Chapter 205

Tristan

The NICU had become our second home over the past week. We'd developed a routine—wake up at six, quick breakfast, drive to the hospital by seven.

Athena would do skin-to-skin with both babies while I watched, then we'd switch. We'd spend hours just sitting between their isolettes, talking to them, reading to them, making sure they knew we were there.

Today was different though. Today we were officially announcing their names to the family.

"Are you sure about the names?" Athena asked for the hundredth time as we scrubbed in outside the NICU. "I mean, I love them, but what if..."

"Athena." I turned to face her,...