Slowly, I reach my hand inside. With one finger, I touch her hand. Her skin is soft and those fingers of hers wrap around my one. If her grip says anything about her, then she’s most definitely strong. It takes a moment before I start breathing again as Valeria seems to look at me. And I know right then, I’m not going to be able to leave until she lets go. I sit in a chair next to her for hours. She falls back asleep after a while, but she’s still holding onto my finger.
When she does let go, I pull my hand back, watching her. I’m distracted when a nurse walks into the room. She’s not the same one who was here a few hours ago. I glance at the clock on the wall. Shit. They’ve changed shifts. After one last look at Valeria, I head out, hoping Hadley is still asleep. I’m going to have to catch a nap on the plane and hope it’s enough to keep me going for the rest of the day.
Hadley and Mama are in the kitchen when I walk into the house.
“Where have you been?” she asks, sounding a little worried.
Mama looks at me like I’m not as sneaky as I thought. I wouldn’t be surprised if she knew. The woman knows everything.
“I was at the hospital. I went to see Valeria before I leave. How long have you been up?”
“I woke up a little bit ago. I need to go to the doctor today and have my stitches removed. How is our little girl?”
I smile. “Good. She was still asleep when I left. She has a really good grip, too. But mostly, she slept like a baby.”
She smiles, knowing that I finally held her hand. “She gets that from you because I can’t sleep without toss and turning.” Hadley laughs.
“Yeah, she’s not a squirmy baby yet.” I give her a small smile at my little joke.
“Are you all ready to go?”
“I’m ready. I need to grab a few things first. Keep me updated on your appointment too.”
“I give you my word that I will tell you every ache and pain I have.” She rolls her eyes. “Now, go get ready because you need to catch up to Jax Godwin. He’s number one right now, and I don’t like that.” She narrows her eyes at me and I chuckle before responding seriously.
“Don’t pressure me.”
I leave them in the kitchen for a quick shower before changing into my suit. My family is right where I left them and I smile at the sight. Hadley comes over to give me a hug and kiss. I’m unsure how I feel about leaving, but I don’t really have a choice. Once Hadley promises to keep me updated, I grab my things and leave for the road game.
~ ~ ~
If there was ever a time to ooh and aah over a baby, it’s right now. Hadley is holding Valeria for the first time and she looks so smitten. I don’t know how I’m ever going to drag her back home without Valeria. They both look beautiful though. Mama and Papa are hovering behind Hadley, catching all of little Valeria’s reactions. I’m almost surprised that my mother hasn’t tried to take her from Hadley yet. She’s probably dying to, though.
I’ve never seen Hadley smile wider than she is right now. She lifts her head, glancing at me from my seat next to her, and asks, “Do you want to hold her, Luca?”
I knew this moment was coming. I’ve been waiting for it since Valeria held my finger, since we walked in today and learned we would be able to hold her. I don’t hesitate when I nod and say, “Yes.”
Carefully and cautiously, Hadley hands her to me, resting her in my arms. Valeria blinks up at me and I’m crazy enough to think her lips lifted into a tiny smile. “Hello again,” I whisper. With her here in my arms, I don’t know how I didn’t want to experience this. She’s unbelievably precious. Unshed tears stings my eyes, but I blink until they go away. I wish she were strong enough already to take her home because I don’t know how I’ll be able to walk out of here.
“I’m really happy you came to us, Valeria,” I say, my speech switching from English to Russian from being so emotional. When I look to Hadley, her expression shows she understood what I said. Anxiety and all, I know I’m ready to care for, raise, and love Valeria with Hadley.
Epilogue
Eleven Months Later
Hadley
“Valeria Zotov, if you don’t stop drooling everywhere, I’m going to put you in a wetsuit.” I wipe her mouth again and she giggles.
“Uh-oh.” She holds up her block.
“B. That’s the letter B.” I point to the bright color block in her tiny hand.
She tilts her head and glares at me with her caramel-colored eyes.
“You get that look from your father.” I kiss her cheek. “Can you say ‘b?’”
“Uh-oh.”
“Well, that’s something,” I mumble trying to pick up her toys.
“No!” Valeria cries. She sounds like Luca when she does that.
“Valeria, we need to get going.” My words make her cry louder.
“What’s going on?” Luca comes racing down the stairs.
Valeria immediately stops crying and raises her arms. “Da. Da.” Luca goes to her and picks her up. She has him wrapped around her tiny finger.
“Luca, we need for the airport soon and we can't leave these toys lying around,” I huff trying to pick her blocks.
“Posmotrite na moyu krasivyy rebenok.” He kisses Valeria’s cheek and tickles her. “Don’t you think we have the most beautiful baby in the whole world?”
I give up on cleaning up and turn to Luca and Valeria. The only way I know she’s mine is her red hair. Other than that, she’s Luca made over. She has his heart-shaped face, caramel eyes, and bright smile.
I was scared every single day she was in the hospital, but we received the greatest Christmas gift when Dr. Craigson said that she could come home early. Luca rushed home from an away game to be here when she did walk through the door. I don’t think he slept more than two hours the first week she was here. He stayed in the nursery and watched over her.
Since that moment, Valeria has been a healthy baby. She can’t walk yet, but she’s beginning to pull herself up a lot more. She knows about five words and ‘da’ is her favorite. She’s still small and not quite eighteen pounds, but our pediatrician says that considering how little she was when she was born, she’s an amazing child and not that far behind in development.
“Hadley, baby, the car is here.”
I turn and Luca already has Valeria in her stroller and waiting for me. I grab my purse, the diaper bag, arm the security system, and follow him out the door.
The hockey season will be underway in about a week and Luca is under more pressure than normal. He did not win the Cup last season, and he’s already talking about retirement when this season is over. It’s becoming harder and harder for him to leave Valeria. The FaceTime, Skype, and pictures make him miss her more. He wasn’t even there when she crawled for the first time or her first word. I think it really broke his heart.
Surprisingly, we make it through the airport security relatively easily. That’s a first for us. Our first experience was a hot mess that should have been on YouTube, but it wasn’t. I checked; that’s how I know.
We learned that first class is the only way to go with Valeria and all our stuff. This time is no different. Luca puts everything away and get comfortable. Valeria isn’t like other screaming babies on a plane. She’s very good. I think that she has our traveling bug, that’s why. Oh, and Luca. She always cuddles with Luca.
This time is no different.
Two layovers, several Starbucks, and small diaper explosions later, we finally make it to our destination. Dublin, Ireland.
When we get off the plane, we are met by a squeal of delight from Mama and Papa. That isn’t for us. It’s for Valeria. They grab her instantly from Luca and completely ignore us. We’re used to it.
I had booked the flights to make sure they arrived around the same time we did. This way we could all arrive at the hotel together. We find a cab that will be able to take us to our hotel, and after Luca packs the cab with all the bags, we’re off.
Mama chats with Valeria the whole time in Russian. Valeria
studies her as if she understands every word. Mama hasn’t spoken to Valeria in English; I’m the only one that does. Occasionally, Luca will, but he wants to be sure she knows Russian as well as English. I have no problems with that because she is half Russian. I watch as Mama keeps kissing her cheeks and smoothing her red hair until we arrive.
Thankfully, the bellboy helps Luca as I check us in. We have two rooms and they are ready for us.
“I also had a package delivered here, too.”
“Yes, Ms. Lincoln. I’ll have it brought up to your room.”
I smile and my heart races because I can’t wait to see it. I haven’t seen it since my fitting and then I had it shipped here, so I wouldn’t have to take it on the plane and risk it getting lost.
“Hadley, give me the diaper bag.” Mama holds out her hand as we get in the elevator.
“Mama, I can keep her.”
She looks at me with that look that tells me there’s no reason to say another word, but hand over the bag. And I do. Papa and Mama’s room is across the hall from us and they walk right in with Valeria, leaving Luca and I in the hallway.
Luca chuckles. “Come on.” He guides me into our room. Even though I wanted to get the honeymoon suite, Luca didn’t want that because it meant we’d be farther away from Valeria. He puts our bags down and quickly gathers me in his arms as he kicks the door shut. “I’ve missed you.”
I laugh as he nips at my neck. “Luca, are you sure you want to do this right now? I smell like the plane.”
“You’re going to be my wife in the morning. I need you all the time.” He bites down on my earlobe.
“Luca, how long has it been since you’ve been inside me?”
“Too long.” He pushes me up against the wall and my breath quickens. “Don’t you think?”
“Yes,” I pant.
Luca is about to undo my pants when there’s a knock on the door. We both groan, and I head over to answer it.
“Ms. Lincoln, here is your package.” The bellboy hands me a dress bag.
“Thank you,” I say and come back into the room with it.
“Is that it?” Luca smirks.
“Yes, it’s my wedding dress.” I hang it in the closet.
“Can I see it?”
“Sure, tomorrow, when I’m walking down toward you.” I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. Our lips are about to meet when there’s another knock on the door. “Fuck,” I grumble, and this time, it’s Papa saying he’s hungry and we all should join him, Mama, and Valeria right now.
Luca takes my hand and we join them in the hallway. Valeria reaches for Luca and he takes her, kissing her cheeks. I hear him whisper something to her in Russian, but I can’t make it out. She only giggles and snuggles into his neck.
I stare at them for a moment and think of how far Luca has come. He left me the moment I told him I was pregnant, but here we are, almost a year later and we’re getting married tomorrow. Us. After Eleven years together.
I thought it was going to be a long wait, but Luca pushed, hounded, and begged to be married before Valeria was much older. He picked getting married here in Dublin and I set everything up. Luca’s never been one for big parties, but having Valeria, Mama, and Papa here was the most important.
He puts his arm around me as we head into the elevator and down to the restaurant.
~ ~ ~
“Sshh,” I soothe Valeria. Even though Mama wanted her to stay with her tonight, Valeria cried for her daddy and she ended up with us.
Right now, I’m trying to get her to go back to sleep. She keeps whimpering in her half-sleep state and I gently rub my hands up and down her back as she lays on Luca’s chest. That’s where she sleeps when he’s home. Hence, the reason we’ve not had sex in a while.
It sounds selfish, but I need some Mommy/Daddy quiet time soon, or I may combust. I look up at Luca and he’s asleep. He looks so peaceful, but still has a serious expression as he holds Valeria tightly.
I give up on going back to bed and get up. I check my phone and send emails to Amy. THN has taken off and currently is the number one hockey network and top ten of all sports networks.
Everything seems to be fine back home and I’m glad that’s one less stress I can mark off my list today. I jump into the shower and enjoy the hot water. When I step out of the shower, I can hear Valeria giggling and Luca talking to her.
I walk into the room and see them playing on the bed. There are toys all over my side of the bed and Luca will hold up a toy, say it in Russian, and Valeria will giggle.
This is what I wanted. I want my family and I love them more than anything.
~ ~ ~
Luca
“Give Valeria a kiss and go switch places with Mama, Luca.” Hadley is wrapped in a robe with a towel on her head.
“All her words so far have been in English,” I say, ignoring her comment for the moment. “I’m ready for something Russian to pop out. I know she understands me.”
Hadley tries not to smile as she says, “Maybe she’s laughing because you sound funny when you speak Russian, not because she understands.”
I narrow my eyes and she laughs. “You’re not funny.”
“Yes, I am. Go or we’re going to be late to our own wedding. If you leave now, you’ll have plenty of time to work on your hair.” She laughs softly when I cut her a mean look. “I’m on a roll this morning.”
I kiss Valeria’s cheek as I take her to Hadley. “I’ll see you later.” Automatically, I grin because the next time I’ll see her, she’ll become my wife. I lean forward, kiss her softly, and add, “And tonight, you’re mine.”
Hadley smiles, the desire already rising. “How are you going to manage that with Valeria wanting her dad?”
“You’ll see.” I give her one more kiss, give her Valeria, and trek across the hall to my parent’s room.
Mama opens the door, her eyes watery already. “My boy is getting married today.”
“I know, Mama.”
“And to such a lovely girl.”
“I know.”
She steps forward and hugs me tightly. “So proud of you, Luca.”
“Thank you, Mama. Go help my girls get ready.”
She grabs a few bags before disappearing into my hotel room. Papa’s sitting in a chair, watching the morning news. He’s already dressed in his suit.
“You’re ready?” Wow.
“Hadley warned me about making sure you had enough time to do your hair.” There’s a sly grin on his face as he tries not to laugh. “I didn’t realize it could take you up to an hour to make it look like you just rolled out of bed.”
“She’s exaggerating.”
He laughs as I shake my head, going to the bathroom to shower. I can’t believe today is here. It feels like we’ve been waiting forever for it to happen. Having Mama and Papa here was a must and I’m happy that we get to share this moment with Valeria, even though she won’t remember it. Hadley and I will, and that’s good enough for me.
Once I’m all ready, only spending twenty minutes on my hair, Papa and I are watching TV, waiting for the text from Mama that tells us they are ready.
“Hadley said you were thinking about retiring.”
“Yeah. I love the game, but I don’t like the traveling anymore,” I say. I’ve already missed two of Valeria’s milestones from being on the road. “What advice do you want to give?” I ask because I know that’s why he brought it up.
“Hockey has been a part of your life for nearly all of it, Luca. If you want to retire, that’s fine, but I want you to do it because you’re ready to stop playing and because you’re time in the league is up. Not because of anything else. It’s hard, I know, but if it makes you feel better I missed your and your sister’s first steps. It sucked, but the world didn’t end. I was able to see you walk, grow, learn, and become the man you are today. Firsts are important, but there’s always a new word, another step, and so on that you will see. You’re healthy and able, so unless you’re absolu
tely ready to stop playing, you don’t need to retire yet.”
“I’ll think about it,” I promise.
My phone vibrates with a text.
Hadley: I’m ready to make you my husband, Luca.
“She’s ready.”
~ ~ ~
On one of our first visits to Ireland we stumbled upon a small castle that housed a beautiful garden. There’s a circle in the middle, the walkways laid with beautiful stones, and little pathways leading all sorts of ways all around the garden. It’s the perfect place for us to get married with its intimate setting.
I’m standing in the circle next to the man who will marry us. Papa is going to walk Hadley to me and Mama and Valeria will come before them. A soft melody plays from a nearby flute, a cue for Mama and Valeria to make their appearance. My precious little girl is wearing a light purple dress, which matches the color of Mama’s dress and the flowers in her bouquet.
“Da! Da!” Valeria reaches my way when she sees me, causing me to grin. I kiss her cheek before Mama takes her place on the other side of me. Mama whispers to Valeria in Russian in an attempt to quieten her down. Thankfully, she does.
The melody shifts, just slightly, and all eyes are on where Hadley should appear in any second now. All the air is knocked out of me when I see her. Her long red hair is curled and hanging around her shoulders. The dress is long with a small train, fitting her perfectly while showing off her figure. Papa kisses her cheek before releasing her as she stands in front of me.
“You’re beautiful,” I say in a low tone.
Hadley smiles. “You, too.”
The man begins to talk about love and marriage, but it all goes in one ear and out the other. Hadley hasn’t stopped smiling and neither have I. Finally, it’s time for us to recite our vows.
You and Me Forever (Oh Captain, My Captain Book 6) Page 16