Better Late Than Never

63

Ayman prayed Fajr and nawafil in the same room where his daughter was cleaned up.

He kept his prayers short and did his best to concentrate while having it at the back of his mind that he'd raise hell if anything – anything at all – happened to his daughter.

Fortunately, the nurse finished up and got Baby Bello dressed in a onesie set which had come from one of the bags the Bellos, Abdulazizs, and Adeolas had come along with. The onesie set combined warm white and pastel green; a white short-sleeved body suit which was snapped shut at the crotch with the design of a fairy Ayman could swear he knew from a cartoon he'd watched ages ago, pastel green trousers, warm white socks with snowflakes in green, and then the matching cap.

Once dressed, Baby Bello was once again wrapped in a blanket – a soft shade of beige – and the nurse, with a smile on her face, asked Ayman if he wanted to hold his daughter.

Ayman immediately panicked, his eyes widening. "Uhm..." He momentarily averted his gaze before looking back at the nurse. "I wouldn't want to drop her."

The nurse's smile warmed further. "I'll be right here to guide you. I promise you won't drop her."

Ayman's panic didn't lessen but he gathered courage and then meekly nodded. "O-okay."

His daughter was in his arms a moment later and he only let himself exhale properly when she was comfortably cradled in his hold. The nurse stepped back, smiling proudly. "See? I knew you could do it."

Ayman teared up. He offered the nurse a watery smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Take your time holding her. I don't have anywhere I have to be so..."

Ayman nodded and then looked at his daughter. It felt like staring at himself as a baby because she looked so much like him. She had Ayra's almond brown skin tone, though, and when her lips twitched, Ayman swore he caught a hint of Ayra's dimples on both cheeks of their daughter. It made him ecstatic and his grin was blinding.

"Hi, ya rouhi." He said softly, smiling lovingly as she stirred slightly. "Anta jamilatun-jiddan (you're so beautiful)."

As though she heard and understood him, Baby Bello slowly opened her eyes and Ayman was met with the most beautiful shade of hazel. His breath hitched and the world stopped as she held his eyes with hers for a moment that felt like eternity before her lips curled upwards in what should have been the loveliest smile Ayman had ever seen.

Amazed to not ends, Ayman turned to face the nurse. His eyes were back to being wide. "C-Can she see me?"

The nurse nodded, her smile returning. "She can. You're not quite clear to her yet and she can't see colours properly but she knows you're there. Also, she recognises you. She's heard your voice in the last eight to nine months so..."

Ayman's eyes widened even further and he looked at his daughter again, watching as her smile shrunk and her eyes closed. She then smacked her lips, twice, and Ayman turned to the nurse, wanting to know what that action meant.

The nurse stepped forward, her hands put together. Her smile was still on her face, still as warm as it'd been. "We should take her back to your wife."

"She's hungry?"

The nurse nodded. "She is."

Ayman knew, deep inside, that he wasn't ready to let go of his daughter yet. He bit the inside of his cheek, conflicted. On one hand, he wanted to keep holding her. On the other hand, he knew they had to get back to Ayra. He couldn't feed her and the last thing he wanted was for the little being to get fussy. It'll break his heart.