Page 67 of When Forever Stays

She smiles and shoos me away. “Go get our girls!”

I go back out to the car, lifting the car seat out with one hand and helping Dana out with the other. She’s moving slowly as she takes my arm and we go up the porch steps.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

There’s a pained expression on her face but she says, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

“Let’s get you situated on the couch.”

Dana gets comfortable, and Rosa comes out and whisper-shouts, “Welcome home!” She comes over and sits next to Dana, looking at the tiny bundle of joy in the car seat and placing a hand on her chest. “She’s absolutely perfect. What did you name her?”

Dana bites her lips and looks up at me to answer.

“Rosaline Jane,” I say.

Tears begin to stream down Rosa’s cheeks. “You named her after me?”

“Yes,” Dana says softly, then grabs a few tissues off the side table, handing some to Rosa and keeping a couple for herself.

“Thank you,” Rosa says, wiping at her cheeks.

“You’ve been my rock and a second mom to me from the moment we met. It was the perfect name for her.”

“I thought so too,” I add.

Rosaline starts to wriggle and fuss, so I lift her out of her car seat and pass her to the woman she’s named after. Rosa gently sways with her on the couch, successfully calming her.

Dana, Rosa, and I pass little Rosaline between us our first few hours at home. I’m amazed that Dana already knows what each of Rosaline’s cries mean. Including the one that means she’s hungry. Dana has just pulled Rosaline from her breast when there’s a soft knock at the door.

Dana hands Rosaline to me and covers up. “Come in!” she shouts.

Olivia, West, and their little boy Grayson come in with giant balloons and a huge stuffed bear.

“Is it a boy like me?” Grayson asks, jumping up and down.

Olivia gazes down at him, shaking her head and smiling. “No, baby, remember? Auntie and Uncle Rhett-Rhett had a little girl,” she tells him, using the name Grayson gave me when he first started talking.

Grayson scrunches his little nose and crosses his arms over his chest. “Girls are gross.”

All the adults laugh.

Reluctantly, I hand a semi fussy Rosaline over to Olivia’s outstretched arms. She cradles Rosaline, her swollen bump providing extra cushion, before setting her on her shoulder and tapping the baby’s back to burp her.

“So what name did you decide on?” Olivia asks, looking at Dana before Rosaline releases a burp. Olivia cradles Rosaline once more and slowly sways, lulling the baby to sleep. She doesn’t fussbut nuzzles deeper into Olivia’s arms, almost as if she knows her aunt can be trusted and will love her unconditionally.

“Rosaline Jane Stryker,” Dana answers.

Olivia’s gaze snaps to Dana’s. “Oh it’s perfect. I love it.” She places a gentle kiss on the top of Rosaline’s head and gazes down at her. “Well, you have to be the most precious little girl I’ve ever seen.”

Grayson plops down on the recliner and reaches his arms out. “Okay, it’s my turn to hold the baby.”

Olivia looks at Dana, then me, making sure we’re okay with the four-year-old holding her.

Dana nods, so I take Rosaline from Olivia and carefully place her in Grayson’s arms, all while still holding her myself.

Grayson stares down at her as she stares up at him in turn.

“She’s so tiny,” Grayson whispers. “So pretty.” He removes one arm from beneath her and boops her nose. “We’re gonna be best friends, aren’t we? Even though you are a girl.”

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