"¿Cómo te gustaria llamarla?" He asked, quietly. (How would you like to name her?)
"Sophia Elise." I whispered.
He nodded, "Me gusta." He told me, as a large smile pulled on his lips. (I like it.)
I gave him a small nod, "Ronaldo Rubio." I whispered.
He nodded again. "Ya les llame a todos. Vendrán al rato." He told me. (I've already called everyone. They'll be here later.)
I nodded, stroking the baby's cheek, and she slept calmly. Trying not to think about the sudden question that hung in the air between us. I could feel his heavy gaze bearing on my face as I stared down at our daughter.
He slowly moved to sit next to me on the bed, and took my hand, before he let out a soft sigh, "Tenemos que hablar de lo que pasó." He finally said. (We need to talk about what happened.)
I frowned, "No veo ninguna razón para eso." I told him, keeping my eyes on my lap. ( I don't see a reason for that.)
He sighed, "Por supuesto que lo hay. ¿Honestamente no pensaste que iba dejar pasar esto? Tu y sus hijos son una de las mejores cosas que nos han pasado a mi hijo y a mí. No vamos a dejar que se vallan sin luchar por ustedes." He told me, giving me a firm look. (Of course there is. Did you honestly think I was going to let this go? You and your children are one of the best things that have happened to my son and me. We won't let you go without a fight for you.)
I could feel my eyes begin to sting as I shook my head, unable to answer.
"¿Por qué estás llorando? ¿Es porque sabes que te estoy diciendo la verdad? ¿O porque tienes miedo de volver a enamorarte?" He asked me as I tried to pull my hand out of his, "No puedes ocultar lo que tienes en frente de tu cara, cariño. Sería como tratar de ocultar el sol con el dedo. Imposible" He added, as he pulled my hand and held it against his chest. (Why are you crying? Is it because you know I'm telling you the truth? Or because you're scared to fall in love again?/ You can't hide what's right in front of your face, sweetheart. It'd be like trying to hide the sun with your finger. Impossible.)
I blinked hard as I stared down at my lap blankly, as I felt my warm tears begin to fall. "Lo que pasó entre nosotros se acabo. Fue un error. No pudo ser. Ya olivadalo. Hacle cuenta que nunca sucedio.." I finally told him. (What happened between us is over. It was a mistake. it couldn't be. Pretend it never happened.)
"Olvidarlo? Acaso no me merezco una explicación? Una razon, por cual ya no quieres saber nada de mi? Yo se que algo ocultas de mi. Podras mentir me con tu boca, pero tus ojos no me mienten. Yo se que aun sientes algo por mi." He told me, (Forget about it? Don't I deserve an explanation? One reason, why you don't want to know anything about me anymore? I know that you hide something from me. You could lie to me with your mouth, but your eyes don't lie to me. I know you still have feelings for me.)
"Estás haciendo esto más difícil de lo que debe ser." I forcefully said. ( You're making this harder than it needs to be.)
"Bien. Talvez eso te haga recapacitar. No seas tan cabeza dura, cariño." He replied. (Good. Maybe that will make you reconsider. Don't be so thick-headed, honey.)
I narrowed my eyes at him, "You're an ass." I snapped as I finally pulled my hand away from his hand.
"No. I'm not. You're just angry that I'm right." He replied without hesitation.
I stared at him before replying in Italian, "Stai iniziando a infastidirmi, e se continui a infastidirmi non sarò ritenuto responsabile delle mie azioni." I replied. (You're starting to annoy me, and if you keep annoying me I won't be held responsible for my actions.)
He shrugged, as he held back a snort. "Ancora. Sei infastidito perché sai che ho ragione." He replied. (Again. You're annoyed because you know I am right.)
"Si te digo mis razones, ¿dejarás de ser un idiota?" I asked him, sarcastically. (If I tell you my reasons will you stop being an ass?)
He shrugged, "Tal vez." He replied. (Maybe.)
I sighed, "Nuestros hijos. Los estoy poniendo primero. Antes de mí. Antes de ti. Antes de nuestra felicidad. Nuestras necesidades. Te guste o no, se verán afectados. Sus vidas se verán afectadas. Para bien o para mal… ¿De verdad quieres ver el dolor en sus caras cuando se den cuenta de que no pudimos ser felices por un error de tu parte? Sé que siento algo por ti. Soy muy consciente de mis sentimientos. Pero mis hijos. Nuestros hijos siempre serán lo primero. Su felicidad, su seguridad. A ellos. Siempre serán los primeros. No importa lo qué pase." I finally told him. (Our children. I am putting them first. Before me. Before you. Before our happiness. Our needs. Whether you like it or not, they will be affected. Their lives will be affected. For better or worse… Do you really want to see the pain on their faces when they realize that we couldn't be happy because of a mistake on your part? I know I feel something for you. I'm well aware of my feelings. But my children. Our children will always come first. Their happiness, their safety. Them. They will always be first. No matter what happens.)
He stared at me for a moment, adoration filling his face as he did.
"Por ellos daria mi vida. Mi felicidad. Todo. Y esa es la razon por la cual no puedo volver contigo. Por que contigo se me olvida toda. Mis miedos. Mis razones. Mis dudas. Todo. Y una madre no se puede poner primero. Primero son sus hijos." I whispered as I reached up to wipe my face. (For them, I would give my life. My happiness. Everything. And that's the reason why I can't get back with you. Because with you I forget everything. My fears. My reasons. My doubts. Everything. And a mother can't put herself first. First are her children.)
"Lo entiendo." He finally said. (I understand)
I was discharged a few days later, Cris and the kids arrived to pick me and Sophia up along with the security team.
He helped me place her into her carseat, before covering her, and helping me into the wheelchair.
I was still a bit sore but other than that everything seemed to be okay.
Once we arrived at the house, Pilar and Gio along with their boys were awaiting to greet us. Gio was enamored with how tiny Sophie was.
I was amused as I watched Gio and Cris argue over who got to hold her, and for how long.
That argument was quickly won when Pilar took Sophie and walked out of the room to change her diaper.
When she walked back in a few minutes later without her, announcing that Sophie was in her crib asleep, they both looked disappointed as she made her way over to where I sat with a blanket wrapped around me.
"Como te sientes?" She asked as she sat down next to me, placing my feet on her lap. (How do you feel?)
"Cansada. Demasiado cansada." I told her honestly. (Tired. Really tired.)
"Eso es comprensible. Sobre todo después de toda la mierda que ha pasado." She replied. ( That's understandable. Especially after all the shit that's happened.)
I lifted my foot and smacked her thigh lightly with it as I laughed with her.
"Hablando en serio. Hacen bebés adorables... los dos deberían pensar en tener más bebés juntos." She commented, amused. (Seriously, though. You two make adorable babies...you two should think about having more kids together.)
I stiffened at her comment, which caused Gio and Cris to look at us curiously.
"Pilar, ahora solo somos amigos. Ya no estamos juntos." I told her. (Pilar, we are only friends now. We aren't together anymore.)
She gave me a disbelieving look before sighing and nodding.
Cris and I had decided that he and Junior would be staying with us for the first few weeks after Sophia's arrival.
That night after Gio and Pilar left with their boys, he and Junior made their way to the rooms. Junior and Santi would be sharing a room while Nati finally decided she was old enough to have her own room, so she was sleeping in her own room.
Cris would be sleeping in one of the guest rooms closest to mine, in case I needed help.
I thought everything would be alright, and it wasn't, until a few weeks later, when Junior's mother showed up that things took an interesting turn.
For better or worse we weren't sure just yet.