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I could already hear Izzie’s laughter before I even entered the front door. And my grin was instant. My little girl had the kind of laugh that could make even the coldest heart thaw. She took after her mother that way; that was for sure.
I headed up the porch and opened the front door, stepping inside. Izzie was still laughing, and I could hear Flora saying something to her, which had Izzie in a fit of giggles.
God, my girls made my day exponentially better whenever they were near.
The aroma of dinner filled up the house and made my stomach growl. I toed off my boots, took off my jacket, set my keys in the little silver dish on the foyer table by the front door, and headed into the kitchen. Mixing with the aroma of pasta and homemade tomato sauce, I scented coffee with a touch of vanilla and caramel.
And when I entered, I saw the love of my life leaning against the counter, a mug in her hand and close to her mouth, steam rising from the brim. She stared at Izzie, who was in full princess attire, the crown placed lopsided on her head, her wand in her hand as she made circles in the air. Whatever she just said to Flora made my wife laugh.
I leaned against the frame of the kitchen entryway and crossed my arms, a smile tugging at my lips as I watched Izzie tell Flora about her newest dream, the intricate details so elaborate I wondered if my baby girl would grow up to become a writer. Her imagination was so incredible and detailed it amazed me daily.
“Daddy,” Izzie cried out in happiness, and I drew my focus away from Flora and looked at my daughter. She was a spitting image of my wife, with her blonde hair and blue eyes. I grinned and bent down to scoop her up. She immediately started running her hands over my tattoos. She’d been mesmerized by them since she was a baby. She’d track them with her eyes at first, then run her little fingers across them. When she was old enough to talk, she’d ask me about them, wanting the stories that went along with each one.
“Bubby was crabby today,” she said in that tiny voice of hers, and I couldn’t help but grin.
“Was he?” I kissed her in the center of the forehead and adjusted her in my arm as I made my way toward Flora.
“Was crying all day. Gave me a headache.”
I chuckled softly. “How do you know what a headache is, baby girl?” My focus was locked on my wife as I grinned slowly the closer I came to her.
“Daddy,” she said in an exasperated tone. “It’s when your head hurts. Duh.”
I tipped my head back and laughed loudly. “That it is, baby. That it is.”
“He’s sleeping now—” Before she could finish, a piercing scream came through loud and clear. “See? He’s so crabby.”
I gave Izzie a kiss, set her down, and enveloped my wife in my arms, pulling her in close and kissing her fully on the lips. A low groan spilled from me at how good she felt against me.
“Gross,” Izzie muttered before bounding off.
“Missed you,” she whispered, and the sound of her setting her mug on the counter was a dim noise in my head.
I growled, “I really fucking missed you. Gonna make that up to you tonight.” I felt her grin against my mouth before Ace cried out again. “I’ll get him.” I gave her one more kiss before pulling back and heading toward our infant son’s room.
I opened the door to his room, the sound machine cranked on, Ace standing in his crib with fat tears rolling down his chubby cheeks.
“Oh, poor baby,” I said with a smile as I shut everything off, turned on the light, and picked up my big boy. “Why the tears? Is life so bad?” I kissed the dark hair atop his head, and he clung to me. My heart was full at the love I got when I came home.
He started babbling, and I gave him kisses all around his face. I might be big and tattooed, but I was a softie for the other three humans in this house.
I headed out of his room and back to the kitchen. The sound of dishes clanking together came through a moment before I rounded the corner and saw Flora setting the table, Izzie right on her heels with the silverware. And again, Izzie was in the process of telling another story, this one about a cat that could read minds and make wishes come true.
As I held our son in my arms and looked at my girls, I felt the overwhelming sensation that this was what being happy felt like. This was what being lucky was.
