Page 60 of Until Delilah

“She’s actually being transferred to the nursery later today or she can be brought back to your room.” The nurse turns back to look at us. “That’s what’s preferred.”

“We can bring her back. I don’t want to let her out of my sight after not being here for her the last two days.” Max places his hand on my shoulder and squeezes it.

“Perfect. I’ll let you meet your daughter and when you’re ready to head back, we’ll do the appropriate paperwork.”

“Thank you.” Placing my hand over Max’s, I smile back at him. “Are you ready to finally meet her?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He looks ahead and with each passing second his smile grows. “I guess it’s a good thing we got the room ready extra early, huh?”

My mom spurred on the nursery by buying and shipping an entire furniture set after learning her newest grandchild was going to be a girl. Once it arrived, we set up the room with everything a baby could ever want.

“Now, I’m glad the room’s ready for her. I don’t think I’m fit enough right now to do much of anything.”

“I wouldn’t let you even if you tried. Now turn around and look who’s in front of you.”

I turn, not realizing we’d stopped. The nurse already has her out and is placing her in my arms. Right in that moment, all is right with the world.

The second I see her, I know her name.

Luna.

She shines as bright as the full moon on a clear night.

She’s absolutely perfect.

Her hair is so light it’s almost translucent. I can tell she’s going to be blonde just like me and her brother. My eyes flick up to Max. Even just like her dad.

“She’s perfect,” Max says in awe.

“Her name’s Luna.”

“I think you’re right. She was born with the full moon high in the sky. Luna Black. It’s fitting.” Squatting down beside me, he runs one long finger over her peach fuzz hair and down her cheek.

Leaning down, I kiss her forehead and breath in her sweet baby scent. “I love you, Luna.”

Epilogue

Max

3 Months Later

We all sit transfixedas a special new bulletin breaks across the bottom of the screen of the World Series.

All three Stanton’s are now being held after further investigation into evidence that was found when Bradley Stanton attacked his ex-girlfriend in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, three months ago. She’d been in hiding after learning he ran a drug and human trafficking ring, forcing the women to sell drugs for his family. Since then, evidence has come to light that more than ten women were killed by one of the three Stantons’ hands.

I look to find Delilah nowhere in the room and realize she’s been gone for quite some time now. It brings back a sense of deja vu that I don’t like. I can’t stand to have her out of sight for too long after what happened to her the night of the football game. The night she was beaten. The night our daughter was born.

“I’ll be back,” I announce as I leave the room.

Delilah’s parents and sister look at me with worry in their eyes, but the rest of the room can’t take their eyes off the TV and the breaking news.

Heading upstairs, I find the bathroom door in the master suite closed.

“Beauty?” I call as I knock on the door and open it. I’m shocked to find Delilah sitting on the floor with tears trailing down her cheeks. I move to sit beside her and then pull her into my lap. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Burying her face in my chest, I can feel her tears through my shirt as she continues to cry.

“I got worried when you were gone for so long.”

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