“She’s everything,” he says with conviction. “I bet your parents can’t wait to meet her.”
I smile. Living next door to your parents definitely has its benefits. They’re coming over in a few minutes to meet the new baby for the first time. It seems strange that nine months ago, my parents weren’t even sure that Christian and I were a good idea. I know that my dad in particular opposed it for a while, even if he understood me living with him and giving it a go. But we’ve been through so much since then. We got married in a small, beautiful ceremony on a beach in Fiji. I finished my art degree and moved in with Christian full-time. And, of course, the whole time, our baby was growing inside me. Now that she’s here, it’s like the end of an era, but my journey with Christian is far from over. And now, we’ve convinced the world of it too.
“They’re going to love her so much,” I say nestling into Christian’s arms. “Any ideas on a name yet?”
“I think...Angel,” he says. “It perfectly sums her up. I can’t think of a more fitting name.”
I look at our baby girl and know he’s right. She’s certainly an angel. I hear a soft knock at the door and Christian moves to go and let my parents in. I scoop up my baby girl gently, trying not to wake her as my parents enter the room, their faces lit up with happiness.
“Mom, Dad...meet Angel,” I say with a gentle smile. I hand her over to mom first, who looks like she’s in her element as she rocks Angel in her arms.
“Oh, she’s perfect,” Mom says. “Angel suits her.”
“But you’ll always be our baby angel too,” Dad says, kissing my cheek. I shake him off with a laugh.
“Dad! I’m a grown woman now.”
“Your kids never grow up in your eyes, darling,” Mom tells me. “Your baby will always be your baby. I can promise you that.”
“I can’t say I have a problem with that,” Christian says with a smile. He catches my eye and I know what he’s thinking. He’s thinking that Angel is one in a line of many. We want a full household. I’ve always fantasized about having a big family, and it turns out Christian has too. It’s just another reason we’re perfect for one another.
“She’s so beautiful. She looks like you when you were a baby,” my dad says. “I looked down at you that day and said...our Kaylee is going to be the best thing to ever happen to us. And I was right. You’ve been the perfect daughter, Kaylee. You’re going to be a great mom.”
“And you’ll be an incredible father, Christian,” Mom adds with a bright smile. My dad wavers a minute but then he smiles and nods too.
“Quite right. You’re a good man, Christian. We’re glad our daughter married someone so good at heart.”
My heart swells with love. I know that it wasn’t easy for my parents to accept this relationship at first. It’s not what they imagined for me, I’m fully aware of that. But they’ve welcomed Christian into the family with open arms when they could’ve easily tried to turn us away. They’ve learned to love him too. And now, it feels like my family is close to completion. Sure, I want more kids after Angel. But with my parents and Christian coming together, it feels like everything will be okay. I’m aware suddenly of how lucky I am. I’ve got my perfect life, my perfect man, my perfect child. I get to live next door to my family and spend every night with the love of my life.
As mom passes Angel to dad, Benny bounds into the room, a bundle of energy and excitement. He’s yet to meet the baby properly, but I can tell he loves her already. I stroke his soft ears.
“Benny, this is Angel. She’s going to be your little sister. You’ll have to be a good boy and protect her.”
Benny woofs as though in affirmation and we all laugh fondly at him. Of course, this family would be nothing without Benny. I didn’t know it was possible to love an animal so much...unless you count my husband in the bedroom, of course. But Benny is as much a family member as anyone else. This whole thing started with him and he’ll always be so important to me. It’s almost like having a second kid. Hopefully, he gets used to the idea of having lots of siblings around the house…
Christian makes coffees for everyone and dad lets me take Angel back. I sit with her in my arms, feeling her warmth against me. I barely listen as Christian chats with my parents, just focussing on holding my baby close. I want to remember this feeling now. The feeling that I’m happier than happy. This pure elation is something so many people will never have, but I’ll have forever. I’ll never tire of the way Christian makes me feel. Not just when we’re in bed making love all night long, but in the moments where he supports me, loves me, cherishes me in every way possible. I’ll never tire of holding my daughter and knowing that she’s going to be raised in a loving family. She has so much to look forward to when she grows up, and so do we. Some day, we’ll teach her to ride a bike, or let her take her first piano lessons, or watch her make her first friend at preschool. One day, we’ll get to see the moment she falls in love for the first time. And I know that whoever she brings home to meet me, I won’t judge. Christian and I might not be a likely couple, but that doesn’t mean we’re not perfect together. Whoever Angel falls for, I promise her now, I’ll understand. Because sometimes the most unconventional loves are the best ones.