Page 113 of Moonshine Lullabies
I chuckled and said, “Then come up with something else for me.”
“I’ll do my level best,” she said and rolled her eyes. She settled back down against me and said, “Just promise me you’ll be safe.”
I nodded. “Damn right I will,” I said. “You ain’t gotta worry about a thing, baby. Everything’s gonna be alright.”
She nodded against me, her light brown hair awash in the shine of the moon coming through the window behind us.
“I fucking love you, Jessie-Lou,” I said and she looked up at me and smiled.
“I love you too,” she said, and my heart melted in my chest.
“I promise you, whatever happens next? This family is gonna come out of it strong as hell. You, me, your folks, your brother, and our – Tate, too.”
“You can say it, you know…” she said.
“Say what?” I asked.
“Our kid,” she answered.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“Mm-hm,” she answered.
I kissed her forehead.
“He already asked me if I would mind if he started callin’ you ‘dad,’” she said and I think my heart fuckin’ stopped. “I told him it wouldn’t bother me none, but he would have to talk to you.”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Yeah?” she asked, lifting her head to look at me.
“Yeah,” I said. “I think I’d like that.”
She smiled, and it was serene and I swallowed hard.
I don’t think my heart had ever been so full.
