I kneeled on the floor beside him as the kids charged toward their dad. All three of our children had their hands on Ledger's belly.
“The baby can play football with me.” Rory mimed kicking a ball up and down the aisle.
“This is for you, baby.” Fraser held up the fluffy dragon.
Skye nestled her doll atop my mate’s bump as an elderly woman walking past stopped to say how beautiful our family was.
“Thank you.” I put my hands around Ledger and our children and thought back to when Vince had died. I’d never imaginedthat the universe would send me someone else to love, someone who adored my children like I did and as Vince had done.
He'd be happy for us,my dragon mused.
I think you’re right.
Fraser insisted the large dragon sit in the middle seat where the baby's car seat would go, but I told him to lean the toy to the right because it blocked my view.
Ledger sighed as he looked at his list. “We didn’t get everything.”
“Maybe we can come back on Monday.” I lowered my voice. “When it’ll be just us two.”
“But we’ll be at school,” Rory protested.
“Oh, no.” Ledger giggled. “Don’t worry. Daddy will video the shopping expedition, and you can watch when you get home.”
“Boring,” Fraser announced, and the other two agreed.
The kids hurried off to the playroom when we got home, while my mate and I washed and dried the baby clothes. Rory had already moved into the guest bedroom on the third floor, and his former room was now the nursery.
Ledger folded the clothes and placed them on shelves and into drawers. I helped the boys carry the pink dragon and the monster truck onto the second floor, and they chose where to position them. Skye said she’d keep the wind-up toy in her room and would bring it here when the baby asked for it.
Fraser picked up a carefully folded onesie and placed it against his chest.
“You used to wear a onesie just like that. Come with me.” Everyone followed me into Ledger’s and my room, and we piled on the bed as I brought out the photo albums.
“You look funny.” Skye pointed to baby Fraser covered in mud as he sat in the garden.
We flicked through the pages of pics with the kids in the bath—the water was always much hotter than for human babies—playing in the garden, and reading books. They ran their fingers over photos of Vince holding and feeding them.
“I wish Papa was here too.” Rory was the only one with vague memories of Vince.
“He is in a way,” Ledger pointed out. “He carried all of you in his tummy, just like this baby.” He patted his belly. “So part of him is in part of you.”
I choked back tears because that was the perfect explanation. Vince would always be part of us and with us.
“Maybe we can order a new photo album online for the baby.” Ledger reached for his phone.
“With a dragon on the cover.” Fraser grinned.
FIFTEEN
LEDGER
“Have fun and take lots of photos.”
Theron and I waved to the kids as Jess drove down the driveway. It was the Dragon School Family Fun Day, and I’d so wanted to go too. I’d long gotten over any uneasiness about being surrounded by so many dragon shifters, and also there were strict rules about fires on campus.
I’d had mild contractions the last few days and had had little to no sleep. I was exhausted, and my mate suggested I stay home.
“You go with the kids and tell me all about it when you get home.” I’d been in the cinema room when I said that, lying flat on my back with a bowl of popcorn balanced on my belly.
