Chapter 1
After saying goodnight to Mark, Callie, Sofia and I are making our way out of the hospital for home; I m carrying Sofia in my arms.
"Why are you so smiley?"
"D...Did you see how she just reached out to me?"
I watch Callie smile. "Of course she did babe, you are her Mama. You're the only one she wants when she is waking up or wakes up in the middle of the night.
I smile, holding our daughter closer to my chest and kiss her cheek. "Well I'll always take Sofia snuggles when I can get them"."
Callie looks at me concerned "Is something bothering you honey?"
"Just all the things we take for granted."
Callie gives me the eye with an eyebrow raised, "what?"
"It's nothing. It's just that we saved a kid who was almost buried alive today. A parent could have lost their child, for good, today."
"Yeah, but they didn't."
I just sigh dramatically.
"Oh, Arizona, honey," she says, stopping us, and turns me to look at her with her hands on my upper arms. "Look at me," she says, "Mark and I would never keep Sofia from you." I just watch my beautiful wife wanting so hard to believe her words. "You are her Mama and you will never lose her!"
"Yeah."
"You are her Mama," my wife tries to console me again. I smile softly.
"Okay, so you can calm down," Callie says running her hand down my back.
"I'm fine Calliope, let s go home."
"I would never let Mark be the bigger parent over you! I would never let him hurt you or your feelings to see Sofia!" she tells me. I just listen to her playing with the baby.
Callie and I continue to head towards our apartment building and she opens the door as we head towards the elevator and she presses the button. We wait for the elevator to arrive.
Up on the fifth floor we walk towards our door. Then I wait for Callie to unlock the door.
Callie sighs heavily, "I'm so exhausted." She moans as we walk in and she throws her keys and leather jacket onto the couch.
"Ah, hey, listen, how about you go and get a hot shower and I will get her a bottle, feed her, and get her down kind of early. I ll order some Chinese and we can meet back on the couch in 20 minutes and just talk or not talk, whatever."
Callie holds my hips, "that sounds great honey," She says and kisses me.
I smile against her lips.
"I love you," she tells me.
"I love you too Calliope," I respond to her.
Callie smiles and kisses the baby's head, "goodnight baby boo."
"Say goodnight Mommy, I love you."
"Love you too baby, sweet dreams," she says and heads towards our bedroom as I go into the kitchen to get Sofia's bottle started.