Page 96 of Power Play

“Alberto!” a sharp voice calls, and I hunch my shoulders as I turn to face my doom.

My eyes widen. Riley’s hand finds mine, and her firm grip grounds me.

Sitting in the gallery are my brother and sister, along with Viv and Chuck Gallagher, and—my parents?

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“You think we’d miss this?” My father chuckles. “Come here and introduce us to our nieta.”

Granddaughter.

They accept her. Just like that, they accept her as theirs—ours.

Riley steers the stroller in their direction, and I follow her like we’re tied together, a puppy on a leash. I’ll follow her anywhere.

“Hi, I’m⁠—”

My mother cuts her off, tugging her into a forceful hug. “Mija. We know who you are.” Still hugging her, she reaches out and swats me in the arm. “You didn’t invite us to the wedding, Alberto. I had to hear about it from the puck bunny sites!”

“Sorry, Ma,” I mumble.

“We’ll do a big wedding in the offseason,” she declares. “We’ll have the entire family there. Your abuela is devastated.”

“Sorry,” I repeat. There isn’t much I can do or say. I knew there would be repercussions; guilt trips are part of the deal. With any luck, they’ll move on as soon as one of my cousins does something boneheaded.

My mother harrumphs. “Now, introduce me to my granddaughter.”

Riley unbuckles Emmy and lifts her into her arms, preparing to hand her over. But as soon as the baby sees Tony, she squeals in delight and reaches for him. He stands and strolls toward her, hefting her into his arms.

“Hi, princess,” he coos, smoothing her wispy hair. “Did ya miss me?”

She shrieks with delight, kicking her little legs. My mother moves beside him, gazing down at my daughter with adoration on her face.

“Alberto, she’s beautiful,” she says.

“She’s perfect,” Dad adds.

“Yeah, she is.”

The lawyer clears her throat. “We’re about ready to get started.”

I take Emmy back from my brother, snuggling her close. She clings to me, and I know that no matter what happens next, we’ll get through this—the three of us.

Joanne enters the courtroom, and to my surprise, she gives us a nod with a pained smile. That’s the closest we’re going to get to approval.

The judge takes her seat at the stand and calls the hearing to order. I do my best to pay attention, but it’s not until Joanne says her piece that I can finally breathe.

“The State finds that Alberto Gonzales is the biological father, and as such, should have full physical and legal custody.”

We wait with bated breath as the judge reviews the files, but in short order, she declares the matter closed, and I officially have custody of my daughter. The echo of the gavel might be the best sound I’ve ever heard.

Riley tugs me into a hug, squishing Emmy between us. She gives me a soft kiss, so sweet it nearly brings tears to my eyes. She breaks apart first and rests her forehead on mine, the two of us breathing the same air.

We did it. We beat this thing. The three of us are officially a family, and nobody can change that. This moment feels almost as monumental as the last time we were in the judge’s chambers, when he pronounced us married. My life is irrevocably changed, and I’m so fucking glad. I can’t imagine a world without Riley and Emmy in it.

I go to kiss her again, but the baby squawks, and reluctantly, we pull apart.

“I love you,” my beautiful wife says, and no—that is the best sound.

“I love you, too.”

“Come along, Alberto,” my mother calls. “It’s time to celebrate.”