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“How’d you know I didn’t finish?”
“Just had a feeling,” he answers with a mischievous grin.
“Am I that obvious?”
“Go,” he pushes. “I’ll check on the baby.”
I walk down the hall to the linen closet and grab a couple of towels. Before shutting the door, I also grab a new razor, because Lord only knows how long it’s been since I’ve shaved. As I’m walking back toward our bedroom, I stop just outside of the nursery and listen to Travis’s soft voice.
“Well, hello princess.” I peek inside, and he lifts her out of the crib. “Hey, my beautiful girl.” He kisses her forehead, and she coos.
Watching as he lays her on the changing table, I lean up against the doorframe and admire my amazing man and how wonderful he is with our daughter. He’s a complete natural, just as I knew he’d be, but I know he had his own concerns, considering his relationship with his father. However, the love that pours out of him is infectious. Sometimes, I can’t even believe after all this time that we’re together, engaged with a new baby, and in our own home. It feels too good to be true at times.
“You’re going to spend the weekend with grandma, aren’t you? Yes, you two are going to have so much fun, but you better be good for Nana. No pulling all-nighters again and refusing to eat your cereal.”
She kicks her legs and stuffs a hand in her mouth as he changes her. I love watching them, even when it’s every day, normal stuff. He turns around and catches me staring.
“Viola,” he says in a warning tone. “Go take a shower. We’ll be fine.”
I scoff and wrinkle my nose. “Fine. I’m going.”
Once I’ve showered, shaved, put on a layer of makeup, and find clean clothes to wear, I head downstairs, where Travis has set our suitcases. He’s in the living room with his mother, going through the list of things we wrote down for her. I trust his mother, I do, but I don’t trust anyone alone with her just yet.
“You look beautiful,” Travis says as I sit down next to him and reach for the baby. He hands her over, and I kiss her chubby little cheek.
“I feel like a changed woman,” I say with a laugh. “Who knew a shower could feel so good?”
“You two are going to have a great time. No worries here, okay?” His mother tries to reassure me, but I still feel the nerves fluttering in my stomach.
“You sure you’ll be okay all weekend?” I ask his mother.
“Of course. Go and enjoy yourselves. You two deserve it.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Travis says as he leads us to the front door. “I’ll call you as soon as we arrive.” He grabs our luggage as I squeeze the baby one more time.
Reluctantly, I hand her over to his mother, but I don’t release her tiny little hand. “Don’t forget she needs to be rocked before bed. And you’ll need to burp her for at least ten minutes after she eats. Oh, and when she takes a bath, she needs the soap for sensitive skin.”
His mother nods and smiles, knowing that I’m repeating myself once again.
“Viola,” Travis warns in a deep voice. “They’re going to be just fine.”
“Okay, just one more kiss.”
I press my lips to her cheek and then her forehead and then her other cheek. I inhale her scent because I just can’t get enough. “See you in a couple of days, Ginny. I love you.”
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
TRAVIS
“Where are we going?”Viola asks, fidgeting in her seat as we hit the highway.
“Someplace quiet, with no distractions or other people around.”
“Where’s that?”
I shake my head.
“C’mon,” she whines. “Just a little hint.”
