Happiness doesn't need to be heavy. Ours weighs seven pounds, measures twenty inches, and has the lungs of an opera singer, according to the hospital staff.

"Welcome, Iris Everleigh O'Brien," Brian says, touching our daughter's tiny fingers as if he needs to make sure she's real.

"Brian." I manage a weak smile. "I want to hold her too."

He sits on the bed by my side and hands her to me but doesn't move away, pressing his wet cheek to the top of my head instead.

"How did we make someone so perfect?" The wonder in Brian's voice puts a smile on my face. 

Truth is, I have no idea. And maybe we'll screw up like all imperfect people do, but the baby girl we're holding made us happier than we've ever been. I run my fingertip over her soft cheek and promise myself to be the mom she deserves to have.

"She's got my temper, Kitten." Brian chuckles. "I just know it. It's comforting to know she won't put up with anyone's crap."

I laugh, and Iris stirs. Her tiny mouth twists in a grimace, and that's how I know it's feeding time. 

I'm still clumsy and clueless, but the time Brian spent reading books and bugging the nurses with questions paid off. He helps me put Iris to my chest, and when she latches on, the grin on his tired face is nothing short of triumphant.

Since she was born at night, our families decided to visit us the following day. 

Unsurprisingly,  Brian and I hardly slept, checking on Iris each time we heard a noise.

When the morning comes, we have breakfast and do the same thing we did all night — we marvel at our daughter, or to put it simply, stare.

A light knock on the door echoes in the otherwise silent room. Brian hops off the chair and goes to open it. 

What I see are flowers, and the bouquet is so big I fail to guess who's holding it until the person crosses the threshold.

"Well, hello there, dad." Jim grins at his brother. "And mom. And little Iris."

The way his eyes soften when they land on his niece tells me our daughter won't ever have a lack of affection. "Congratulations, guys."

"Thank you," I say. "And Ava?"

Jim puts the flowers on the chair by my bed. "Talking to her dad and Harper in the hallway."

"Crap, I need to talk to Harper too." Brian scratches the back of his head. "I'll be back."

I almost roll my eyes because I'm sure Brian's overthinking nature helped him come up with yet another question to ask my doctor. Lucky for us, she's patient, and she doesn't seem to mind.

"Can I hold her?" Jim perches on another chair and nods toward Iris, who's sleeping in my arms. "I washed my hands before."

"Sure."

I hand him the baby, and he grins as he makes sure he's holding her right. "She's the most perfect little thing I've seen, Leah."

My cheeks warm. "Thank you."

"Me? I'm the one who has to thank you for making my brother happy and giving all of us this gift."

Jim tickles Iris's belly, looking at her tiny face. "And it might not be something you've thought about, but I wanted to tell you Ava and I will be more than happy to babysit Iris when you have to return to classes.  My schedule is okay right now, so please let us help."

"Thank you," I say. "We will, although you already helped us a lot."

The look Jim gives me tells me he doesn't want to mention what he did for his brother, but it doesn't mean I forgot he made sure Brian doesn't have to worry about money. 

When Brian reenters the room, Ava is by his side. She kisses my cheek, hands me a beautiful basket full of baby stuff, and lets out a little squeal when she sees Iris in Jim's arms. Ava approaches them and whispers something in Jim's ear. He kisses her and refocuses on our daughter, only returning her to me when she needs to eat.

When Jim and Ava leave, it's the turn of Brian's parents. They bring more flowers and even more baby things.

"You look awkward, Pops," Brian tells his dad, who has his granddaughter in his arms.

"Feel awkward, too," my father-in-law says. "I swear you weren't this tiny."

"Brian was a big baby," Aria says. "But that's cause he's a boy. Iris is a girl. Thank God we finally have one."

"Did you hear that, Kitten?" Brian whispers. "Who's gonna tell them Iris Everleigh took after me?"

I smack my fiance's toned butt while his parents are busy with the baby, and he gives me a knowing smirk. "I'm a proud member of the Hot Dad League now, Kitten. Gonna fight chicks off when I take Iris to the park."

Of course, he's right. Brian's looks are more than enough to attract female attention. If we add a tiny baby to the mix, he's gonna be even more irresistible.

"Make sure to tell the chicks you're engaged, O'Brien." I fake a scowl.

"Then don't take long to make an honest man out of me."

He's kidding, but it's true we don't have a date yet. Although being with Brian is the only thing that matters to me, he hasn't abandoned the idea of giving me the wedding of my dreams. If I'm honest with myself, I'd love that too. I couldn't care less about the venue, but I want a beautiful dress and pictures to remember the day. And I want Iris to be a part of the ceremony.

After my parents-in-law leave, exhaustion hits me. I'm about to doze off when another tap on the door breaks the quiet.

It's my mom and dad. Brian glances at me, gauging my reaction, but I just sit straighter and wait for them to come closer.

"Congratulations." Dad hands me some roses. "I'm so happy for you."

His gaze darts to Iris, and he walks up to the crib, smiling as he watches her sleep. "I wish I could say she looks like you when you were a baby."

I don't know if he meant to say the words aloud, but Mom's jaw trembles and she lowers her eyes to her hands clasped in her lap.

Silence blankets the five of us, only broken by the cute noises Iris makes.

"Can I talk to Leah?" 

Mom's question catches me off guard. "Sure," I say.

Brian and Dad exit the room, and the awkwardness is back.

"She does look like you." Mom faces me. "I wish I had more pictures, but they were the last thing on my mind. I was too busy pitying myself to give the most important person in my life the love and affection she deserved, and the more time passed, the less I knew how to fix things.

"I made lots of mistakes as a parent, Leah. Even when you were already pregnant, I made the mistake of not giving you support. I told Eric I would beg you to forgive me, but I can't blame you if you don't believe me. I let you down too many times and made you pay for my frustrations."

Tears clog my throat. I've waited for Mom to apologize for too long, and I'm not sure I can believe her, but what's the alternative?

I don't want to hold grudges. I don't want to be bitter. What I want is some happiness and peace because life isn't always easy, so what's the point in complicating it even more?

"Will you let me be there for you and Iris?" Mom asks in a whisper.

I exhale. "Yeah. As long as you let me make my own choices and respect them."

The corners of her mouth lift. "Deal."

We stay talking for a couple of hours. Surreal as it is, it's the first time we've done that, but I hope it's not the last.

Iris moves in her crib. Mom rushes to her side and picks her up to give her to me.

I press the tiny bundle of joy to my chest. Tears slide down my cheeks, and when my eyes meet Mom's, I see that she's crying, too.