Page 187 of Arturo's Temptation

“She’s okay,” he breathed, taking my hand once more. My heart slowed as his words sunk in.

“She?”

“Yes. We have a beautiful baby girl, my love.” He kissed my knuckles as tears fell from my eyes. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered against my skin.

“W-what for?”

“My mum, she—” he started.

“Y-yes, yourmother, not you,” I winced, wriggling up the bed.

“But I let her into our lives…” he whispered, guilt and anguish filling his features. “Never in my most fucked up dreams did I imagine she could do anythin’ like this.” I squeezed his hand with what strength I had.

“You don’t get to blame yourself.” I soothed as he wrapped his arms carefully around me.

“I thought I was goin’ to lose you,hermosa. I can’t lose my girls.”

“We’re not going anywhere.”

As Arturo filled me in on what was happening with our daughter, everything that had happened at the house began to flood back. The way his mother lost it, and how she wrecked the nursery before setting her sights on me.

“I tried to protect our baby, but your mother was crafty. She knew what she set out to do.” I sighed, letting my head fall back against the pillow.

“Forget her for now. I’ll deal with it. I just want to enjoy this time with you.” he smiled, I knew it was going to be hard for him to face her again and to find out why she did what she did but I also knew he could do it. “Hermosa, I have an idea for a name.”

“Tell me.” I beamed as he perched on the edge of the bed, his fingers linking with my own.

“Valencia Peyton Ramos.”

“Valencia?” I asked, genuine love for the name warming my heart.

“I was searchin’ online while I was waitin’ for you to wake up. It stood out, y’know? It means strong, and she’s already showin’ that’s what she is.”

“It’s perfect. I love it.” I couldn’t hide the happiness at the name he’d chosen, he had wanted to honour my best friend too. It was beautiful. “I want to see her.”

“Once the nurse has been in, I’ll take you.” He brought his lips to mine. “I was so scared, Bella.”

“There’s no need to be,” I breathed, exhaustion creeping in once again. “I’m fine and Valencia is in the best place for now.” I winced as I wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in his familiar scent.

“I love you,” he whispered against my neck.

“I love you, too.”

Days passedand the more people that visited, the more obvious it was that the nurses had given up trying to make my family stick to visiting hours. They knew they were fighting a losing battle.

As I healed, I spent most of my time with Valencia and Arturo in the NICU. To our relief, her little lungs and heart grew stronger with each passing minute.

“Are you two ready to hold her today?” the nurse asked, entering the room.

“We can hold her?” Arturo asked, his face splitting with a big smile.

“Indeed you can, she’s doing well.” She began to open the incubator, arranging her tubes carefully. “You’ll just need to be careful.” She looked over at me, a smile splitting her lips. “She’ll benefit from skin to skin if you want to uncover your chest.” I did as she asked with the help of Arturo.

She lifted Valencia out carefully and placed her in my arms. They say when you hold your baby for the first time it’s a feeling like no other, but this? This took my breath away. The love I felt instantly consumed me. She looked so tiny as I cradled her in my arms. I couldn’t stop the tears from trickling down my face.

“Sorry,” I sobbed, “she’s just so small… so perfect.”

Arturo brought his forehead to my temple, placing his finger beneath Valencia’s tiny hand. “You don’t need to be sorry. I cried too.”

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