"Sometimes I think about what would have happened if me and Grace had a baby."
Grace felt tears swell in her eyes as the nurse laid the crying bundle in her arms.
Elise Violet Hardbeck.
She looked up at Rich, smiling widely despite her exhaustion. "Isn't she beautiful, Rich?"
Rich smiled and nodded, not taking his eyes off the little girl in Grace's arms. His mouth fell open in awe the instant he saw her and it hadn't quite closed since. He felt speechless looking down at the small baby.
Grace looked back down, the crying had stopped and now she was laying in Grace's arms looking up at Rich and Grace. Grace reached down and lightly traced her finger along Elise's face, watching as she closed her eyes.
Rich's eyes broke away from Elise and moved to look at Grace. He didn't think she had ever looked this beautiful, holding their baby girl in her arms. Rich leaned over and kissed Grace's head, then leaned down to kiss Elise's forehead. He finally spoke up after a few moments of quiet. "Look at her, you did amazing Grace Face."
Grace looked up at him and smiled, sitting up slightly in the hospital bed to rest Elise in his arms. Rich felt nervous taking the baby in his arms, she was so fragile and small and beautiful. As soon as Elise was in his arms, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Grace watched as Rich walked over to the chair beside the bed and rocked her back and forth slowly.
Her hand was exposed from the blanket and Rich reached out to rub his index finger across it. Elise's eyes began to open and her small fist unclenched and grabbed onto Rich's finger. He felt tears in his eyes and looked up at Grace. "This…I ca…fuck me."
Grace giggled and smiled.
Rich looked down at Elise again. "Hey baby girl, I'm your Daddy and this is your Mummy. We're going to take good care of you, yeah?" Elise looked up at him and he felt a single tear roll down his cheek, Rich didn't bother wiping it away, he was too busy looking at his new bundle of joy.
