Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“He, ah, has your number?” I asked, not sure I was comfortable with the idea.
“We’re all part of a group, Dad. I have all their numbers.”
“Oh, right. Good.” That made me feel better.
“He texts me the most often, though. He says I’m the easiest to talk to.”
My relief evaporated, but Amy narrowed her eyes at me and shook her head in a subtle fashion, so I kept my mouth shut. I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive the teenage years. Thank God for Amy. She handled the changing hormones and emotions far better than I did. As I discovered, ice cream only soothed some problems.
Mia looked up. “Do you think she’ll love me?”
“She already does,” Amy assured her. “Look how she cuddles into you. She knows you’re her sister.”
“Will she mind I’m so much older? Angela and Hannah are so close because they’re almost the same age. I’ll be gone when she’s ten. She won’t even know me.” Her bottom lip trembled.
“Where are you going?” I asked, trying to tease her out of her sad mood.
She looked at me, rolling her eyes. “I’ll be in university, Dad.”
I chuckled. “Halifax is an hour away if you go there. Or even if you go elsewhere, you can connect a hundred different ways now. And you being older, you can share your wealth of experience. She’ll come to you for advice. If anything, you’ll find her annoying. She’ll worship you.”
“I’ll never find her annoying,” she replied. “I love her.”
I laughed. “I’ll remind you of that when she’s into your stuff, following you everywhere, and talking your ear off.”
Mia smiled, the tears passing. Amy chuckled at my words.
I rubbed her knees. “You okay, Chippy? You look a little pale. Did you overdo it today?”
Maddie’s delivery hadn’t been easy and had ended with a last-minute cesarean. Amy lost a lot of blood, and I had been frantic thinking I might lose her or the baby. But they had both rebounded, and I was beyond grateful for that. Amy was still recovering, and although she was a rock star, I worried about her overdoing it. Her mom and Holly helped us out the first couple weeks, but Amy insisted she was doing better and had lots of support from Mia and me, so we were finally on our own. Her mom was anxious to return, and the only thing stopping her right now was the blizzard.
“I’m fine.”
“How about a nap? The storm is settling in, dinner is ready to pop in the oven, and Mia and I can introduce Maddie to the wonders of board games.”
Amy shook her head. “She’s three weeks old.”
“Perfect age to start. I used to play solitaire with Mia on my shoulder. She rocks that game. Osmosis,” I insisted, loving how my teasing made her smile.
I leaned over and took Maddie from Mia. “You go get some games, Sweet Pea. I’ll tuck your mom in, and we’ll come down.”
Mia hurried away. “I’ll make some popcorn!”
I peered at the tiny face swaddled in a warm blanket in my arms. Maddie’s cheeks were round and soft. Her hair, wisps of golden blonde on her head. When open, her eyes were still blue, soft and wide, just like Amy’s. I hoped they stayed that color. She was asleep, one fist having found its way from the blanket and tucked by her face. I bent and kissed her downy cheek. My love for this tiny being shocked me. I would do anything for both of my daughters.
Amy watched us with an indulgent smile.
“She is so perfect,” I marveled. “And so tiny. Even smaller than Mia was.”
“She’ll grow fast. She already has.”
“I know.” I stared at her in wonder. “Our girl loves to sleep.”
“What do you think brought on Mia’s worries?” Amy asked.
“Probably seeing Angela and Hannah together yesterday. I noticed she stared at them a lot—the way they laughed and teased. They are very close in age and their relationship. Mia will have a different sort with Maddie, but still amazing, I think. She’ll be her mentor and friend.”
“I wonder how she’ll feel about the age gap between her and the next one,” Amy mused.
I gaped at her. “The next one? Amy, you’re still recovering. I’m not ready to discuss the next one, or if there’ll even be one. Jesus, I’m almost forty-four.”
She scoffed. “Whatever. You’re the sexiest, youngest forty-four-year-old I know.” She regarded me seriously. “If we’re going to have another one, it will have to be soon, Simon. It’s harder to get pregnant as a woman gets older. It’s harder on her too.”
“Can we discuss this in a few months? Once you’ve recovered, I’m allowed to touch you, and we see how this baby affects our life?”
“But you’re not saying no?”
I thought about Amy pregnant. Until the last month, it had been a relatively easy one. She had little morning sickness, no problems, and had been happy and content most of the time. Unlike when Kelsey was pregnant with Mia, there were no tantrums, no constant demands, or screaming fits about what the baby was doing to her physically. Amy was thrilled to be pregnant and was as in awe of the changes to her body as I was. I especially enjoyed her second trimester when she couldn’t keep her hands off me. Her free spirit and adventuresome nature came out to play fully. I had to admit, I wouldn’t mind experiencing that again.