Page 128 of Hail Marry
Preston stands and offers his hand to the officers, who shake it politely. “Thank you, officers. We appreciate your professionalism and consideration.”
They nod, and Luca and I stand and shake their hands as well before leaving the room with Preston.
Once the door shuts, Preston faces us and lets out a huge sigh. “Well. That was certainly one-of-a-kind. Not at all what I’d anticipated and probably not what I would’ve counseled. There’s no telling what’ll happen next, but…I think you made the right choice.”
“Me too,” I say, meeting Luca’s gaze.
In fact, I know we did. We made the choice and will live with the consequences of it the same way: together.
It’s a waitinggame again now, and in a really strange way, I’m okay with that. While part of me is impatient for news from USCIS, the other part wants them to take their sweet time. Waiting is hard, but it also means nothing has to change yet. It means Luca and I can spend the evenings on our deck, watching the sunset and the moonlight reflecting on the dark waters. It means he gets to keep playing with his teammates and that I get to keep working at Summit Rise.
It means we get to drive up to Monterey and see our brand-new nephew hours after Siena and Jack bring him home from the hospital.
Mom cradles her newest grandbaby, rocking him gently as she paces the living room floor at Siena’s house. “Are you sure you can handle all of us here right now?”
Sitting on the edge of the couch in her living room surrounded by baby equipment, Siena scoffs. “People were in and out of my room every seven seconds at the hospital. Being home is like a spa in comparison. Right, Jack?”
He gives a snort and blinks awake, his head on a throw pillow that’s resting against Siena’s leg. His eyes open wide, and he searches frantically in the blanket draped over him like he’s looking for the baby.
“Relax,” Siena says, putting a hand on his shoulder. “My mom took him the second she arrived.”
Jack stops his search and looks around the room until he finds Mom and his baby. He heaves a sigh and drops back onto the pillow, then rubs his eyes and groans. “How can they send a brand-new human home with parents hallucinating from lack of sleep?”
“My turn, Mom.” I don’t wait for her to answer before slipping my hands under baby Jack Jack and bringing him toward me.
“I didn’t know you guys were here,” Jack says in surprise.
“Couldn’t wait a second longer to meet the newest Sheppard.”
“Allred,” Jack corrects.
I shoot him an unamused look. “I don’t think it’s fair that he gets three of your names.” I stare down into the perfect sleepy face of my nephew while Luca hovers from behind me. “I mean, Jack Jack Allred? It feels like a bit much.”
“His legal name obviously isn’t Jack Jack,” Siena says as the front door opens and Troy, Stevie, and Eden appear.
“Make way!” Troy ducks through the doorway with Eden on his shoulders. “Most important Sheppard grandbaby coming through!”
Stevie rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling.
Troy brings Eden over. “Diiiismount!” He lifts her over his head and holds her normally. “Look, baby girl. It’s fresh meat! I mean”—he shoots a teasing look at Siena—“it’s your cousin Jack Jack.”
Eden is too busy chewing on the neckline of her onesie to spare a glance at him.
Troy laughs and hands Eden off to Luca.
“Sure,” I say dryly. “Hand all the babies off to the childless couple.” Since Mia and Austin announced they’re expecting a couple weeks ago, Luca and I have officially been granted that title. Austin and Mia are here too, but Austin’s keeping her company in the guest bathroom while she gets through a wave of nausea.
“I’ll take a baby,” Dad says eagerly, jogging over to me.
I turn away, protecting Jack Jack from being stolen, so Dad goes for Eden. Luca stiff-arms Dad and makes a half-hearted effort to get away before handing her over reluctantly.
He and Dad laugh while Eden reaches for Luca again.
Luca’s gonna be a great dad.
“What’s the status of your case, Tori?” Jack asks. “Aren’t you supposed to hear back soon?”
“Soon-ish,” I say. “They said two to four weeks. It hasn’t quite been two.”
