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EPILOGUE
THE HOUSE HAD been quiet for hours, the only sounds soft snoring coming from the master bedroom, and the occasional rustle of sheets. But sadly, the peace came to an abrupt halt when the sound of crying interrupted the stillness of the night.
Val, who had been fast asleep, groaned, and rolled over, burying her face in her pillow. She expected her husband to get up, or at least wake up, but he didn't even move. All he did was snore, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm.
She reached out and poked him, but all she got was another snore, so she tried again, this time a little harder. He still didn't move, and the crying got louder, so she hit him in the chest.
"What?" Anthony muttered, his eyes still closed.
"That's her hungry cry," Val mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"It's your turn, you get her," Anthony slurred, and rolled over, his back to his wife.
"Anthony, no," Val protested, lifting her head. "Just get her."
"Can't, sleeping."
"Anthony Michael Volpe, I swear to God if you don't get her right now I will make you regret the day you were born," she threatened, her voice low and dangerous.
"Alright, Jesus, no need to get violent." He sat up, his eyes still half closed, and yawned.
"I'll show you violent," Val mumbled, starting to sit up so she could feed her daughter.
Anthony rolled his eyes, and pushed the covers off. He stood up, his joints cracking, and trudged over to the crib. The infant's face was bright red, her lips pulled down in a frown. When she saw her father, her crying intensified.
"Alright, alright, shhh," he whispered, and picked her up. He held her close, and patted her back, bouncing slightly as he walked back over to the bed.
"Tina, why?" he whispered, and the baby kept wailing, her face scrunched up.
"Oh, come here." Valerie held out her arms, and Anthony handed her the child, before plopping down on the bed, his head on his wife's shoulder. The tank top she had been wearing was already off, and Valentina's hands grabbed at her mother's chest. She latched on and her cries were quickly replaced by little sucking sounds.
Anthony watched for a minute, a content smile on his face. Then, his eyes started to drift shut, and he had to force them open.
"I got her, you can go back to sleep," Val said, her gaze on her daughter.
