Page 141 of Promises to Keep

I said, “Have you heard of sex selection, my love?”

“Nae.”

“The idea is that females select males to be fathers to their children. So the men have to prove their fitness to the females. Males change and adapt to please females, you never heard this?”

He said, “Nae.”

I rolled my hand. “So the body of one, female, creates the mind and body of the other, male, who then changes the mind of the first, the female. We are in a spiraling dance.”

“Ye are less the host and more the creator?”

“Exactly.”

“Yet I hae the Y-chromosome, and I was verra creative when I took ye in the hall all those months ago.”

“This is true, I think we ought to focus on the spiraling entwining dance.”

“Aye.”

“Though I did just create a whole baby and pushed him right out of my va-jay-jay.”

“Ye did, ye are a wondrous person.” He rolled over and buried his face in my side, his arm around us. “Tis times like this when I am in awe of ye as a creator and reminded that I am but a destroyer.”

I wrapped his hand in mine. “That is not true, look at the family you have built.”

His voice vibrated against my side. “Ye haena seen the destruction that I hae wrought tae regain m’throne.”

“I’m sorry. I was ribbing you about who is better, who creates who, and… I’m sorry. You’ve been at war and I didn’t mean to discount you.”

“Tis all right, I understand, I wanted tae see ye and tae hold the baby at his beginning, It was the most important thing in the world tae me. The war couldna keep me away.”

“I love you so much.”

“I love ye as well, mo reul-iuil.”

His worn, strong hand enclosed mine beside our new baby and we both slept again, and woke up again.

He got up to get me a cup of water, and steadied me as I went to the chamber pot to relieve myself.

I asked, “Are you sure you didn’t bring me some maxi pads or some towels or… diapers — please, just some diapers?”

“Nae, I was an arse about it, Madame Campbell, I raced away without tellin’ them. Luckily I had this flashlight in m’gear, but other than that I thought only of m’self. I am sorry I dinna bring ye chocolate.”

“I want chocolate so much, you must bring it when I see you in three days.”

I returned to the bed where he was leaning on a pillow holding the baby in the crook of his arm. “Oh love,” I climbed across the bed and it was my turn to put my head on his shoulder. “I could look at you hold him for hours.” I watched Jack sleep in Magnus’s arms for a moment then said, “But I miss him already, let me have him back.” He chuckled and passed me the baby.

Then we went quiet again, companionably quiet, watchful over the baby. “He’s perfect.”

“Aye.”

“You were so right, you did get me pregnant, and now look.”

He chuckled. “Told ye, ye ought tae always listen tae me, I am right in everythin’.”

“Says the man who just had a lecture from his sister and brother.”

He raised his lips to kiss mine. “I am right about most everythin’, the rest is told tae me by m’sister.”

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