AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I groan and laugh. “I think he felt just like his daddy. He’s a big boy!”
He laughs and then the nurse brings him over to us and he grins down at the wrinkled, red face topped with his dark hair. “Okay. Poor kid kinda looks like me.”
I swat him and growl. “Don’t you dare say anything bad about my baby!”
There’s a knock at the door and then it opens and a head pops in. “Can Lennox come in?”
I smile and wave my hand to the babysitter who’s been watching our four-year old daughter. Booker would usually be with her and watching her for us but he’s got problems of his own tonight.
Lennox comes racing in the door dressed in her pajamas and giggling when she sees me. “Mama! Mama! I saw a bunch of babies in this little room!”
I laugh and hug her tight. She touches my sweaty hair. “Mama needs a bath!” She says with a grimace. Then she sees what her dad is holding and her eyes go wide. Her red curls are crumpled and her bright blue eyes are wide and happy.
“Is that?”
Her dad smiles and bends down so she can see his little scrunched-up face.
She wrinkles her nose. “He doesn’t look like Jessie’s little brother,” she says, talking about her best friend’s little brother.
“He’s only a year younger than you two. Lucas is just a baby.”
Her mouth curls. “I don’t think he’s gonna be a whole lot of fun, mom.”
I choke on a laugh. “I guarantee, after a few years you’ll be really glad that you have a little brother.”
She gives us both a skeptical look and Merrick hands Lucas off to me and then grabs Lennox up in his arms, twirling her around.
“Daddy, daddy!” She holds her arms out and her red curls fly around her head.
He grins and holds her closer. His eyes meet mine and I nod my head. She needs some daddy-daughter time and I will be very busy here for a little bit.
“How would you like to go down to the cafeteria and get some ice cream?”
She screeches and claps her little hands and he laughs. “Yeah. I thought you might like that. Let’s go, princess.” He leans over and kisses me on the forehead and I close my eyes, breathing in the musky, sweet smell of him.
He shoots me one last look as he goes out the door and then I spend some time taking care of Lucas and resting. After about an hour, he sneaks back in the door, trying not to wake me up. But I immediately stir and open my eyes.
“Hey, I didn’t want to wake you up,” he says and I smile up at him.
“I had a nice nap.” I hold out my arms and he climbs up on the bed with me, snuggling into me and holding me tight. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
“Don’t ever leave me.”
I cuddle into him, breathing in his scent and rubbing my face on his throat. “I won’t. But you have to promise you won’t leave me.”
“I couldn’t even if I tried. I can’t live without you, Red. And I’ve got the painting to prove it.”
“I’m still getting offers to buy it.”
“Never gonna happen.”
“You’ve got the real woman. Why do you need the painting?”
“Because that was the only thing I had to hold onto until you came back to me. And it will always be my lifeline. I want to be buried with that painting.”
“I don’t want to talk about you dying, Merrick.”
