When the car came to a stop, I stepped out. Alessio helped Princess out of her infant car seat. Placing her in my arms, he gave me a quick kiss.
My heart fluttered like it always did whenever Alessio was close or touching me. His arm went around my waist as we walked into the house with the guys, Maddie, and Evaline following closely behind.
As soon as I was inside, my baby was no longer in my arms.
Nope. One second she was there and then Lena stole her from me. I didn’t have a chance to blink, either.
Everyone was gathered, trying to take a peek at the little princess.
“Awww, just look at her. Such an innocent and adorable face. It’s hard to believe she’s Alessio’s daughter. But it’s definitely obvious she is Ayla’s,” Lena joked, her eyes practically twinkling with happiness.
“Oh, just wait until she opens her eyes. She is Alessio’s all right,” I replied.
Alessio had his hands on either side of my hips, and I leaned back against him, my back to his front as I laid my head on his chest.
“Oh yes. Maddie said she has Alessio’s eyes.”
“Maria’s eyes,” Lyov added. He went to stand beside Lena, looking down at the small bundle of joy.
At the mention of Alessio’s mother, my heart ached for Lyov. But I knew he was going to be okay. He had smiled more than I could count in the last twenty-four hours than I had ever seen him.
Isaak said he was the happiest he’d been since Maria’s death.
We didn’t have to go far to see how much Lyov admired his granddaughter. His gaze was filled with tenderness and warmth, not something I was used to seeing on Lyov.
But there he was, completely wrapped around her little finger.
With Lena still holding the baby, we walked into the living room. Alessio made me sat down on the couch as Lena settled beside me. Alessio stayed standing as Maddie sat on my other side.
Lena softly moved her fingertips on Princess’s lip. And then her cute button nose. She made a small adorable quacking sound and moved impatiently in her tight blanket.
For a newborn, she moved a lot. No wonder she was always playing practice in my belly.
“What’s her name?” Lena asked.
I looked up at Alessio, and his smile widened. The indent in his cheek made my stomach squeeze. I could feel my own smile.
“Maila Lena Ivanshov.”
The name slipped past my lips effortlessly. It felt so right. Alessio had instantly agreed on the name when I asked him about it a few months ago.
I still remember clearly how affected he looked when I explained the meaning behind the name. He had kissed me soundly, hard and bruising. And then he had proceeded to make love to me for the whole night.
“It’s for all three mothers,” Alessio explained, his voice warm and deep.
“Maila is after mine and Alessio’s mother. Maria and Leila. We put both names together to get Maila. And it’s sounds really beautiful too. Lena…well, Lena is for our second mother,” I continued.
My gaze found Lena’s, and she was silently crying. “She is also named after you. For being our mother and for giving us the love that our mothers never had a chance to give us.”
“Maila Lena Ivanshov,” Lyov said slowly. He looked down at Maila, our little princess.
Lyov smiled and took her in his arms. He held her out, a palm under her neck while her tiny feet rested against his chest. “Such a beautiful name. A strong name too. After three strong women. Fit for a true warrior princess.”
“It’s beautiful,” Isaak agreed. His voice sounded a little weird too, like he was trying not to cry.
“Your mothers would be proud of both of you,” Lena said. “Look at you both. After everything, you have come out stronger.”
I didn’t say anything, only because I didn’t know what to say. My throat felt tight with emotions, and Alessio looked like he was having the same problem.
“Okay…gift time!” Maddie announced when everyone fell silent.
I smiled. I guessed it was gift time.
Everyone presented their gifts, and my heart leaped with happiness. My family. Finally, it was the boys’ turn.
“Her gift is upstairs,” Nikolay announced. “In the piano room.”
Oh. Feeling giddy at the thought, I got off the couch.
I finally noticed that Alessio had disappeared. Looking around me, I stopped and searched for him.
“He’s upstairs, waiting for you,” Maddie said gently. With a push, I made my way to the piano room…with everyone following behind.
I got inside to find Alessio standing in the middle. He winked and smiled before opening his arms for me. My feet took me right into his open arms.
Curling into his embrace, I sighed in utter contentment.
“Ready for their gift?” he muttered in my ear. I nodded against his chest before pulling away.
He stepped back and moved away from me. That was when my eyes noticed something new next to the piano. It was covered with a blanket, so I couldn’t see it.
“What is this?” I asked, already making my way to it.
“It’s for Princess. Our gift to her,” Viktor said, his time his voice serious.
I pulled the blanket away, and a small gasp escaped past my lips.
Oh, how beautiful.
“This is…I’m speechless…” I said, running my hand over the soft silk material.
It was a cute baby bassinet. Small but so beautiful.
To my surprise, it was a rocking bassinet. The bedding was soft and a pale pink color. The curtains were made of lace, and it fell on either side of the bassinet.
The rest of it was made of wood, but everything was practically covered with the curtains and silk sheet.
I rubbed my hand over the wood and smiled. Now Maila had a beautiful place to lay in when I was playing the piano.
It was simply perfect.
I moved to its front, and my smile widened. On top from where the curtains came together and were attached, there was a small piece of wood.
On it, PRINCESS was written in cursive letters.
I felt Alessio at my back, and I leaned into his warm body.
“This is so beautiful and thoughtful. I will keep the bassinet in here, so that Maila can listen to me play while resting,” I said softly.
“That’s the plan,” Phoenix replied. I could hear the cheeky smile in his voice.
“They spent two months building it,” Alessio muttered against my temple.
My mouth fell open. “You guys built it?” I asked in shock.
Swiveling around, I faced all three of them. They looked suddenly shy.
“It took us some time and many tries. But we got it right in the end. Maila deserves a gift made from our own hands,” Nikolay said.
I blinked back unshed tears. My nose was prickling, and my eyes were burning. Happy tears. I remembered Alessio promising me only happy tears. He kept his vow.
Lena handed me Princess, and I placed a kiss on her tiny forehead. Alessio did the same. A sweet soft kiss.
Her lips pursed in a cute pout, and I smiled. Completely and utterly happy. I was finally whole.
I gently placed her in the bassinet. Alessio wrapped his arm around my hips, his head buried in my neck.
This was what I needed. What I had dreamed of since I was a child.
While every day I was living a nightmare, I had dreamed of this. Hoped for this.
And now it was my reality.
Love, happiness, and peace.
I had all of it.
And my daughter had all of it too.
Thank God Alessio parked his car there on that fateful day.
It was meant to be from the very beginning.
We were meant to be.