Page 128 of This Memory
“Do what?” Iasked.
He looked up and winked. “Get knocked up? But this time I’ll be there for the event.”
I grinned. “I think I’m going to like your way much better.”
Tossing his head back, he laughed. Lily didn’t even budge, just continued sleeping safely in her father’s arms.
After a few more minutes, Gavin said, “I wonder who she’ll look like?”
“She looks like Evelyn to me.”
“Really?” he asked, tilting his head one way, then the other. “I can see that. But she has Denny’s little butt chin.”
I giggled. “And Eve’s nose.”
“For sure, she has her nose. Thank God.”
Reaching over, I gently tapped his arm. “Stop that.”
Gavin let out a sigh. “I still feel guilty for being so happy. For being blessed to raise the child they wanted so badly.”
I wrapped my arms around my legs and rested my chin on my knees. “I do too. But they would have wanted us to love this little girl with everything we have.”
“That isn’t a probably at all.”
“To answer your question about our next one…I’d like to wait a bit. We never really had a chance to be in this relationship, just the two of us. So I’d like to focus on just thethreeof us—and you and me, once she’s old enough—before we think about another child.”
He smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Yeah?”
Nodding, he reached for my hand. “Yeah. I love you, Brystol Quinn.”
“I love you more, Gavin Quinn.”
Lily made a little sound, and we both laughed.
Gavin kissed her forehead and whispered, “Don’t worry, Lily Rae Quinn. We love you the most.”
Brystol
Three Years Later
Lily lay beside me on the blanket as we stared at the night sky. “Do you see those two stars right there, Lily?”
She smiled as she held a Lego in her hand. “Yep! Dat Heaven Momma and Daddy?”
My heart felt like it swelled three times its size in my chest. Lily had started to call Evelyn and Denny her Heaven Momma and Daddy just a few months ago. “It is. Anytime you want to talk to them, you can, and they’ll hear you. Those two stars are always there. You can’t see them during the day because of the sun, but at night, they’ll always be there.”
“Sun’s bright!” Lily giggled.
“It is bright.” I chuckled. “And no matter what, Mommy and Daddy will always help you find your Heaven Momma and Daddy.”
Lily sat up and put her little hand on my face. “You sick, Mommy?”
I shook my head. “Not anymore, sweet pea.”
She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, then put her head on my swollen belly. “I wuv you and baby.”
