Page 68 of Jonathan

“Not awful. Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting or two?”

He nodded. “I finished up early. I am wearing the entire ranch on my skin and here you are looking as fresh as a daisy and smelling like summer.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles.

“Feel…” Dragging their joined hands down to her stomach, she treated him to the delight of feeling their daughter kicking. Emotions stormed through him like a thunder cloud, and he just sat there, his hands pressed against her belly and took it in.

“I love you,” he told her thickly. “I don’t think I can ever say it enough.”

She tugged him to her and embraced his lean strength, closing her eyes in utter joy. He was so attentive and caring; it made her throat ache and her insides melt. “Come for a swim with me.” She whispered. “We can have our meal out here and just enjoy the evening.”

He held her against him for a bit more as he struggled to compose himself. He was not afraid of being vulnerable with her and often was.

“Okay.” Lifting his head, he kissed her softly. “Okay.”

*****

“She’s gorgeous.” He whispered as he gazed into the round face of his daughter. “And I think she recognizes me.” Her large eyes were an unusual shade of brown and green and followed his every movement.

“Of course she does. You’re her daddy. Abigail Angela Leonie, is quite a mouthful.”

The entire family, her mother, grandfather, and friends had come over for the birth and were staying at the ranch for two weeks.

She had come back home from the hospital to the celebration going on, initiated by Leonie and Helen.

“Come sit by me, darling.” She patted the space next to her on the comfortable sofa. He did, making them a unit. His throat worked frantically to swallow the lump that had lodged inside his throat.

“My two girls. My queen and my princess.” Securing his daughter carefully in one hand, he cradled his wife with the other. “Thank you, baby.” He whispered in his wife’s hair.

Wrapping her arms around his lean waist, she inhaled his scent and sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

The end…

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