My Love Until the Last Goodbye (Mary and Maximus)

A couple of hours after that awkward conversation, Alden, Serenity, Isabelle, and Laura were on their way home. After all the advice from the OB-GYN and the pediatrician, the new little family was finally heading back.

Serenity was filled with mixed emotions. In her arms, she held her baby-yes, her baby-the one who would now be her responsibility for the rest of her life.

She was nervous. It was one thing to take care of her little brother John, or to look after Adele, or the twin boys, or Peter's twin girls, or even Ethan, who was six years old-that was all different.

This was something else entirely. Having a baby that was her complete responsibility was something else altogether. Serenity was filled with conflicting feelings she was hiding well, but deep down, they terrified her.

The moment the nurse handed her baby to her and she signed all those documents confirming she was taking the right, healthy baby home-it all started to make her panic. As a first-time mom, she thought about how movies always romanticized these moments, but the reality... the reality was something else.noveldrama

Being handed a new life to take care of it was overwhelming. That thought stayed with her the entire ride home. And as if Alden could read her mind, when they arrived, he opened the back door, helped her out of the car, and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Everything's going to be okay... Our little Isabelle is going to be just fine."

"You think so?"

"I'm completely sure of it."

"I'm scared..." Serenity whispered, just loud enough for her husband to hear.

"You don't have to be. I'm here with you, and together we'll make it all work out. Don't worry. Come on, let's go... It's time for Ethan to meet his little sister."

"Yeah..." Serenity replied, still nervous.

Laura watched the scene quietly, her mind drifting to thoughts of Adele and Adrian... 'Things could've been so different,' she thought.

"Laura, you coming?" Serenity asked, noticing her sister was lost in thought. "Huh? Yeah, I'm coming..."

When they entered the Palmer mansion, the happy couple was met with a surprise. The Bartz, Palmer, and Evans families were all waiting for them-trying to keep quiet for little Isabelle's delicate ears.

As soon as Alden and Serenity stepped inside, Ethan ran over to meet his sister. When he saw her, he asked to hold her—and he did, leaving the couple and just about everyone else speechless. He had never held a baby before, but he was doing it like a pro.

"Ethan, sweetheart... Careful, your sister is very delicate," Serenity said as she gently placed the baby in his arms.

Ethan looked at her and said, "She's beautiful! She has your eyes! I like your eyes... Hey, Serenity, how am I doing?"

"You're doing great! Just take it slow, okay?"

"Yeah, I practiced with John's baby siblings..."

That confession surprised Valerie and Marcus-they finally understood what all

that time spent with the babies at home had really been about.

"Actually... I even know how to feed my baby sister..."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't warm up the milk-Celeste helped us with that-but we know how

to feed babies and change diapers..." he said without hesitation.

"Wow! That's going to be a huge help, kiddo," said Alden, full of pride.

"Celeste also let us take care of the twins. We learned how to get them to sleep— though they don't sleep much..." the boy added.

"Well, sounds like you're totally ready for what's coming," Alden said, placing a big supportive hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Yep. I can do night duty in her room, and you guys can watch her during the day," Ethan said confidently, clearly proud of the skills he'd picked up from taking care of other babies.

"My love, we'll work out a schedule You need your sleep too, you're still growing and need your rest," said Serenity, touched by her son's attitude.

That little family received congratulations from everyone who was present—some

others had chosen to give the new parents a bit of space and quiet.

The Bartz family left soon after

confirming that Serenity and Isabelle

had made it home safe. The

Evanses, happy as they were, also

knew it was time to let the mom and

baby rest.

Maximus hadn't shown up yet-he'd stayed behind to help Theodore finalize all

the documents for their new company.

He had promised that once he was back, he'd come meet his granddaughter- just not in the morning like the rest of his children.