Page 192 of Deacon

Ella clamped her miniature fingers around his.

‘She’s so tiny, Mum! She’s clutching my finger!’

‘You can hold her, y’know?’ I told him. ‘Sit down on the lounge, and let Dad hand her to you.’

Nodding to Deacon, I watched with bated breath as my husband’s sinewy arms took our tiny, precious bundle and placed it in Raff’s arms.

Our son’s face transformed as he fell in love with Ella, cuddling her with awe.

‘I’m going to be the best older brother you ever have,’ he declared. ‘I’ll feed and wash you, hold you till you sleep, and protect you from anyone who tries to get at you.’

He said the last sentence so fiercely that Deacon and I exchanged amused glances, moved by the affection he already showed for his little sister.

Our family was now complete.

Théa wiped a tear from her cheek and smiled from the doorway.

‘Elle est la perfection absolue. Congratulations, mes amours.’

Théa stood beside my bed, gazing down at the baby with soft eyes.

She deferred her cuddles for now, sticking to our family’s long-held tradition that a newborn should only be cuddled by immediate kin for the first couple of days.

‘When you get home, I’ll have it all ready for you,’ she said quietly.

I nodded, grateful.

Having her there for those first few weeks to handle the house while I rested and protected Ella’s immune system was a lifesaver.

‘I’ll also print the faire-part once you pick the photo,’ she added.

In our family, we didn’t use group texts or social media blasts. Following French and Mauritian custom, we sent formal, beautifully illustrated birth announcement cards to our closest circle within fourteen days.

I still had Raff’s and Estella’s tucked safely inside one of our family albums, and I couldn’t wait to add Ella’s next to theirs.

After Théa took Raff home for the evening, I reclined in my bed, nursing my baby girl in the quiet of our cozy hospital room.

My eyes were heavy, my body sore and exhausted, but my heart was full.

Deacon sat in an armchair beside me, eyes on Ella and me, a soft smile on his face.

‘She’s so beautiful, as are you, malkia,’ he murmured.

‘She’s a miracle, and I can’t believe we have our daughter in our arms,’ I replied. ‘And I know, somewhere beyond the sky, Estella was watching over her little sister, keeping us all safe.’

‘May I join you in bed?’

‘You may,’ I smiled.

Deacon rose, kicked off his shoes, and eased in beside me, sliding his muscled arm around me.

He pulled both Ella and me flush against his chest, his steady breathing calming me as always.

The room fell into a deep hush as twilight crept over the heavens outside and the stars and moon took over the quiet Nashville skyline.

My beautiful man leaned down and pressed a warm kiss to the edge of one eye, then brushed his lips over Ella’s dark peach fuzz.

‘Love you all so much,’ he murmured, his thumb trailing over my cheek.

‘Love you more,’ I whispered back.

‘No way,’ he said, smiling as his captivating gold-and-emerald eyes locked onto mine. ‘I love you forever, and a day, malkia, and even that won’t be long enough for us. Even after the sun and stars fade from the sky, it’ll still and always be you.’