Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I spent a good bit of time researching names. I strongly considered giving the baby my mother’s name to honor her memory, but I don’t want her to live in anyone’s shadow. Regardless of her name, my mom will be watching over her, like she’s been watching over me.
“Her name is Felicity,” I announce. “It means happiness, especially happiness after hardship, and it means luck.” I look around at each of my men. “She and I are incredibly lucky that you found us, or she wouldn’t even be here today.”
There are lumps in each of their throats that may be bigger than little Felicity.
Boyd kisses my cheek, Atlas presses his lips to my forehead, and Silas wraps his fingers around my wrist. Dr. Navarro takes a picture of the five of us together, and I know it’s an image I’ll always treasure.
Felicity’s first days pass in a haze. If I’d been on my own, I’d have been starving, sleep-deprived, and dirty, but thanks to my men, I’m well fed, made to take naps, and even enjoy a couple of hot showers.
We all have a learning curve, but the men take excellent care of the baby.
Atlas starts with a grand plan for feeding schedules and sleep rotations, but quickly learns that newborns don’t adhere to a routine as well as soldiers. As he swaddles her one evening, I overhear him cooing to her, “It’s okay, little Lissy. I can work with your lack of discipline.” When he presses a gentle kiss to her forehead, the same way he does to me, I melt.
Boyd seems to have feeding schedules for me, because he frequently offers me water and food. When I voice a concern that Lissy isn’t getting enough milk while nursing, he finds a recipe for lactation cookies and immediately bakes a batch.
The cradle Boyd made for Felicity has a place of honor in the living room. When he presented it to me a couple of weeks before she was born, I was stunned. He’d been sneaking off to his workshop, where he created a solid and beautiful piece of furniture that was undeniably made with love.
Boyd calls Lissy our snow princess, and I can’t wait to see the two of them playing in the snow together when she’s old enough.
Silas is the most fun to watch with the baby. The first time he changes her diaper, he’s clearly in over his head, but he presses on with intense concentration, his jaw clenched like he’s defusing a bomb. When he finally manages it, he looks very pleased with himself.
I often find him taking Felicity on tours around the compound. He holds her close and talks in a low voice, telling her little details about the house, the ops center, the mountains, and the animals that live in the woods.
I won’t be surprised if he’s the one who gets her first real smile out of her.
I’ve been smiling a lot myself, especially since Preston is no longer a shadow in our lives. He’s locked away, as he deserves. His name is tied up in indictments, and his public voice is now reduced to transcripts and sealed filings.
I gave my official statements, relieved to put the truth on record. Investigations are still unfolding, but for now, my part is done, and the danger that once hung over me has cleared.
A few weeks after Felicity’s birth, a gift arrives from Brianna. It’s a trio of pretty outfits, a snuggly toy, and a note saying she hopes to visit soon and meet Felicity in person.
I’ve seen Brianna twice since I came out of hiding. Our first get-together was spent with me explaining the hows and whys of everything that happened, and apologizing for taking her car. She said she was glad I was able to use it to get away. She’d been terrified for me and was just happy I was alive.
Even though she shrugged off the car situation, my men insisted on replacing it, because that’s who they are.
My second visit with Brianna was more relaxed and a lot like old times. Even though we live a few hours apart now, I hope to have more fun times with her in the future, and hopefully introduce her to Elena, who’s visited me at the compound several times.
One snowy afternoon, when Lissy is nearly two months old, I’m meandering around the great room in the gentle bouncy way I now walk when I’m aiming to soothe her. She’s resting against my chest, her head nestled in my shoulder. I’m breathing in her sweet baby scent, and it’s heaven.
Boyd is in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a cream of potato soup that also smells wonderful.
Atlas and Silas went into town to run errands, and they’ve just pulled in, right on time for dinner. They come in through the mudroom, Atlas holding out a plain manila envelope. “Mail for you.” He kisses me, then Lissy, then he takes her so I can open the letter.