Page 65 of Scarred Sunrise

“She is.” He stopped speaking as happy tears burned his throat. He never thought he could be happier and yet every day he was amazed by the beauty of his life now.

Later, when Liz was finished in surgery, they lay in the bed together, and he held both his girls in his arms. He watched Mateo move into the room, excitement shining on his face. He held up his hand and beckoned him to join them. Mateo stood in the crook of his arm and Smithy adjusted his hold so he could turn their daughter to meet her brother.

“Son, this is your sister, Grace Elizabeth Smith.”

He saw the same wonder he’d worn as Mateo looked at her tiny face. “She’s so tiny.”

Liz looked up into his face and smiled a tired but happy grin before turning back to Mateo. “She’ll need her big brother to look out for her.”

Mateo looked him in the eye man to man and lifted his chin proudly. “I’ll always protect her.”

Again, Smithy felt the salt of tears and wondered if he was going soft but realised it was okay to show emotion. He was safe here and always would be.

He wrapped his hand around Liz’s nape and turned her head gently. “I love you so much, Lizzie. You gave me a family and I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life making sure I’m worthy of that.

“I love you too.”

She nestled back in his arms, and a sense like no other came over him.

Home—he was finally home.