Page 84 of When We Meet Again

The doctor interrupts our moment.Asshole.“Waverly, breathe down now so we can get your baby girl out.”

That’s right. A boyanda girl. Our tiny little Irish-Italian babies.

“Ahhhh!” I let out a scream that feels like it was part roar.

“You sounded like a T-Rex.” I know Roman is trying to ease the pain, butread the fucking room, man.

“What is your obsession with dinosaurs?!” He pulls his lips between his teeth. I think I hurt his feelings, but I don’t care because my uterus is in shreds right now. Or so it feels.

The doctor situates himself once more between my legs. “One more. This is it!”

I follow his orders and push; Roman’s knuckles are cracking in my fist a few seconds before I hear a small cry. A pressure is released from my belly. I know the doctor is doing what he has to do down below, but the sound of both of our babies with healthy lungs is more than enough to keep me going.

Two nurses walk over with the babies after a third nurse sets up pillows on both sides of me.

“Have you thought of a name for your baby boy?” the one nurse asks. Roman looks at me and I at him and our gazes simultaneously fall to our little boy. “We decided on the name Maverick Thomas.”

Maverick’s small, pouty lips are ready to eat. His tiny feet are moving in the air so fluidly. New life is absolutely beautiful. I can’t help but cry at these tiny humans who were created out of pure, unconditional love.

“And your baby girl?” The other nurse lays the baby in my one arm, helping her latch to my breast.

I look at our little girl with a full head of thick black hair just like her daddy. Fingers so small, they barely wrap around Roman’s thumb. “Lucy Ann.”

A few moments after both babies latch for the first time, Roman and I have a chance to come down from all the baby-having hustle.

“Aren’t they the cutest babies you’ve ever seen, Rome?” I watch their little mouths move, admiring what we’ve created.

“If they’re anything like their mother, they’ll be beautiful inside and out.” He kisses me softly. “You did so well. I’m so proud of you.” The love radiating from my husband onto our babies confirms everything I’ve known about him. He’s going to be an amazing father. “Look what you’ve given me.” A few tears slip down his cheek.

No, it’s what he’s given me.

Life is funny.It leads you down a path you never thought you’d take, only to bring you back to where you’re meant to be. It may sound cliché, but I believe everythingdoeshappen for a reason. The universe, or whatever higher power you may believe in, makes moves in divine timing.

Tom was right: Happiness comes from being. And if you let go, you find yourself exactly where you’re supposed to be.