Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Edwina more than made up as a mother figure for her, and I thanked God every day for the blessing of her in our life. She loved Ally like the daughter she never had, and it was returned fully by my wife.
Ally and Sarah did, on occasion, see each other in public. Polite nods were all that passed between them before Ally would turn and walk away, her head held high. Still, I knew it hurt her. It would always hurt her.
I cupped her cheek, stroking the silky skin. She leaned into my caress, our gazes locked as I silently showed her I understood.
She stood, lifting Teddy off my chest, snuggling him close. I missed his warmth immediately and sat up, pulling her down beside me and wrapping them in my arms. He gurgled and shifted but still didn’t wake up.
“He sleeps so hard—just like you.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, he does. He’s safe and content, and he knows it.”
She looked up at me, her eyes brilliant in the late afternoon light. “We’re both safe and content. Because of you.”
“Works both ways, Ally.”
She snuggled closer. I brushed my lips over her head. “I was thinking…”
She looked up, already smiling, ready for whatever I had to say. “Yeah?”
“The villa is open next month in Fiji. I checked yesterday. Sean wants a few new pictures. You up for a trip, my girl?”
Excitement lit up her face. She loved it in Fiji. All the stress fell away, and we existed in a world of water and sand, sunshine, and warmth.
“I talked to Peter. He and Edwina would love to go as well. If we stay long enough, maybe Emma, Alan, and Anna could come down for a visit?”
“I’d love that,” she breathed out.
“I’ll take care of it.”
She pressed her soft lips to my cheek. “Adam…”
“What?”
She drew in a deep breath. “I want something.”
“It’s yours.”
“It’s rather big.”
I grinned in delight. She never asked for anything. Ever. If there was something she wanted, I would get it for her.
“Tell me.”
“I want another child.”
My eyes widened. “Now?”
She laughed. “Well, it takes a while, but I’d like to start trying. I’d like them to be close in age.” She bit her lip. “How do you feel about that?”
Wrapping my hand around her neck, I drew her close and kissed her until I couldn’t breathe. Until we were dizzy.
“I feel,” I murmured against her lips, “as if I was just given a huge gift. I want more children with you. If you’re ready, so am I.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely.”
Then I grinned and winked at her. “I’ll make sure to add a couple weeks before and after our visitors at the villa, so we have lots of time to make sure the project is a success.” I trailed my lips over her cheek. “Naked private time.”
“I like naked private time.”
I kissed her again. “I like you.”
Her voice caught, and she touched my cheek. “I love you, Adam.”
“Always, my Nightingale.”
Teddy lifted his head, blinking and sleepy. Ally nuzzled his face, and his chubby cheeks lifted in a wide, toothless grin as he chortled and reached for her. I looked at my wonderful family—my wife and son—knowing that soon we could each be holding a child, and I smiled affectionately, already thinking of the photo I would take.
What an image that would be.