Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“The hell I can’t. They’re going to be watching our daughter. You bet your ass I’m checking them out. They’re both clean, by the way.”
I laughed. “Are you leaning toward one or the other? I kind of like Loren.”
He smiled and ran his finger down Lily’s cheek. “Yeah, she was nice. Good references as well.”
“What about Pam?”
He frowned. “I didn’t get a warm-fuzzy with her. She seems like she’d be strict.”
“Strict? Lily will only be four months old, so how strict could she possibly be?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought Loren’s references were better, and she’s used to working with babies. Pam’s last few jobs have been with older kids.”
“That’s true. The good thing is, they’ll just be upstairs. And Loren would live there, so that’s extra easy and convenient for her.”
Nodding, he said, “Another good point.”
I smiled as I looked at Lily, peacefully sleeping in Gavin’s arms.
“Do you think Evelyn and Denny are watching over her?” I asked.
Without even thinking, Gavin replied, “I sure do. Do you ever notice Lily sometimes looks off in the distance and gets excited? My mother says it’s just gas, but I don’t think so. I think she sees them.”
I grinned. “I thought the same thing!”
“Right? I mean, come on. The way she focuses so hard on the distance. She sees her two angels.”
“A hundred percent.”
Gavin focused back on Lily. “When do you want to do this again?”
“Do what?” I asked.
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 the three of 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.”
“Aww, my sweet girl. I love you too.”
“I’ve got snacks!” Gavin called out, causing Lily to jump up, let out an excited squeal, and run toward him. He deftly scooped her up with one arm while carrying a tray with the other. Lily giggled, and when Gavin deposited her on a chair, she reached up and cupped his face.
“Wuv you, Daddy.”
He set the tray on the outdoor table and kissed her on the nose. “I love you too, Bean.” He’d been calling her Bean since she was born, and I loved the little nickname.
“You ready to watch PAW Patrol?” Gavin asked.
Lily jumped and clapped her hands. “Don’t jump on the chair, Lily,” I said, as I attempted to stand.
“Wait, let me help you,” Gavin said. He picked up Lily again and put her next to the giant blow-up bed he’d placed on the lawn.