Unloved (The Undone, #2)

by Peyton Corinne

“She’s beautiful,” he says, leaning over the bassinet by the bed. Ro smiles sleepily from the bed and looks at me. We planned this, and Ro has made it clear that I’m the one who’s going to tell him. “Her name is Elsie. Elsie Rose Shariff.”

Ro rolls her eyes at the middle name, but I’m beaming. Named my favorite girl after the two most important women in my life.

And she’s a Shariff. Like her mother. Like me, because I’d taken Ro’s last name after we married. My mom wasn’t a Fredderic. The only father figure I truly knew, Archer, wasn’t a Fredderic. I shed the last name with the haunted memories of my past. My Waterfell friends still call me Fredd...

“Hi, Elsie,” he whispers. “I’m your uncle Archer.” Ro clears her throat, and her eyebrows jump a little as she not-so-subtly gestures to him. “Actually, about that,” I say, nerves rattling my voice. I lean a little more toward Ro for strength. “I want baby Elsie to know about her namesake, about Mom. And I want her to know how much you loved each other.” I clear my throat now, feeling almost sick at the mix of nerves and excitement. “You’ve always been a father to me, and I want her to know you as my dad—as her grandfather.”

He chokes out a sob with a swift nod. “I’m… God, kid. I’m honored.” His eyes immediately dart back to the baby in his arms, and he coos even softer now. “I’m your Grandpa Ace. And I love you very much.” “Am I your second favorite now?” I laugh, massaging Ro’s shoulder. Archer looks up at me with a blinding smile. “No, Matty. You’ll always be my favorite kid.”

He’s nearly moved into our house now, a live-in nanny during the last months while Ro finished school and I traveled. Fortunately, baby Elsie came to us after my season ended—not making it past the first round of play-offs. I commiserated with the guys, but I was thrilled to have that extra ti...

Ro cried nearly every night of her fourth year, deep into the research for her dissertation and constantly feeling like she was missing something every time she stepped out the door for school. So I started videoing everything Elsie and I did—Archer, too—in hopes that Ro never f...

They read off the names rather quickly before Archer leans over with a quick, “She’s next.” He takes Elsie from me so I can film just off stage where I can see Ro, green high heels the only pop of color—other than the numerous cords decking her black robe. “Dr. Rosali...

I’ve never been so proud in my entire life. I love you, I mouth. We’re close enough for her to see it and she blows me a kiss and mouths the words back. These girls—this family we’ve made. This is what I was made for—for loving them, protecting them all.

I know my mom is gone. But she is here, in me. In my softness with Ro. In Archer’s love of me. In Elsie’s vibrant green eyes. I can feel her everywhere, even when I’m not looking for her.

Elsie slaps her hands on the pink plastic tray and giggles, eyes shining as she watches her dad. She’s been smitten with him since her birth, eyes sparkling whenever he enters a room and calls for her. Like mother, like daughter.

“Is Matt home yet?” Archer nods with a smile. “Yeah, I was watching her while he made dinner.” My eyebrows shoot up. “He made dinner?” At this, Archer blushes and shrugs before kissing my cheek and then Elsie’s. “I’ll see you guys later.” “Bye, Grandpa Ace!” Elsie shouts, waving as he leaves. He doesn’t have to go far—when we built the house, we had a father-in-law suite built across from the garage. So we all have privacy, but he’s always here.

My dad finally agreed to Matt’s offer to build them a one-story home that would make it easier for them to continue to live independently, but in Dallas, where they could be closer to me. And closer to the medical research facility I work for.

His eyes wear the wrinkles of constant smiles, his skin tan from swimming in the pool with our daughter, his arms thick and warm as they wrap around us both.

He drops the spatula, grabbing my biceps and pulling me a little closer. “Rosalie?” I look up into his emerald eyes, his concern and protective nature bleeding through. This man—who I kissed at eighteen, who I fell in love with because of his gentle heart, who I’ve grown beside for the last seven years of our life… who I love more every day. “I know we had a plan—” My voice breaks. “But… I’m pregnant again.” We’d planned to wait, to enjoy our time with Elsie and not add to our insanely hectic, though very happy, lives. Matt’s head tips back and he curses at the ceiling before grabbing me in a tight hug.

“Are you happy?” “More than you know.” He looks over at our daughter, who babbles to our dog and plays with him. “I never thought being this happy was real. That it was possible. I love you.” “I love you.” Loving him is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. “And I love this life we’ve built together.” We’re never alone. We always have each other. In our house, there is so much love, it overflows.