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“Oh, my goodness, she’s slept for quite a while.”
“You were so tired, I thought I’d give it a try,” John explained, looking a little nervous. “I fed her two ounces about two hours ago, and changed her diaper so you could sleep.”
“You hear that Jace?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Jace smiled indulgently at Karen, kissing her on the temple. “John fed the baby and changed a diaper. Man of the year, right there…”
“Don’t be a hater, Hot Cakes,” John teased, hugging him again, as Jace poked him in the stomach playfully.
“Are you getting a little pooch?”
“Hush…” John brushed him off, smiling proudly. “It’s a cushion for little baby toes to dig in my belly for later when Lisette’s trying to bounce around or walk.”
“Awww… that’s so sweet,” Karen sighed dreamily.
Emily gazed at her husband, touched and full of wonder, realizing that he was indeed going to be the best father ever – because he would put Lisette above all.
“We just wanted to come by and see the baby, check on you both, and see if you need anything,” her mother said tenderly, hugging her.
“Just some sleep whenever we can,” Emily replied.
“And on that note? We are shooing everyone out,” her mother announced softly, waving the group of family members back towards the door. “Sleep honey, and let us know when you get settled in at home. I’ll bring over a casserole or something, so you don’t have to cook.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
As quickly as everyone had appeared, they disappeared as well, leaving the new mother and father there to take care of the fidgeting baby now. Lisette was starting to make little noises of discomfort in her basinet.
“Want me to change her diaper again?” John offered gently. “Or do you want to?”
“Let me try,” Emily began, and hesitated. “I’ve not changed one since Johnny was little, and it’s a little different when it’s your own, you know?”
“Oh, I understand,” John nodded, picking up the little bundle from the bedding, kissing Lisette tenderly several times on the side of her tiny head and whispering as Emily listened. “You be good for your mama… no peeing on her like you got me, little tadpole. She’s going to change that poo, and then it’s time for some food, m’kay?”
John gave her a playful look, and then whispered again to the baby he cradled against him.
“I mean, just look at those sweet swells she’s got… I’d be on my best behavior if my dinner plate looked like that… yes, ma’am. It’s the plastic bottle or the real thing, so you better be sweet when she pulls that diaper off…”
“John…” Emily hissed, chuckling in embarrassment as his eyes danced happily. “You are going to be a mess, aren’t you? I bet you teach Lisette…”
“How to be independent? Proud? Strong?” John interrupted, smiling proudly. “I don’t want my girl to ever settle, but rather go for the best – and the best looks pretty darn amazing to me.”
“I love you,” she smiled at his playful nature.
“I love you, too,” he beamed, handing her a diaper and the package of baby wipes.
EPILOGUE
X-RAY
Three years later…
“John? Are you and Lisette…”
He turned his head and saw Emily watching them from the deck he built last year when he put a dock up in the water of the pond. He wanted Lisette to safely be able to look at the ‘tishy’s’in the water, since she loved feeding them. His little daughter was into everything, and the dock had a tall railing with latticework around it to keep her from falling in.
“We’re back here,” he hollered out, holding his daughter in his arms in the water. “Just learning to float.”
“Are you kidding me?”
