It was true.
Lucy.
Richard.
Even a detective.
Everyone played their part.
Sophia learned her lesson.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
Richard became a kind of grandfather to her – the grandfather she never had.
He came on Sundays.
He brought old books and cookies from his favorite bakery.
They drank tea in the kitchen and he told stories from his practice.
Sometimes scary, sometimes funny, but always informative.
“You know what surprises me most about people?” he said one day.
„Co?”
“The ultrasound confirmed it. It’s a girl.”
Alex froze.
“A girl? Are we having a daughter?”
“Not.”
He knelt in front of her and rested his cheek on her stomach.
“Hi, little one. I’m your daddy. I love you already.”
Sophia stroked his hair, her heart filled with tenderness.
This man – her husband, the father of her daughter – suffered greatly to become who he is today.
Not perfect.
But real.
Choosing the name took a long time.
They looked at hundreds of options, from classic to exotic.
“Anna,” Alex suggested.
“No, this happens too often.”
„Isabella.”
“Too long.”
“So what?”
Sophia thought.
“What if we name it after someone close to us?”
“Like who?”
“For example, your grandmother. What was her name?”
Alex frowned.
“My paternal grandmother’s name was Carmen. My maternal grandmother’s name was… Dolores.”
“Dolores. No.”
„I Carmen.”
“Clare is beautiful.”
“Clare Sanchez,” Alex tried.
“Sounds good.”
“I’ve decided. Our daughter’s name will be Clare.”
They shook hands as if sealing an important agreement, then laughed at the seriousness of the situation.
Labor began at night, as expected.
Sophia woke up with a dull pain in her lower abdomen and knew it was time.
“Alex. Alex. Alex, wake up.”
“Mmm. What?”
“It has begun.”
He jumped to his feet as if stung, and ran around the room, searching for his clothes, keys, and hospital bag.
“Just calm down,” Sophia said, even though she was nervous herself.
“The bag is by the door. The papers are in it.”
“The car is in the garage.”
“Yes, yes, I know. I’m just panicking.”
“I panic too,” he admitted.
Sophia smiled despite the pain.
“Then let’s panic together on the way to the hospital.”
They arrived at the hospital on time.
The contractions intensified and by morning Sophia was in the delivery room.
Alex stayed outside.
He wanted to be there, but she refused.
“This is my test. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Definitely”.
And she did well.
Clare was born at sunrise – petite, wrinkled, with a shock of dark hair and surprisingly keen eyes.
When the midwife placed her on Sophia’s chest, time seemed to stand still.
“Hello, little one,” she whispered.
“I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
The child looked at her seriously and attentively, as if recognizing her, then yawned and closed his eyes.
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