Worth the Fall: A Single Dad, Romantic Comedy (Flirting with Forever Book 2)

The soft evening light filters through our living room windows as I lean against the doorframe, taking in the sight before me. Mia’s fast asleep on the couch, her swollen belly supported by the pregnancy pillow she swears by, with an open bag of sour gummy worms precariously balanced on her chest. Even in sleep, one hand rests protectively over our growing child.

My phone buzzes insistently in my pocket—probably Taylor with another urgent question about tomorrow’s merger meeting—but I silence it without a second glance. Some things matter more than work, and right now, my entire focus is here in this room with the incredible woman I love and the precious new life we’ve created together.

‘Mmm,’ Mia stirs slightly, muttering something unintelligible as she shifts position. A stray gummy worm tumbles to the floor and I move quietly to pick it up, my chest tightening with a rush of affection. Pregnancy has been one hell of a journey for both of us, but watching Mia handle it all with her signature mix of determination and dry humor just makes me fall more in love with her every day.

‘You planning to stand there watching me sleep all night?’ Mia’s sleepy voice catches me off guard. She blinks up at me with a drowsy smile, and I can’t help but grin back.

‘Maybe.’ I cross the room and perch on the edge of the couch beside her. ‘You’re pretty cute when you’re passed out surrounded by candy.’

She tries to sit up, struggling a bit with her belly in the way. I reach out to help, and she shoots me a grateful look. ‘Your daughter has been doing somersaults all afternoon. The sugar helps.’

‘Oh, so when she’s keeping you up, she’s my daughter?’

‘Exactly.’ Mia stretches, wincing slightly. ‘Though I suppose I can’t complain too much. At least she has good taste in snacks.’

I settle onto the couch beside her, and she immediately curls into my side, her head finding that perfect spot against my shoulder. These quiet moments have become my favorite part of each day—just us, together, feeling our daughter move and dream up scenarios for the life ahead.

‘Remember when you rushed into my office last week?’ I ask, running my fingers through her hair. ‘Poor Johnson probably thought the building was on fire.’

Mia groans, burying her face against my chest. ‘Don’t remind me. I was convinced something was wrong because she hadn’t moved in hours. Thank God for Felicity and Princess Waddles coming to the rescue.’

The memory makes me smile. Our daughter had appeared in the doorway of my office, clutching her beloved stuffed penguin with that solemn expression she gets when she’s on an important mission.

‘Here, Mommy Mia,’ she’d said, pressing the well-loved toy into Mia’s trembling hands. ‘Princess Waddles always makes me feel better when I’m scared. Maybe she can help the baby feel better too.’

‘That kid,’ Mia says now, shaking her head with a soft laugh. ‘She’s going to be the best big sister.’

‘She already is. Did you see the list she made of all the things she wants to teach the baby? Including, and I quote, ‘proper princess protocol’ and ‘how to negotiate extra dessert with Daddy.”

‘Smart girl.’ Mia shifts, trying to find a comfortable position. ‘Though I’m not sure how I feel about her teaching our daughter the art of manipulation before she can even walk.’

‘Better get used to it. Between Felicity’s creativity and your negotiation skills, I don’t stand a chance against either of them.’

Mia’s about to respond when she suddenly tenses, her hand flying to her belly. My heart skips a beat until I see her smile.

‘Speaking of our little gymnast,’ she says, grabbing my hand and placing it where the baby is kicking. ‘I think someone heard us talking about her.’

The solid thump against my palm never gets old. Every time I feel our daughter move, it hits me all over again—we’re really doing this. Creating a life together, building on the family we’ve already made with Felicity.

‘Should I put on some NSYNC?’ I tease. ‘Get her really going?’

‘Don’t you dare.’ Mia pokes me in the ribs. ‘I still maintain she only dances to nineties boy bands because you played them constantly during my first trimester.’

‘Hey, ‘Bye Bye Bye’ is a classic. I was simply ensuring our child has good taste in music.’

‘You’re impossible.’ But she’s smiling as she says it, her eyes soft with affection.

The moment is interrupted by my phone buzzing again. This time it’s Tarryn, my assistant, with a reminder about tomorrow’s early meeting.

‘I should probably review those briefs.’ I sigh, though I make no move to get up. ‘The Morrison case isn’t going to prep itself.’

Mia hums in agreement but tightens her grip on my shirt. ‘Five more minutes?’

‘Ten,’ I counter, dropping a kiss to her temple. ‘The briefs can wait.’

Those quiet evening moments seem like a distant memory now as I sprint through the law firm’s hallway, Tarryn’s words still ringing in my ears.

‘Your wife is in labor and has been trying to reach you for the past half hour.’

My heart pounds against my ribs as I jam my finger repeatedly against the elevator call button. Every second feels like an eternity. When the doors finally open, I nearly collide with Austin stepping out.

‘Whoa, where’s the fire?’ He catches my arm to steady me.

‘Mia. Baby. Now.’ The words tumble out between ragged breaths.

Understanding dawns on his face. ‘Go. I’ll tell Taylor to reschedule the Morrison meeting.’

I’m already in the elevator, barely registering his words as the doors close. My phone shows six missed calls from Mia and two from Celine. Shit.

The drive to the hospital is a blur of honking horns and red lights that seem to last forever. I weave through traffic, muttering under my breath, ‘Come on, come on. Move.’

‘I will not miss my daughter’s birth because some idiot decided today was a good time to practice parallel parking,’ I growl, swerving around a painfully slow SUV.

By the time I screech into the hospital parking lot, my shirt is halfway untucked and my tie is askew. I probably look like a madman as I sprint through the entrance, nearly taking out an orderly in my haste.

The maternity ward is a maze of identical corridors, but I follow the sound of familiar voices until I find her room. Mia is perched on the edge of the bed in a hospital gown, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. The moment our eyes meet, relief floods her face, quickly followed by exasperation.

‘Took you long enough,’ she grits out, gripping the bed rail as another contraction hits. ‘Did you stop for coffee on the way?’

‘I’m so sorry, mi amor.’ I rush to her side, taking her hand in mine. She immediately squeezes hard enough to make me wince. ‘Traffic was insane, and my phone was on silent during the deposition and⁠—’

‘I tried calling you twelve times!’ The words come out sharp, but I can see the fear behind her anger. ‘I thought… I was afraid you wouldn’t make it. That I’d have to do this alone.’

My heart cracks at the vulnerability in her voice. ‘Never,’ I vow, bringing our joined hands to my lips. ‘I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together, Mia. Always.’

She nods, jaw clenched as another contraction builds. I support her through it, murmuring encouragement until it passes.

‘Where’s Felicity?’ I ask once Mia’s breathing evens out.

‘With her mom,’ she manages between breaths. ‘Celine took her to get ice cream, try to keep her distracted. She was getting worried when we couldn’t reach you.’

Right on cue, Celine appears in the doorway with Felicity clutching her hand. Our daughter’s eyes go wide when she sees me.

‘Daddy! You made it!’ She starts to run toward me but stops short, remembering the hospital rules we discussed. ‘Is the baby coming?’

‘Soon, princess,’ I tell her, my free hand reaching out to squeeze hers. ‘Your little sister’s almost here.’

Felicity beams, then turns to Mia with all the authority a six-year-old can muster. ‘Remember to breathe, Mommy Mia. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Like this!’ She demonstrates with exaggerated puffs that have us all laughing despite the tension.

‘Thanks, baby.’ Mia manages a smile. ‘You’re a great coach.’

‘Oh!’ Felicity brightens suddenly. ‘Wait right here!’ She darts to the small duffel bag Celine brought, rummaging through it with determined focus before pulling out her beloved stuffed penguin. ‘Princess Waddles wants to help too.’

She presents the well-loved toy to Mia with complete solemnity. ‘Squeeze her when it hurts. She doesn’t mind.’

My eyes meet Celine’s over our daughter’s head, sharing a moment of pure parental pride at Felicity’s heart. Despite everything we’ve been through, we’ve managed to raise an incredibly empathetic child.

‘That’s very thoughtful, sweetheart,’ Celine says, placing a gentle hand on Felicity’s shoulder. ‘But maybe we should let Mommy Mia rest for a bit? We could go get those mani-pedis we talked about.’

Felicity’s face lights up, but she hesitates, looking between Mia and the door. ‘But what if the baby comes while we’re gone?’

‘Then Daddy will call you right away,’ Mia promises, managing a smile despite her discomfort. ‘First thing.’

‘You swear?’ Felicity fixes me with a stern look that’s pure Celine.

‘Cross my heart,’ I tell her solemnly. ‘The second your sister arrives, you’ll be the first to know.’

This seems to satisfy her. She gives Mia a gentle hug, careful of her belly like we’ve practiced, then heads to the door with Celine. ‘Feel better, Mommy Mia! And baby sister, don’t hurt too much, okay?’

After they leave, the room feels suddenly quieter. Mia’s grip on my hand tightens as another contraction builds.

‘Talk to me,’ she pants between breaths. ‘Distract me.’

‘Remember our first date?’ I start, rubbing slow circles on her back. ‘When you demolished that sugar caddy at the coffee shop?’

She lets out a strangled laugh. ‘That’s what you’re going with? My most embarrassing moment?’

‘Hey, it worked. I fell in love with you right then and there.’

‘Liar,’ she gasps, but she’s smiling through the pain. ‘You just felt sorry for me.’

‘Never.’ I press a kiss to her temple. ‘I thought you were adorable. Still do.’

The next few hours pass in a blur of monitoring and meditation, ice chips and muttered curses. Mia is incredible, facing each new challenge with a strength that leaves me in awe. Even when the pain is at its worst, when she’s crushing my fingers and threatening to never let me touch her again, there’s a fire in her eyes that never dims.

Finally, at 2:37 on an otherwise unremarkable Tuesday afternoon, our daughter makes her grand entrance with a cry that pierces the air. Strong and indignant, like she’s already ready to take on the world.

‘Congratulations,’ the doctor beams beneath her mask. ‘You have a healthy baby girl.’

‘Oh my God,’ Mia breathes, tears streaming down her face as she reaches for our daughter. ‘Miguel, look at her. She’s perfect.’

And she is. This tiny, precious being with her shock of dark hair and impossibly small fingers. She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, this little person we created together. Tangible proof of a love so big I can barely wrap my mind around it.

‘She’s incredible,’ I manage past the lump in my throat, pressing my forehead to Mia’s as my own tears fall freely. ‘You’re incredible. I love you both so much.’

A nurse appears with a clipboard, smiling warmly. ‘Do we have a name picked out for this little lady?’

Mia and I exchange a look, a thousand conversations passing between us in that single glance. We’ve spent months debating names, weighing options, but we both knew the moment we found the right one.

‘Esperanza Magdalena Ramirez,’ I say, my voice thick with emotion.

The nurse’s pen scratches softly against paper as she records it. But this is more than just paperwork—it’s a declaration, a promise, a tribute to everything that brought us here.

‘Esperanza,’ Mia murmurs, trailing a finger down our daughter’s tiny cheek. ‘Our little ray of hope.’

The door creaks open, and Felicity peeks in, her eyes wide with anticipation. Celine stands behind her, one hand on her shoulder.

‘Can we meet her?’ Felicity whispers, unusually subdued.

‘Come here, princess.’ I motion her over. ‘Come meet your sister.’

She approaches the bed carefully, rising on tiptoes to get a better look. Her whole face lights up when Esperanza wraps her tiny hand around her finger.

‘She’s so small,’ Felicity breathes in wonder. ‘Hi, baby sister. I’m your big sister Felicity.’ She looks up at me, her brown eyes serious. ‘What’s her name?’

‘Esperanza,’ I tell her, watching as she tries to wrap her mouth around the Spanish syllables. ‘It means ‘hope’ in Spanish. And Magdalena, after your bisabuela.’

‘Like the stories you tell me about Great-Grandma?’ Felicity asks, her face brightening with recognition.

‘Exactly.’ I run a hand over her curls, so like my grandmother’s. ‘She was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. Just like your mom, Mia, and you.’

Celine steps closer, her expression soft as she looks at the baby. ‘She’s beautiful,’ she says quietly. ‘Congratulations, both of you.’

Mia smiles tiredly. ‘Thank you. For everything today. For Felicity…’

‘That’s what family does,’ Celine says simply, and I feel something in my chest loosen at her words. We’ve come so far from those first bitter days after our divorce, found our way to this new normal that somehow works better than before.

‘Can I hold her?’ Felicity asks hopefully. ‘I’ll be super careful.’

‘Come here.’ Mia pats the space beside her on the bed. Once Felicity is settled, I help position her arms just right before placing Esperanza in them.

‘Support her head, just like that,’ I guide her. ‘Perfect.’

Felicity beams down at her sister, completely enraptured. ‘We’re going to have so much fun together,’ she tells the baby seriously. ‘I’ll teach you all about princesses and how to make Daddy give us extra dessert.’

‘I knew it.’ I laugh, catching Mia’s eye. She looks exhausted but radiant, her smile soft as she watches our daughters together.

A camera clicks—Celine capturing the moment. ‘For the baby book,’ she explains.

I sink into the chair beside the bed, overwhelmed by the perfection of this moment. My family—all of us together, exactly as we should be. Mia reaches for my hand, our fingers intertwining as Felicity continues her whispered promises to Esperanza.

‘Thank you,’ I murmur to Mia, bringing our joined hands to my lips.

‘For what?’

‘For everything. For loving me, for loving Felicity, for giving us Esperanza. For making our family complete.’

She squeezes my hand, tears shining in her eyes again. ‘We’ve come a long way from that pickleball court, haven’t we?’

‘Worth every step,’ I tell her, and I mean it with every fiber of my being.

This is what happiness feels like, I think, watching my daughters together. This is what hope feels like. This is everything I never knew I needed until Mia crashed into my life with her quick wit and huge heart.

Esperanza fusses slightly, and Felicity immediately starts humming a lullaby—one my grandmother used to sing to me. The sound fills the quiet room, bridging past and present, weaving together all the threads of love and family that brought us to this perfect moment.

This is our beginning, I realize. Not an ending, but a new chapter. And I can’t wait to see where it leads us next.