Page 88 of Blackout: Book Two

Chapter Twenty-eight

Lacey

I didn’t think it was possible to love him any more than I already did but seeing Blackie hold our daughter made me fall even harder. So hard that my heart feels as though it might explode. I could watch them together for the rest of my life and be the happiest woman to ever walk the earth. The way he talks to her…oh my God, it's everything.

“You’re staring,” he teases, lifting his eyes to mine as he presses his lips to Jacqueline’s hand.

She’s had it wrapped tightly around his finger since the nurse came in and put the wristband on him. It was almost as if she feared he would leave if she let go.

“I can’t help it,” I whisper. “I didn’t think I’d see this. How are you even here right now?”

He smiles.

“Schwartz,” he says simply. “There was a reason I hired him, Lace. If anyone was going to get me home to my girls, it was him. About five weeks ago, he came to see me and told me there was a hearing scheduled to review my progress. I don’t know what kind of strings he pulled, but he had Sunny and a few of the other counselors testify and petitioned the court to release me early.”

“How come you didn’t tell me?”

“Honestly? I thought he was full of shit. I didn’t want to get either of our hopes up. Hell, I still don’t think it’s even sunk in for me,” he admits as he draws his attention back to our baby. “I can’t believe I’m holding her.”

“I haven’t held her yet,” I blurt.

His eyes instantly snap to mine.

“What?” he questions.

“After I had her, my mother and father basically hogged her all up. Well, really my dad did. I don’t think he let my mother have a turn.”

“You were asleep when I got here.”

“Labor will knock you out,” I joke.

Lifting himself out of the chair he walks towards the bed and sits on the edge much like I found him when I open my eyes.

“This day just keeps getting better,” he says as he bends his head to give Jacqueline another kiss. “Now, I get to see you hold her for the first time. Open your arms.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I sit up and position my arms as he gently slides her into them. It’s not an easy transition because he literally has to pry his finger out of her grip and she instantly fusses at the loss of her daddy, but once she settles into my arms, the world stops for me. It changed the moment I heard her cry, but it goes completely still in that second. All that exists for me is her.

“Hi, my sweet girl,” I rasp, blinking through the tears clouding my view of her. At the sound of my voice, her eyes open and meet mine. “I’m your mommy, but you know that already, don’t you.?” I whisper the question as I bend my head to kiss hers. “I think she recognizes my voice.”

“Of course she does,” Blackie agrees, his voice thick with emotion. “She probably even knows your heartbeat.”

I lift my eyes to him and smile.

“How wild is that?”

“Not so much wild as it is beautiful.”

Leaning forward, he reaches out and cups my cheek. Careful of the baby, he guides my mouth to his and presses the softest kiss to my lips.

“Thank you,” he rasps against my mouth.

“For choosing me.”

He plants another kiss to my lips.

“For loving me.”

Then another.

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