers.“Breathe, Lily,” the nurse said, her voice low and soothing. “You’re doing beautifully.”Lily tried to focus on her breathing, on the rhythm of inhale and exhale, but the pain was a tidal wave, crashing over her in relentless intervals. She squeezed Vandaulf’s hand, her knuckles white.“Remind me again why we did this?” she gasped, her voice strained.Vandaulf managed a shaky smile. “Because you love me.”She glared at him, sweat beading on her brow. “I did love you. Before the pillow incident.”He winced, remembering how he’d accidentally knocked her favorite pillow onto the floor in the middle of the night, then left it there, forgotten, as he rushed to pack the hospital bag. “Fair,” he conceded.The nurse check