Page 58 of Daigo

"No, the milkman did."

"We don't have a milkman. No one does," she murmured, turning to face him. "I was with Tammy this afternoon, just lazing by the pool, and she was reminding me how lucky I was. I think I take that for granted sometimes."

"Do you?" Lifting a hand, he cupped her cheek. "This is a reminder of how much I appreciate you."

Placing her hand over his, she closed her eyes. "I love you so much, Daigo. It seems to burst out of me sometimes; I cannot contain it."

"Same here." Touching her mouth with his, he led her to the table and pulled out a chair.

"Non-alcoholic wine." He took the bottle of pale gold from the bucket and popped the cork. Pouring it into the two glasses, he handed her one.

"A toast, to us," he murmured, clinking his glass to hers.

"To us," she responded, a smile curving her lips. "To my best friend, the man I love, and my baby daddy."

He laughed softly. "I love that. Let's eat."

"I'm stuffed," she declared later as she chewed on the last piece of delicious duck.

"Too stuffed for this raspberry delight?" he asked teasingly.

"I have to make room." She sighed as he handed her the plate. "You're determined to make me fat."

"You'll work it off in no time, and if you don't-" He shrugged and grinned. "I'll still love you."

"You'd better." She poked him with her toe. She sat up straight, causing him to lean forward in concern.

"What is it?"

"They're moving." When he abandoned his chair to come and crouch down in front of her, she took his hand and placed it on her belly.

His eyes flew to hers, emotions swirling in their depths. No matter how many times he experienced it, he still felt the same familiar wonder at the miracles growing inside her.

"We haven't decided on the name of our son," he reminded her huskily. "How about Kai Anthony?"

Her eyes brightened. "I love that."

"Then it's settled." Going on his knees, he went between her thighs and cradled her face between his palms. "I love you, darling," he whispered before closing his mouth over hers.

*****

The journey to the clinic was done in almost complete silence. They were both caught up in their own thoughts and trying not to think about what they were going into. He had made love to her last night with a combination of gentleness and desperation that had her weeping when it was all over.

And he had simply held her in silence, his arms wrapped around her. It was time. Last night they had stood in the nurseries, staring at the décor, the names of their babies displayed over the cots. He had stood by and waited while she fussed with the tiny clothing, the many stuffed toys, the blankets, the changing tables, the wipes, and diaper bags. Then they had sat together on the softly comfortable sleep chair in the girls' room, just sat there in silence.

He had held her against him, hands soothingly running up and down her arm.

Now they were on their way to deliver their babies. She was not going to think about all the things that could go wrong. She had prayed earnestly and silently that she would deliver three healthy babies.

She knew they would be preemies, that there could be complications due to organs that were not developed fully, but she was fiercely hoping for the best.

She also knew he was worried about losing her. He wasn't saying it, but she knew her man well enough to know what he was thinking and not saying, and that he was putting on a brave front.

"Here we are." She had been so deep in thought, she had not realized he had turned off the main road onto the private one that led to the sprawling building.

"Yes." She sat there staring out the window, not noticing the blossoming lily of the valley or the breeze flowing gently through the dogwood trees. Pressing a hand to her stomach, she heaved out a breath.

"Scared?"