“After what seemed like forever, she had a baby boy. I saw him when he was just a few minutes old.” Her smile brightened. “Luca was so tiny. And he looked just furious at the indignity of being born.”
Rico smiled with her and for one long moment, it was almost as if they were…united. And it was so good Teresa didn’t want that moment to end, though she knew it would. For whatever reason, Rico had decided to put their argument aside and go back to their earlier, almost friendly position. She was more than willing.
“Then I will try to be patient as we wait for the newest King to make his arrival.”
“They know it’s a boy?”
“They do,” he said, nodding. “Just last month I helped Sean paint the baby’s room.”
“Melinda showed me the nursery. You guys did a nice job. I love the blue and chocolate-brown.” She stopped and laughed a little. “Wow. I just realized it was only a few hours ago that we were at Melinda’s house and it feels like days.”
He nodded, looked past her at the hospital entrance and said, “The waiting takes a toll.”
“It does.” She followed his gaze and said, “We should really get back.”
“Yes. We should.” He looked as reluctant to end this alone time as she felt and Teresa told herself not to make more of it than there was. Still, a tiny nugget of hope settled into a corner of her heart and wouldn’t be budged.
He took her hand in his and the warmth of his skin washed through her. She held that feeling to her and told herself to remember. To etch that sensation into her heart and mind so that one day soon, when he was far out of reach, she’d be able to take out this memory and relive the feel of her hand in his.
When he led her back to the hospital, they were silent, even their footsteps muffled on the grass.
By dawn, their wait was over.
Sean strutted down the long hallway to the waiting room and greeted them both with a wide grin stretched across his face.
“Melinda’s great and so is our son.” He slapped his hands together and scrubbed his palms before shoving both hands through his hair. “It was—Melinda was—amazing.”
Rico bolted out of his chair, crossed the room and gave his cousin a brief, hard hug before stepping back and slapping Sean on the shoulder. “Congratulations! You’re a father!”
“Terrifying, man,” Sean told him with a shudder. “I won’t lie.”
Teresa winced a little at that word, half expecting a knowing glare from Rico. She was surprised, and pleased, when it didn’t come. She walked to Sean and gave him a hug. “Do we get to see him?”
“Absolutely.” Sean grinned at both of them again. “I came to get you so you can admire and stare with awe at the newest King.”
Rico took Teresa’s hand again as they followed Sean along the corridor and she had the feeling he hadn’t even noticed doing it. The move had just come naturally. As if he’d needed to be linked with her for the occasion. That nugget of hope grew just a bit in spite of the fact that she tried hard to prevent it.
The hospital was small, so it didn’t take long to get to the nursery. There were only three newborns nestled into clear bassinets. And only one of those three was a boy. While Sean stared at his son with the bemused expression of someone who had survived a battle when he hadn’t expected to, Teresa just looked at the baby. He was perfect. Tiny and pink-cheeked and so beautiful she felt a knot of envy lodge in her throat.