Page 117 of Only Ever You

A lusty wail hurts my eardrums as I tip the bottle on my wrist to check the temperature.

Pippa’s out Christmas shopping, and our daughter’s decided she doesn’t want to wait for Mummy to eat.

Oh thank God it’s warm enough.

I gather my girl in my arms and swipe away her angry tears before lifting the bottle to her lips. Her whole demeanour changes as she kicks her legs, sucking at the teat before I’ve even managed to get it in position.

“You’re so much like me, little bug. No patience.” I laugh softly. “If you could just wait a little longer, Mummy will be back and you much prefer her to the bottle, right?”

Willow’s two months old now, and at that stage where her personality is starting to shine through. Pippa didn’t quite make it to full-term, but it was late enough that Willow was fine. It’s not been an easy two months—she’s not the best sleeper, but we take turns in the night and Pippa’s been expressing milk so that I can feed her.

We’ve been through so much in the past few months.

I found Pippa’s dream home, complete with the picket fence, and we moved in about a month before Willow arrived. And right now, she’s out shopping for Christmas lunch—she insisted on us having a big family Christmas our first year in the house.

My woman’s a machine, and I’m so crazy about her.

Trust was hard to come by, even after we were married, but Willow’s birth brought us closer than we’ve ever been.

Life is good.

The rumble of the garage door makes me smile.

“Did you hear that, Willow? Mummy’s home.”

She doesn’t care. Her eyes are closed and she’s slowing down. With any luck, she’ll go to sleep and I can get a few hours alone with my gorgeous wife.

There’s a rustle of bags, and the internal door from the garage to the kitchen opens and closes.

“Did you get everything you needed?” I ask.

Pippa walks into the room, leans over the back of the couch, and I raise my head to let her kiss my lips.

“I did. We should have gone out to the beach and just had a barbecue.”

I chuckle. “Need I remind you that it was your idea to have Christmas here this year? Next year would have been easier.”

Pippa’s still at home full-time with Willow right now. She never returned as my PA, but she plans on coming back when Willow turns one and I’ll be more than happy to work with my wife.

“I just want our first Christmas with the whole family.” She squeezes my shoulder. “I wish your dad was here.”

“Me too, babe. He would have loved our girl.”

“Is she asleep?”

I look back at Willow. She’s pushed the teat out of her mouth and her eyes are firmly closed. “Only just. Do you need a hand getting everything out of the car?”

Pippa rounds the couch and drops down beside me. “Yes, please. Give her to me for a minute, and I’ll pop her down.”

Gently, I transfer my favourite little bundle into Pippa’s arms and watch my girls as Pippa smiles at Willow.

“She’s just had a bottle. I tried to tell her to wait a little longer for her mum, but you know how impatient she is.”

Pippa laughs gently. “She takes after you in that regard.”

“That’s what I told her.” I shrug before leaning over and pecking my wife on the lips. “I’ll go sort out the car and be right back.”

“Thank you. I love you.” She smiles, and as like every time, it makes my heart thud. I love this woman with everything I am.

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