Page 8 of His Surrender

My dad is quiet for a moment.

“I’ll come stay with you. Just give me a couple of hours. I can drive into the city.”

I sigh, knowing he’s too old to be around a newborn and losing sleep with me. “Dad, I’m not going to let this become your problem.”

“My granddaughter is not a problem. She’s a blessing.” His tone changes instantly, softening slightly. “At least let me stay the weekend. We can try to figure something out together, going forward. I want to be there for you and … what’s her name?”

His question makes me smile. “Liana.”

“Liana. Let me be there for you two.”

I’m too tired to argue. Truth be told, the idea of having my dad here with me, at least for the rest of the weekend, feels like someone just tossed me a life preserver.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“No thanks necessary. This is what family is for. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

Liana takes this moment to begin to wail.

“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”

It’s just after one when I hear the private elevator open into my foyer.

Dad’s one of the few people with clearance to come directly up to the penthouse—a privilege I’ve never thought twice about until now.

Liana finally fell asleep twenty minutes ago in the Pack ’n Play Frieda had set up in my living room before leaving Friday afternoon. Apparently, it’s different from a crib, a bassinet, and the swing that’s quickly become my favorite invention ever created.

A week ago, I couldn’t have told you what any of those things were. Now I feel like I’m slowly learning an entirely new language.

I round the corner just as Dad steps into the apartment.

He doesn’t say a word at first.

His eyes skip over the burp cloth tossed across the back of my couch, the half-empty bottle sitting on the coffee table, and the stack of parenting books spread across my kitchen island before finally landing on the tiny sleeping baby across the room.

For a moment, all he does is stare, and then his eyes glisten.

“She’s beautiful,” he says quietly.

I follow his gaze to Liana. “Yeah.” The single word comes out rougher than I intended. “I think she is too.”

Dad doesn’t answer right away. His eyes never leave her. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, but it’s weighed down by something heavier.

“Your mother would’ve loved to meet her.” His voice cracks with emotion.

The words still over the room like a blanket. I swallow hard, suddenly wishing she were here too.

Not just so she could meet her granddaughter. So she could tell me I wasn’t screwing this whole father thing up.

Dad quietly sets his overnight bag by the couch before making his way over to the Pack ’n Play. He doesn’t reach in to pick Liana up. He simply stands there, taking her in.

“It’s hard to believe,” he says softly.

“I know.”

“You’ve always been the one with a plan.”

I let out a tired laugh. “Turns out, babies don’t care about plans.”