Laughing with excitement, I move past Cora into Pippa’s room, heading immediately for the new mom. Cora follows behind me, heading to the corner to pack up her doctor’s bag.
“Pips!” I say, grinning and reaching for her hand, sitting down on the stool next to her and beaming at her. “How are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Pippa says, laughing a little. “Relieved that it’s done, happy she’s here.” Her eyes stray over to where Elias is holding a teeny tiny little bundle in his arms, stepping close so Ben can see. My mom stands close by, standing on her toes, peeking down at the little baby like her eyes can’t get enough.
“You’re magnificent,” I sigh, standing to press a kiss to her cheek and likewise looking eagerly over at the baby. “Did you pick out a name?”
“Bianca,” Elias says, smiling over at me, pleased and proud. “We’ve decided to call her Bianca.”
“Bianca,” I repeat, loving it, grinning down at Pippa. “So…not named after his mother?”
“Well, she may have the lineage of an Atalaxian Princess,” Pippa says with a happy sigh, looking up at me. “But she’s a little Moon Valley girl now, isn’t she? New life, new traditions.”
I squeak with joy, loving that, dipping low to give Pippa a huge hug.
“Oh, go,” she says, laughing and swatting me away. “I know the baby is the main feature.”
I laugh, doing as I’m bid and letting her go, moving quickly over to Elias and Ben and my mom. As I walk I glance to the door, not missing at all that Mark is leaning against the doorjamb, not fully in the room, his worried gaze trained on Pippa.
She glances at him once but then looks away, shifting uncomfortably and returning her eyes to her daughter, all bundled up.
I bite my lip but…I let it stand. After all, they haven’t asked for my help. And despite my tendency to meddle…well. It seems to be what Pippa wants, after all, and she gets to be in charge today.
I move towards Mom, Elias and Benny, my arms out. “Gimme,” I say, grinning with abandon.
Ben laughs, shifting little Bianca out of my reach. “No way,” he says, shaking his head. “I just got her.”
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