“Sometimes you have to take a chance.” I kiss my daughter’s forehead as she looks at me with her big blue eyes. She has my eyes and nose. Every other part of her is Chloe. “You did and look where we are now.”
“We should get back to the party. There are presents waiting for me.”
“I got you one.” I slide from the bed and stalk toward the closet. “I hid it up here so you wouldn’t find it.”
She moves to pick up Elena before she sits on the edge of the bed. “I knew I should have snooped in there.”
I retrieve the box and take it to the bed, hoping like hell that I didn’t make a mistake with the gift.
I place the box next to her before I scoop my daughter into my arms, freeing Chloe’s hands so she can tear through the wrapping paper.
She does in record time. Paper flies, the ribbon sails in the air until it lands on the bed and then she yanks the cover off with one pull.
I stare down at my daughter as Chloe searches through the pink tissue paper until her hands land on the square frame.
“I’m excited.” She leans forward to kiss me. “I can’t wait to see what it is.”
Her delicate hands shake as she turns the black frame over in her lap. I hear her breath catch when she sees the three photographs lined up side-by-side.
My daughter is first. It’s an image I took the day she was born.
In the middle is my wife on our wedding day eight months ago. Her hair is pinned up, her cheeks are pink and her smile could be my sunshine until I take my last breath on this earth.
The last picture is one that I got from Rocco.
It’s an image of Irena Jones.
She’s sitting on a bench in a park smiling softly at the camera.
There’s no mistaking that Chloe is her daughter. They share the same color hair and eyes.
“Evan,” she whispers my name softly. “This is so beautiful. Look at the three of us.”
“Three generation of strong women.” I skim my fingers over the glass of the frame. “I want you to keep this as a reminder of how incredibly lucky I am.”
“How lucky you are?” She looks at me with tear-filled eyes. “I think I’m the lucky one.”
“I never thought I’d meet anyone like you.” I look down at Elena before I train my gaze on Chloe. “You turned my world upside down.”
“In a good way.” She smiles as she reaches for the baby’s hand.
“In the best way. You made me see that I was capable of love.” I hold the baby closer. “I didn’t think I’d ever have a child, Chloe.”
“I wasn’t supposed to ever have a child.”
I nod. “Yet, we have this beautiful human being who will grow to understand how special she is. She was born against all odds which makes her a true miracle.”
“We’re going to have the most amazing life, Evan.” She leans her head on my shoulder. “I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
“We’ll worry about tomorrow when it gets here.” I kiss her softly on the lips. “And every day after that too. I want us to make the most out of each moment until we’re old and gray and this one has to take care of us.”
Elena squirms in my arms.
“I love the sound of that.” Chloe moves to stand. “Every day with you is a gift and I’ll never waste a second of the time we have together.”
“Let’s go celebrate your birthday so we can kick everyone out and I can give you my other gift.” I hand the baby to her.
“What’s your other gift?” She raises a brow.