‘You okay?’ Eddie said softly, after a moment.
‘Yeah.’ There was a hint of sadness to her voice, but it vanished as she regarded her daughter once more. ‘But that can wait for another day. Let’s get you into your bed.’
They continued to another room. What had previously been the study was now a nursery, the desk replaced by a crib containing a Moses basket. Nina went to it, taking a deep breath. ‘Okay, I practised this with a doll, so hopefully I’ll manage the real thing,’ she said, gingerly unfastening the sling with one hand while supporting the baby with the other.
‘You’ll do it,’ Eddie assured her. ‘Trust me, you’re not going to drop the baby. You could be juggling hand grenades and you still wouldn’t drop the baby!’
‘I hope you’re right…’ The sling came free, and she took Macy’s weight with both hands, carefully lifting her out and lowering her into the cot. ‘Yes! I did it! I actually did it — and she didn’t even cry!’ Macy squirmed in her new bed, but didn’t make a sound. ‘Oh my God, Eddie. Look at her. Isn’t she beautiful?’ She felt tears swelling in her eyes.
‘Yeah, she is,’ he agreed. ‘My baby girl. Wow.’ He made a sound that was half chuckle and half disbelieving gasp. ‘I’m a dad. I’m a bloody dad!’
‘That only just sank in, huh? I thought you looked a bit spaced out at the birth.’
A grin. ‘Having her here at home is what did it. We’re an actual family now.’ He reached down to stroke his daughter’s cheek; she wriggled in response. ‘So are you ready to be a mum?’ he asked Nina. ‘Or a mom, even.’
‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘I’m ready — I really am.’ The admission was entirely truthful, and it felt good. ‘Though I know it’s going to be hard work. She’s quiet now, but… well, you heard her at the hospital before I fed her! I don’t know how she fits such big lungs into such a tiny body.’
‘At least we can concentrate on her. Your book’s finished, and you’ve optioned the movie rights to Grant, so we don’t need to worry about money. You don’t have to go chasing after any more archaeological bollocks for a while.’
Nina laughed. ‘Just because I’ve become a mother doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing what I do.’
‘Yeah, I was afraid you’d say that. Oh well…’ He let out an exaggerated sigh, then wrapped his arms around her, looking down at their sleeping baby. ‘It doesn’t matter right now, does it?’
‘No, it doesn’t.’ She smiled, then kissed him. ‘We’ve just started a whole new adventure.’