Epilogue

Epilogue

Life changes in ways we don’t expect.

It’s always been my dream to open my own boutique and showcase my designs, but with Julian in my life, I found a greater purpose. His publisher signed him to a four-book deal, and it means he will continue to travel and write his stories. He initially declined the New York Times job, but they wanted him, offering him more money and flexibility to do video meetings rather than fly to New York.

After accompanying him on a few trips, there’s one thing I’m certain of—it isn’t the glam celebrities who need my clothing, but the countless women I’ve met abroad. They can barely cover their bodies due to low socio-economic environments, not to mention have several children who need basic necessities such as food and water. In turn, this leaves them open to the men of their villages who ravage them, and once again, they will end up with another mouth to feed.

Lex accompanied us on that trip along with my dad. It was an eye-opener for both of us. Julian is comfortable being in a third-world country and spending time with the families as is my dad, who will medically assist, but Lex and I, we’re sheltered.

Lex has the wealth, I have the creativity, and we came together to put our knowledge and wealth to use. Lex was able to negotiate fabric at a low cost, and I’m able to provide jobs to women who need work to provide for their families. It’s a win-win situation spending countless hours with these women in their homes, which brings me so much pleasure. I spend time showing them my creations, and together we create modest garments for ladies in the villages and school uniforms for the local children.

This trip, however, is different.

My palms are sweating profusely, but Julian doesn’t let go. The room is dim, the worn-out curtains are barely shutting out the light. With every inch, every step closer, my heart is beating louder. I want to drop to my knees, my heart aching as I take in how dilapidated the room is. The air is thick and humid, and my breathing is out of sync.

This is not fair.

The world is not fair.

Life is not fair.

The bed is small made of rusted steel pillars. Dirty stained sheets are all I can see lying on top of the bed, but then, like the flick of a switch, my world and heart are turned upside-down in one split second.

I’m floating toward the bed, and Julian is squeezing my hand for dear life. My eyes can’t fathom what I see, the beauty and life which belongs to us.

My dad stands beside the bed with his bag open wide. He takes out the necessary instruments and does what he’s medically trained to do. Julian and I watch intently, every move, every reflex down to the expressions on my dad’s face. Is it concern? Is it worry? My stomach churns nervously as we wait for his conclusion.

It happens an hour later, the smile which brightens up the room, the hope and prayers that have been answered.

My voice is hoarse, and with a nervous tremble, I ask, “Is everything okay, Dad?”

He doesn’t say a word, carefully placing his instruments in his bag. Once zipped, he focuses his attention back on the bed and carefully, he lifts and cradles her in his arms. “There are just a few little things, but nothing that concerns me too much. You have my full consent to take my granddaughter home.” He smiles, carefully rocking her in his arms.

I stare at her tiny face—she is perfect.

I turn to look at Julian, his wide smile reassures me that we’ve made the right decision.

She belongs in our family.

The moment I’ve been waiting for over the last twelve weeks has finally arrived, and without a thought, she is placed in my arms. The emotions finally take over, and the happy tears flow freely as I lean down and kiss her face. She is exceedingly small for her age, but I try not to focus on the negative because the overwhelming feeling of peace finally settles over me. Julian places his arms around me and bends down to kiss her hair. Even Julian struggles to hold back his own tears, and with that sight alone, I hand him our daughter.

There are no words for how content I feel as I watch him cradle our child for the first time. Without any hesitation, his love and acceptance make me more complete than I have ever felt, and for the first time in my life, I’ll admit that. I will not compare nor will I allow myself to feel guilty.

The day Julian came home from that South American trip with my dad, I knew something was terribly wrong. He was withdrawn, and when he explained the terrible situations he found himself in, I understood why he was traumatized and unable to get the image of this baby girl out of his head.

That night when Andy went to sleep, he showed me the videos, and my heart wept along with his. She’d been found beside the decomposing garbage in a worn-out part of town in the middle of the night under the pale moonlight.

A local had handed her over to the nuns, and without the proper care, she’d have only lived a few days. My dad just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He treated her injuries and illness giving her a chance to grow up to live a normal life. All she needed was a family to love her and treat her as their own. The moment I saw the man I love weep openly about this little girl, I knew that both our hearts were entirely in sync, and this was our daughter.

And today, she officially became a part of our family.

Julian whispers softly, careful not to wake her, “She’s perfect.”

“I know,” I respond with a smile, stroking her soft curls and running the tips of my fingers along her precious skin careful to memorize every groove, every bump, finally landing a delicate kiss to the tip of her nose. Everything feels so familiar like she is a part of me that I’ve been missing. My affection toward her surpasses my expectations, and my motherly instincts instantly kick in. Is she hungry? Is she wet?

“She is perfect, Julian, and I think it’s time to take her home.”

The paperwork is done, and with my dad’s medical approval, we thank the nuns at the orphanage. Just before we exit the building, the nun who took care of her reaches out and gestures the sign of the cross on her forehead, blessing her before we leave. I thank her kindly and head outside to get into the car.

It’s a three-hour drive back to the capital city and being organized, I have all the necessary items to feed and dress her. In the car, I continue to stare at her face, mesmerized and unable to turn away. She is beautiful with slightly tanned skin, dark brown hair, and her long luscious eyelashes flutter on her cheeks as she sleeps. Her features are small, but that’s to be expected at her age. We hit a bump in the road which causes her to stir. Both of us wait in anticipation as her eyes begin to open. My heart is racing as I wait for the moment when her eyes connect with ours, and the second they do, all my walls break down, and I’m an emotional mess.

Julian tries to comfort me, using his spare arm to pull me into his side. “Hey, she’s with us now.”

My sobs are loud, but my dad reassures me everything is going to be fine.

“You promise me they can’t take her?”

Through streaming tears, I stare into her eyes. She seems to be able to see me, moving her pupils when my smile becomes a joyous laugh.

“Adriana, everything is done, signed, and sealed. We’re taking her home. I promise you with all my life that no one can take her.”

We arrive at the hotel and enter the suite where Lex and my mother are waiting. My mom is crying, carrying a yellow blanket covered in colorful stripes. “This belonged to you, Adriana, and now it belongs to your daughter.”

I embrace her for a long time, not wanting to let go. I’m not going to cry anymore because this is a moment worth celebrating. Lex is standing beside my mom, reserved and unusually quiet. Slowly, his face widens into a smile, and I encourage him to take a look. He peeks in the blanket, and the moment he does, his face melts, and he asks to hold her. Julian passes our little girl to him with ease, and I watch my brother cradle our daughter.

“Hey, beautiful girl, I’m your Uncle Lex,” he coos.

She makes a tiny sound, a baby gurgle.

“Look, Lex, she smiled at you.”

Proudly, he asks, “What’s her name?”

Julian and I glance at each other, and he motions for me to announce it.

“Luna Emily Baker.” I’m honored to be the first to tell everyone her name. “Because under the moon, on that dark night, she somehow defeated all odds until she was found.”

Lex repeats her name softly, gazing into her eyes. “This calls for a celebration.”

He passes her to my mom who’s desperately waiting to hold her and moves his hands toward the pocket of his shirt. I can see three cigars sitting in the pocket, and he pulls them out handing one to Julian and my dad. He follows with a lighter and clears his throat. “Congratulations, Julian. She’s beautiful.”

My dad puts his arm around Julian as the three of them laugh in the other room. I’m not quite sure what’s funny but seeing the three of them smile and be merry with one another melts me beyond belief. It’s a sight I never thought I’d see.

“You see that in there, Luna? That’s your crazy family,” I say to her.

Luna’s eyes follow my movement, and I smile hopelessly at our daughter. It’s time to take her home, back to the States, so she can finally meet Andy. My mom starts to pack her things, and as we all gather our belongings to leave the hotel, Julian politely holds the door open for me as we’re the last ones in the room.

“Ready to go home, Luna, to meet your brother?” Julian murmurs.

“Ready to go home, Daddy?” I reply with a smile.

Julian tilts his head and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “I love you.”

I giggle into his mouth, careful not to squash Luna between us. “Love you, too. But wait, I just have one more question…”

He rolls his eyes at me but follows through with a smirk. “Yes, Miss Know-It-All, what’s your question now?”

“When are you going to ask me to marry you?” I blurt out.

Unable to control the smile which lights up his entire face, he leans into baby Luna and whispers, “Finally, I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this question. Hopefully, Mommy says, yes?”

“Yes!” I shout, placing my arm around his neck as I stand on my tiptoes and kiss my future husband deeply.

Finally, we are a complete family.