Chapter 13

One Month After Maya’s Birth

The apartment was dark except for the dim glow of the nightlight in the corner of the bedroom.

It was 3:14 a.m.

And Maya was crying again.

Not soft fussing.

Not sleepy little noises.

Full crying.

The kind that immediately woke both of you up no matter how exhausted you were.

You groaned softly into your pillow.

Your body still felt heavy with exhaustion from weeks of barely sleeping.

Beside you, Paige stirred awake instantly the moment the crying started.

For the past month, nights had become a blur.

Feedings.

Diaper changes.

Rocking Maya back to sleep.

Then maybe getting an hour or two of rest before doing it all over again.

And somehow despite how tired you both were, neither of you loved Maya any less.

If anything, it was the opposite.

The crying continued through the baby monitor.

You automatically pushed yourself upright.

“I’ll get her.”

That had become routine.

Most nights, you were the one getting up first.

Mostly because you assumed Paige needed the sleep more.

Her practices had started again.

Conditioning.

Film sessions.

Travel.

Everything was picking back up.

And in your mind, Paige needed rest more than you did.

She had basketball.

Responsibilities.

A future people depended on.

So usually you got up before she even had the chance.

But tonight was different.

The second your feet touched the floor, Paige reached out and gently grabbed your wrist.

“I got her.”

You looked over.

Paige was already sitting up, hair messy and eyes barely open from exhaustion.

“Baby, it’s okay-“

“No.”

Her voice was still sleepy but firm.

“Go back to sleep.”

You frowned slightly.

“Paige.”

“I mean it.”

She carefully climbed out of bed before you could argue further.

You watched her quietly.

Noticing the exhaustion in the way she moved.

The dark circles beneath her eyes.

The way she rubbed her face tiredly before heading toward the nursery.

Guilt immediately settled in your chest.

Because she was exhausted too.

And yet somehow you still found yourself thinking she needed rest more than you did.

A few moments later, Maya’s crying softened slightly from the nursery.

You could hear Paige’s voice faintly through the monitor.

“Hey, baby girl.”

Her voice instantly gentled in that way it only ever did around Maya.

“It’s okay.”

You slowly got out of bed anyway.

Not because you planned on taking over.

Just because you wanted to check on them.

The nursery door was cracked open slightly.

Inside, Paige stood beside the crib holding Maya against her chest.

Your daughter was tiny in her arms.

One month old and already completely attached to both of you.

Paige swayed slowly back and forth while rubbing Maya’s back gently.

“You really hate sleeping, huh?”

Maya fussed softly in response.

Paige sighed dramatically.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Despite yourself, you smiled faintly from the doorway.

Paige looked up when she noticed you.

“I told you to stay in bed.”

“You looked tired.”

Paige laughed softly.

“So do you.”

Fair point.

The room fell quiet for a moment except for Maya’s tiny sniffles.

Then Paige looked down at the baby again.

And her expression changed.

Softened.

Guilt flickering across her face.

“I should be doing more.”

You blinked.

“What?”

Paige kept her eyes on Maya.

“You’ve been doing most of the night stuff.”

“Paige-“

“I’m serious.”

Her voice stayed quiet.

Heavy.

“This is my daughter too.”

Your chest tightened immediately.

Paige adjusted Maya slightly against her shoulder before continuing.

“You carried her for nine months.”

Her eyes finally lifted toward you.

“You gave birth to her.”

Emotion sat visibly across her face now.

“And now you’re barely sleeping because she cries all night.”

You stepped closer slowly.

“Paige.”

“I feel guilty.”

The honesty in her voice made your heart ache.

“Sometimes I come home exhausted from practice and you’re already holding her.”

She swallowed hard.

“And I know you’re exhausted too.”

Maya made another tiny sleepy sound against her shoulder.

Paige immediately bounced her gently without even thinking about it.

It had already become instinct.

“I don’t want you thinking you’re doing this alone.”

Your eyes softened instantly.

Because somehow Paige still didn’t understand.

You’d never felt alone for a second.

Not once.

You stepped in front of her carefully before reaching up and brushing messy blonde hair away from her forehead.

“Paige.”

She looked at you quietly.

“You are a good mom.”

Her eyes immediately watered slightly.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true.”

You rested a hand lightly against Maya’s back.

“She adores you.”

Paige looked down at the baby immediately.

And right on cue, Maya settled more comfortably against her chest.

Completely calm now.

You smiled softly.

“See?”

Paige let out a small laugh.

“I think she just likes being held.”

“By you.”

That made her emotional all over again.

Because despite the exhaustion-

Despite the sleepless nights-

Despite how hard the last month had been-

Paige loved being Maya’s mom more than anything she’d ever done in her entire life.

Even at three in the morning.

Even half asleep.

Even exhausted beyond belief.

You leaned forward and kissed her gently.

“You don’t have to earn your place here.”

Paige’s expression softened immediately.

“You already are her mom.”

Maya yawned softly against Paige’s shoulder.

The tiniest little yawn imaginable.

And Paige melted instantly.

“Oh my God.”

You laughed quietly.

“You’re obsessed with her.”

“Obviously.”

Paige looked genuinely offended you’d even question it.

You smiled.

Then gently rested your head against her shoulder while both of you looked down at your daughter.

Your little family.

Tired.

Sleep deprived.

Barely functioning.

But happy.

So unbelievably happy.