Page 49 of Loving Josy
The words land in my chest like a soft punch, knocking the air out of me. For a moment, all I can do is stare at the screen where our daughter—our daughter—rests so perfectly still, like she’s listening in on this big reveal. A girl.
I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and turn to Josy. She’s already looking at me, her brown eyes wide andglistening with unshed tears, and that’s it—I’m done for. I lean down without even thinking and press my lips softly against hers, a kiss that’s full of everything I can’t quite put into words. Relief. Joy. Love.
When I pull back, I whisper, “We’re having a princess, and she’s going to be so beautiful. Just like you, sweetheart.”
Josy’s lips wobble into a smile as her tears finally spill over, tracing delicate paths down her cheeks. Her hand squeezes mine again, and I reach up to gently wipe one of her tears away with my thumb.
“Our princess Everly,” she says softly, her voice breaking just enough to tug at something deep inside me.
God, I love this woman.
I grin, the kind of smile I know probably makes me look like a fool, but I don’t care. Not right now. “Yes. Thanks for letting me pick her name.” I pause, my voice dropping to a playful whisper. “Everly is going to be so spoiled.”
Josy’s laugh bursts out before she can stop it, a watery, joyful sound that echoes in my chest. I can’t help but join in, the two of us laughing like a couple of kids while the doctor continues her measurements and takes pictures. But we don’t notice. Not really.
Because in this tiny room, with the faint sound of our baby’s heartbeat in the background and Josy’s hand in mine, it’s just us. The three of us.
“Here’s a profile picture for you both.” Doctor Willis interrupts our little bubble as she freezes the screen and points out our daughter’s tiny features—her nose, her hands curled into little fists. “Your little girl looks perfect.”
Perfect.
I look at Josy again, at the necklace I gave her resting just above the collar of her shirt and the smile she can’t seem to stop. She catches me staring and raises a brow. “What?”
I shake my head, my grin softening. “Nothing. Just happy.”
Her eyes soften as she gives me the smallest nod, her thumb brushing over my knuckles. I feel it then—the tiniest flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, Josy believes this too. Thatwecould really work.
As we leave the doctor’s office, the sonogram pictures safely tucked into Josy’s hand, I keep my hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the parking lot. The cool January air greets us, and I glance at her sideways, catching her smile as she looks down at the pictures again.
“Everly,” I say aloud, letting the name settle over us. “You sure you’re okay with it?”
She looks up at me, her brown eyes warm. “It’s perfect.”
Perfect.
And just like that, I know this little girl—our Everly—will be the luckiest kid in the world.
Because she’s got a mom like Josy.
And I’ll spend every single day making sure she knows just how loved she is.
I adjust the last balloon on the wall and step back, crossing my arms to take it all in. Austin’s living room looks like a full-blown birthday explosion—balloons everywhere, streamers dangling from the ceiling, and the big Happy Birthday banner hanging just above the dining table. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were throwing a party for a five-year-old. But Josy deserves the world, and for now, this is the best we can do.
“Man, I think we overdid it with the balloons.” Austin’s voice breaks through my thoughts as he stands by the couch, blowingup another one just for the hell of it. “I swear it’s like a balloon minefield in here.”
“Nah.” Esteban is strutting in from the kitchen with a mischievous grin. “It’s perfect. Girls like this cute crap. Trust me.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Josy isn’t a girl; she’s a woman. And this isn’t just ‘cute crap.’ She deserves to be celebrated.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Esteban waves a hand at me dismissively, then suddenly brightens. “Oh!I almost forgot!” He hurries toward the kitchen, leaving me and Austin staring after him. A minute later, he comes back holding the cake box like it’s a treasure chest. “Check this out.”
He flips open the lid and the smell of vanilla and rum hits me immediately. The cake is covered in thick white frosting that’s swirled to perfection, and I swear I’ve never seen a cake look so good.Esteban beams like a kid on Christmas morning.
“My mom’s masterpiece—Puerto Rican birthday cake. I told her she couldn’t let me down for Josy.”
Austin whistles low, stepping closer for a look. “Damn. That looks like it came straight out of a bakery. You sure your mom didn’t steal this from somewhere?”
Esteban glares at him. “Don’t disrespect my mom’s skills, man.”
