Page 167 of Blackout-

“I’ll pay it,” I interjected. “Just get me to my girls.” I paused, glancing back at Sunny. “Did they say what hospital they took her to?”

“Staten Island.”

“We’ll call the North site,” Schwartz said. “Just get in the car so we can do this.”

With another quick hug to the woman who just about saved my life. I slid into the passenger seat. Schwartz started up the Range Rover, and we peeled away from the rehab center. If the hotshot lawyer thing ever goes south, the son of a bitch might want to try his luck as a race car driver. While he did his best to defy speed limits, I used his phone to call Reina. I don’t know if her phone was off or if she didn’t have service in the hospital, but I couldn’t get a hold of her. I didn’t remember anyone else’s number and so, Schwartz called his secretary and had her make some calls. An hour later we were crossing the Goethals Bridge, making our way to Staten Island University Hospital.

To my surprise, I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t think about all the things that could go wrong or worry that I was too late. I knew Lacey had our girl. She suffered through hell to put our daughter first and carried her all these months, taking excellent care of her. There was no doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t see this through to the end. Of course I wanted to be there to hold Lacey’s hand and hear our daughter’s first cry, but if I didn’t make it in time, I was okay with that too. I was going to meet my little girl on her birthday and until a little while ago, I wasn’t sure that was a possibility. I’m going to be able to hold her in my arms and kiss her on the day she’s born, and that’s enough for me.

It’s everything.

Schwartz finally pulls up to the main entrance of the hospital and before he can come to a complete stop, I’m out of the Range Rover, charging into the hospital. At the reception desk, I tell them my wife is in labor and they direct me to the second floor. The elevator ride up feels like it takes forever. My heart pounds with excitement as the bell chimes, signaling I’ve arrived at the second floor. The doors slide open and the second I step off the elevator, I freeze as my eyes take in the sea of familiar faces.

“Blackie!” Danny exclaims, spotting me first.

My little brother-in-law rushes to me as everyone rises to their feet. Catching him, I lift him into my arms as all the men I call my brothers surround me.

“Where is she?” I ask no one in particular.

Before anyone can answer the double doors leading to Labor and Delivery fly open. My eyes lock with Reina’s and my breath hitches as I take in the joyful smile playing on her lips. It’s in that moment, I know my daughter has been born and I swear, my fucking heart grows ten times in size.

“She’s here?” I ask hoarsely.

Silently, she nods as tears spill from the corners of her eyes. I don’t know who takes Danny out of my arms but I’m grateful to whoever it is because my legs buckle at the realization that I’m a father. Bracing my hands on my knees, I forget to breathe as Reina rushes for me. Lifting my eyes to hers, I swallow against the lump in my throat and force air into my lungs.

“Is she…are they…”

“She’s perfect,” she says, taking my hands in hers. I straighten up and she starts to tug me towards the doors. “Six pounds, eleven ounces and nineteen inches long.”

Six pounds, eleven ounces.

Now, I know why they say the greatest gifts come in the smallest packages.

“C’mon, we need to get you a wristband,” she says as she pulls me through the doors and ushers me down the corridor. “Jack and Connie are in there with them. Oh my God, Blackie, she’s beautiful.”

“How’s Lacey?”

“Tired, but she did so good,” she replies as she brings me to the nurse’s station. “Hi, excuse me, this is Lacey’s husband. Does he need a wristband like the rest of us?”

“Oh, yes, give me one second,” the nurse says as she rises from her seat. “Go right in and I’ll bring it into the room.”

“Why do I need a wristband?”

“It’s hospital protocol and allows you to stay with Lacey and the baby,” Reina explains. “They check the bands to make sure they match.” She pauses as we reach a room. “Here, we are,” she whispers and for a moment, all I can do is stare at the closed door.

Forever is on the other side.

All my tomorrows just waiting to be claimed.

I slowly turn the knob and the second my eyes adjust to the darkness of the room I spot Jack. Sitting next to Connie, he holds a tiny pink bundle in his arms. He lifts his head, and a smile spreads across his face.

“Looks like Grandpa’s time is up,” he says softly to my daughter. “Daddy’s here, Jacqueline.”

Jacqueline.

Until a few days ago, we still couldn’t agree on a name. I remembered Lacey saying if we had two sons, she wanted to name them Jack and Dominic, so I suggested Jacqueline. She volleyed with Dominique. I still wasn’t sold on naming a child after me, but I was all for naming our daughter after the best man I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

My feet start to move, the soles of my boots swallowing up the space separating me and the new girl in my life. I pause in front of Lacey’s bed and take in her sleeping form. My hand touches her foot as I take a moment to watch her sleep. She was barely legal when I first fell in love with her and at times that love was selfish. I’ll never understand why she chose me, but I’m done questioning it. If life has taught me anything, it’s accepting my blessings and Lacey, she’s my greatest one. My dream girl. The mother of my child. My queen.

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