Page 35 of A Layperry's Heart
Aldo holds out his arms, taking our baby from his mother. He cradles her in his hands, staring down at her. Maria helps clean me up quickly before helping me to sit beside Aldo. There are tears in his eyes as he looks at her.
“I love her so much,” Aldo says, his voice shaky. “She’s the most perfect little person I’ve ever seen.”
“Just like her human father.”
Aldo hands her to me and I bring her to my chest, allowing her to feed for the first time. He places his hand over mine where it lays against our baby’s back. Then he leans up and kisses my lips, conveying all his emotions in that simple kiss. I feel cared for. I feel loved. I feel cherished.
She looks so much like you. I feel so happy, delgando.
I’m happy too. I love you so much, Gendry.
“What’s my granddaughter’s name? Have you decided?” Maria asks, handing me a bottle of water.
I look to Aldo and he nods. “We’re going to call her MJ. Maria Jooth. Maria after you, and Jooth because it’s aLayperryname. She has both of our heritages, she deserves a name that reflects that.”
“Oh,” Maria breathes out, holding a hand over her open mouth. “You two,” she says, tears welling up in her eyes. I reach over and take her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Thank you for your help. Thank you for raising Aldo. Thank you for seeing me as your own son.”
“That’s because you are,” she says, standing up so she can kiss my head, careful not to touch my antennae. Then she walks over to Darthleem, helping him get everything cleaned up.
A surprise birth on the ship wasn’t what I had planned for this trip home but neither was finding love while on Earth. Apparently, the Ancestors enjoy keeping me on my toes. I went to Earth to experience everything I could and in the process, I found Aldo.
I send up a silent prayer to my Ancestors, thanking them for guiding my path. This might not have been a traditionalmatrous trial, but I know they had a hand in guiding the two of us together. I thank them for everything they’ve brought me and ask them to help guide Ghenie into our future. Our trials and traditions did what they needed to do in the past, but now, it feels like times are changing. It’s time for theLayperrypeople to allow their hearts to lead them.
Mine has led me to Aldo. If mine can do that, I can only imagine where everyone else’s will lead them.
Epilogue
Aldo
Istepofftheship, thankful to have my feet on solid ground once more. I carry all our bags while Gendry carries the precious cargo that is our daughter, MJ.
It’s still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m a father. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my life going down this path. I’m on an alien planet for god’s sake! No one could have prepared me for this! Even so, I know this is the path I was destined for. Everything here feels so good, so right.
I look around, gazing at all the faces staring back at me. Beautiful rainbow men as far as the eye can see. They all look so happy to see us, leaving me feeling welcome. Beyond them, is the city and beyond the city is green like I’ve never seen before. It’s bright and lush and alive. The air here smells so crisp and fresh.
My head is spinning. It’s still so hard to believe that we’ve made it to a completely different planet. I can’t seem to wrap my head around it yet, like I’m going to fall asleep tonight and wake up back in my little apartment on Earth.
Mama takes my hand, looking around in awe. “I think I’m going to like it here,” she whispers to me. I can’t help but grin.
“Me too, Mama. Me too.”
ALayperryman walks up to us. He’s beautiful in a way that’s hard to describe. Like an elf or a fairy. His skin is pale white and he has long platinum white hair that runs down his back. He holds himself in a way that demands respect and I find myself straightening unconsciously. Despite the aura of authority he exudes, he’s gentle and soft.
“Hello,” he says with a kind smile. “Welcome toDeltourah. This is our capital city,Shentellah. I am very pleased to meet you. I am Ghenie.”
“It’s really nice to meet you. Gendry has talked about you a lot.”
Gendry steps off the ship, his voice booming as he calls out, “Ghenie!”
Ghenie’s face breaks out into a wide grin, his eyes shining with joy. Gendry steps over to him, pulling him into a tight hug, careful not to squish MJ. “And who is this?” Ghenie asks, placing his hands on Gendry’s shoulder and looking down at our daughter.
“This is MJ, my daughter. You’ve met Aldo, my partner. Beside him is my mother-in-law, Maria.”
“I never expected this when you left,” Ghenie says softly. His eyes dart between Gendry’s. “Are you happy?”
“More than I can say with words,” he says, putting his hand on Ghenie’s shoulder, matching his posture. The two of them get very close, their forehead almost touching. My guess is that they’re communicating their emotions through the bond that they share. A tiny part of me is jealous that someone besides me is inside Gendry’s head but that’s something I need to get used to now that we’re here. This is his family, his brothers. The bond they share doesn’t affect the bond that we have between the two of us. Gendry deserves both in his life.
