| Chapter Thirty Two hours later, they placed a tiny bundle wrapped in pink in my arms and my eyes filled with tears. Her little head was covered with a knit cap and I gently slid it back to see her hair. It was thick and black and soft as down. Her little face was pink and relaxed as she looked up at me with wide wonder-filled eyes. Her little fingers curled into fists and the tiny nails were long. I stroked over her fists, feeling unexplainable feelings welling up inside of me. “She so tiny,” I whispered, half afraid to raise my voice to a normal octave. “She has your hair,” I added as I stroked a soft finger over her face. “And look! She has dimples like you too!” I said as I looked at Kevin with tears in my eyes. “She has your eyes, nose, lips and chin. Her skin tone is like yours too. And those long fingers…” His voice trailed off and he reached out to hold her hand. “She’s beautiful.” “We haven’t talked about names,” I murmured. His eyes met mine and he asked, “Do you have any in mind?” I nodded slowly and turned my head to look down on our child. “If she had been a boy I would’ve wanted to name him after you, but since we have a girl, I was thinking Serena Nadine.” I paused to gage his reaction and then added, “But if you don’t like it, we can think of another name.” “I love it. Serena Nadine,” He whispered as he reached down to stroke her cheek. “It suits her, she’s so serene lying there in your arms.” He leaned across me and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Hello Serena.” Serena looked up and stared into his face as a soft sigh escaped her tiny body. “I think she likes it,” I said with a smile. “Yeah I think she does.” His eyes met mine and the feeling of love surrounded me. “You were wonderful Cassie,” he murmured before gently kissing me. “So were you,” I added, thinking about how he stayed with me, coaching me to breathe and encouraging me to push. “Here’s to many more years of wonderful things,” he said just before he laid his lips against mine. CCC Index Epilogue Main |