Aloe's POV
Evelyn Grace Savage entered the world at 3:47 AM on a Tuesday morning in late April, weighing seven pounds three ounces, with lungs that announced her arrival to the entire Vermont hospital. Dr. Chen delivered her with efficient competence, and for the first time in nine months, I held my daughter in my arms.
She was perfect.
Not perfect despite her complicated conception, not perfect in spite of the war that had been fought over her custody—just perfect and completely mine.
"She has your eyes," Sofia said, having driven up from New York the moment my labor started. "And probably your determination, given how loudly she's announcing her existence."
I couldn't stop staring at Evelyn's tiny face, her small fingers wrapped around mine, the reality of her existence more overwhe
