Joy Cometh in the Morning—Part 16/20


Part 16A

01:10
Sunday, May 21st, 2006
Rabb House

Harm tossed and turned in his sleep, reaching out for Mac. “Mac, where are you,” was muttered in his sleep.

He entered dreamland in the spring of 2011. He and Sophie were coming home from soccer practice. With her 5th birthday just around the corner, the summer league had agreed to allow her to register early. She should have been 5 by April 30 to actually play this year, but when the local coach took one look at the tall slender almost 5-year old, he couldn’t say no. Sophie had inherited both her parents’ height advantage, and at almost 5, she was the size of a 7 year old. Harm had to laugh when he remembered the neonatologist suggesting she might be small for her age due to her early arrival. If they could see his daughter now, they would be absolutely amazed. She was a tall dark haired beauty with her mother’s grace and personality. Even at this young age, she transferred her graceful movements and height into incredible athletic ability. Of course, it didn’t hurt that she loved to dance; ballet had become another passion. Her dance abilities took the form of amazing footwork on the soccer field.

Harm chuckled at the thought; his Princess was truly an enigma. She had a bubbly engaging personality. She could charm her way out of any situation with the verbal abilities of a future lawyer. She was a ‘girly girl’ in her fashion sense, a trait she’d adopted from early on. She loved pink, frills, bows and nail polish. She preferred dresses to pants and buckle shoes to sneakers. Put her on the soccer field, and she amended her uniform to include lace on her socks, pink on her shoes, ribbons in her hair and to complete the look, earrings, a necklace and pink nail polish. Despite her girly appearance, woe be to any boy who didn’t take her seriously, she could go toe-to-toe and leave them in her dust.

If Sophie was about personality, pizzazz and panache then Sammy was her opposite in every way. Samuel Matthew Rabb was a quiet, unassuming introspective toddler. At 22 months of age he was also a tall beautiful child with huge soulful brown eyes that mesmerized anyone in his path. Initially they’d been concerned about his development due to his quiet personality, but they’d quickly learned that Sammy was just judicious in his use of words. When tested by his pediatrician, he performed well beyond his age in language and reasoning abilities. He loved books and puzzles and playing on the computer with Daddy. Neither Harm nor Mac could figure out their son’s serene personality. His quiet disposition seemed a far cry from both his parent’s more out-going ones. On further questioning, Gummy Burnett finally filled in the missing blanks. Seemed Harm had a similar personality as a young boy, but had been forced to grow-up when he became the man of the house at his father’s disappearance. This was further intensified when Frank came into the picture; Harm became more verbose and competitive once the maligned interloper took his position as the head-of-the-household. Harm gave himself a mental shake; he hoped his kids never treated him with the same disregard. Thankful he and Frank made amends as adults…Harm had to admit that Frank had been good for both he and his mother.

Harm walked into the kitchen looking for his wife, “Mac, where are you?” He inhaled the delicious aroma emanating from the oven. Mac had become a fabulous cook in her own right. They’d initially taken cooking classes as a couple, enjoying the romantic overtures of preparing, feeding and tasting the delicacies they prepared between gentle caresses and passionate kisses. At times it would take hours to complete a meal as food preparation was abandoned for more enticing activities. However as the children appeared, those amorous culinary activities had been reserved to rare treasured occasions, in favor of family responsibilities. His mouth watered as he opened the oven door and took in the sight of the Herb Encrusted Roast Chicken and Baby Vegetables. He turned toward his daughter, “Sophie, it looks like your Mama’s been busy today.” He pointed toward the oven, “Roasted Chicken.”

Sophie’s eyes widened as she looked at the back counter, “And Apple Pie.” She stuck her finger into the middle and licked it clean, “Mmmm my favorite.”

Harm looked on with a shocked glare, “Sophia Elizabeth Rabb, you know better than that…now get upstairs and get cleaned up, now.” He couldn’t suppress the laugh that escaped his lips at his daughter’s theatrical antics.

Sophie giggled and batted her eyes at her father, “Yes, Daddy Sir.”

Mac appeared a few minutes later, “Hey Sailor, I didn’t hear you come in. How was soccer practice?”

He grabbed her hand and reeled her in close, “That kid of ours is amazing. She can run circles around the rest of the team.” He leaned down to nibble on her lips. “Dinner smells great,” was mumbled as he nuzzled his way down her neck. “But not as good as you,” was uttered as he sucked on the skin at the base of her neck.

She pulled his face back to hers and whispered, “I’m not on the menu,” as she took his lips in a deep passionate kiss.

“How about later,” was breathlessly moaned between kisses.

Sammy walked in just then and tugged at his father’s jeans, “Daddee, you home…Sammy up, Pweeze.”

Harm sighed and rested his head against Mac’s shoulder, “Our kids have the worst timing, Mac.”

She giggled as she ran her fingers under the back of his shirt, “Just remember…my looks…your brains.” She pulled back and poked a finger into his chest, “His sense of timing is all yours, Sailor.”
He leaned in for one final kiss, “Later, Marine.” He then swooped down grabbing his son and hefted him up over his head to blow raspberries on his tummy.

The toddler howled with laughter, while trying to wiggle away from his father’s lips. “Nooo Daddee…dat tickows. Fwy airplawne instead.” Harm pulled his son down close and planted a loud smacking kiss on his cheek, “What kind of airplane, Peanut?”

Sammy shook his head, “I not a peanut…I a Sammy Bear.”

Harm nuzzled his son’s cheek, “You smell like a peanut…so you must be a peanut.”

Sammy grabbed Harm’s cheek in his little hands and stared into his eyes, “No Daddee, I not a peanut…I jus wike peanut budder and jewwy.”

“Peanut butter, huh?” Harm tickled the boy’s tummy.

Sammy giggled, “Yeah…peanut budder is yummy. Now fwy me wike Sawah.”

Harm looked back with a serious expression, “You want me to fly you like your Mommy?”

“NO!” Sammy giggled, “Not Mama…wike yowr pwane Sawah.” Harm held the toddler out prone and flew him through the kitchen to Sammy’s delighted giggles and ‘VROOMS’. They barely missed running into Sophie when skidding to a landing near the kitchen door.

Mac intervened, “All right you two, it’s time to get dinner on the table. Harm, can you grab the chicken out of the oven and I’ll get something in the glasses.” They carried out their tasks like a well-orchestrated dance with years of experience. As Mac reached for the pie, her eyes widened in shock. “Harm, you stuck your finger in the middle of my pie!”

He looked back with a grin of mock indignation, “Why are you assuming it was me?”

She sighed, “Harm, you and I are the only ones in this kitchen that are tall enough to reach it. Now I know it wasn’t me…that only leaves you.”

Harm shook his finger and grinned, “I don’t think so, sweetheart.” He tossed a quick look back toward his retreating daughter and winked. Walking menacingly toward his wife, he flashed a smug grin, “I think that’s called ‘A Rush To Judgment’…Assumes facts not in evidence, Counselor.”

Mac sighed in exasperation, “Are you going to tell me Sammy did it!”

Harm drew closer, “I’m not saying anyone did it…I’m merely pointing out your case is based on circumstantial evidence, Counselor.”
Mac backed away as Harm continued to advance, “Harm! Who else do you suggest is the guilty party?”

Sammy brought his hands to his mouth and giggled. Mac leaned her head to the side, “Sammy, can you tell Mama who stuck their finger in the pie?”

Harm advanced, Mac retreated, “I don’t recall you asking to call witnesses, Counselor.” Sophie poked her head around the kitchen door to watch the fun unfold.

“Harm!” Retreat…Advance.

Sammy giggled again and subtly pointed his index finger toward his big sister. Mac’s eyes widened in understanding, “Sophia Elizabeth Rabb!”

Sophie squealed and ran around the kitchen counter toward her brother. Harm advanced one final step just as Mac realized the error in her strategic retreat. She’d been backed into a corner, literally and figuratively.

“Run Princess…Daddy will make the sacrifice and throw himself on the mercy of the court,” was yelled as Harm pounced on his wife and pulled her into his embrace. As he mischievously glared into her eyes, he demanded judgment, “Hey kids, what do you think my punishment should be.”

“KISS HEWR!!!”

“KISS HER!!!”

Harm grinned, “Well Marine, seems the judge and jury has spoken,” was uttered as he ducked in for a knee-buckling kiss…then another…and another.

Mac pulled back still holding on for support and gasped, “Harm, what will the kids think?”

He grinned and affirmed between kisses, “That their Daddy is…head over heels…100%…hopelessly, endlessly…in love…with their Mommy.”

At the kids continued giggles and cheers, Harm pulled back and looked at his dazed wife. “Hey sweetheart, I thought we were going to eat dinner…that pie looks great by the way.”

Mac blinked several times, “Pie? What pie?”

Harm chuckled and flashed a smug grin at his kids, “My secret weapon…Works every time!” He grabbed the chicken from the counter and motioned toward the table, “Come on kids…let’s eat. Mac, are you coming?”

“What?”
The Rabb family enjoyed dinner amidst lively conversation. As Mac and Sophie cleared the table, Sophie asked, “Mama, what does that ‘fat…evi…’ thing Daddy said, mean?”

Mac tousled her daughter’s hair, “You mean Facts Not In Evidence?”

Sophie nodded, “Yeah that…what does it mean?”

Mac pondered how to explain legalese to a preschooler, “Well, you know yesterday when your new book got torn up? Who did you blame?

“Sammy.”

Mac nodded, “That’s right, but did Sammy tear up your book?”

“No, Maggie did,” Sophie answered.

“So why did you blame Sammy?”

“’Cuz he’s always in my room, messing with my stuff.”

Mac nodded again, “And how did you find out it was Maggie’s fault.

Sophie sighed, “’Cuz Sammy was at the park with Daddy and I found part of my book in Maggie’s bed.”

Mac smiled, “Exactly my little lawyer, you blamed Sammy even though you didn’t know he did it. You ASSUMED, that means thought, that Sammy was guilty because he likes to go in your room…but you didn’t have any evidence, that means proof, that he did it. You assumed facts that you didn’t have evidence for.”

Sophie looked puzzled, “I think I get it. You mean you blamed Daddy for the pie because he was in the kitchen?”

Mac smiled, “Kinda…Not only was Daddy in the kitchen with the pie, but he was tall enough to reach it. I knew Sammy was too short.” She grabbed her daughter and tickled her sides, “And I didn’t know that my Bunny had already been there.”

Sophie giggled and danced away. “Sorry Mama…it’s just that apple is my favorite.”

Mac pulled her close and tweaked her nose, “It’s OK this time, just don’t do it again.” She picked her daughter up and kissed her cheek as Sophie cuddled in close. Mac patted her back, “You’re getting to big for Mama to pick up like this. I can’t believe my BooBoo Bunny is going to be 5 already. Do you know what you want to do for your birthday?”

Sophie yawned and put her arms around her mother’s neck, “Can I have a sleep over with Nicki and Hailey?” She yawned again, “We can play beauty shop…and paint our nails…and make ice cream sundaes.”

Mac smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek, “I think we can do that. How come your so tired tonight?”

“Soc…cer,” was yawned.

“Alright Bunny, let’s get you ready for bed. I love you, BooBoo.”

“I love you too…Mama,” was whispered between yawns.


***

The following Saturday, Mac and Harriet left the kids with the guys and headed out for a day of shopping. Harm, AJ, Bud and Bradley sat out on the Roberts’ back deck watching the kids play in the yard. Sammy stumbled up the steps with tears in his eyes, “Daddee da big kids puwsh Sammy Bear.”

Harm picked up his son and placed him in his lap, “You’re kinda small to play with the big kids, Peanut. Do you want to help us make lunch?” Sammy nodded his head; his big brown eyes still tear glazed. Harm smiled and reached up to wipe the tears. He leaned forward to place a kiss on his son’s forehead and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret Sammy Bear. Your Mama thinks I’m partial to your sister’s blue-green Rabb eyes, but between you and me, those big brown one’s of yours win hands down…they’re a perfect replica of your Mommy’s and I could get lost in hers forever.”

“Daddee, can me habe peanut budder and jewwy?”

Harm smiled, “Sammy you’re going to turn into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Uncle Bud is making hot dogs…how about that instead.”

“Otay,” was yawned as a thumb went into his mouth.

Harm shifted him up to his shoulder, “Try not fall asleep yet, Peanut. You need to eat lunch before your nap.” Sammy gave a half nod before falling fast asleep. Harm kissed his cheek, “That’s alright Sammy Bear…you can have peanut butter when you wake up.”

After lunch, Harm had Sammy tucked away for a nap and wandered back outside with 2 glasses of iced tea. He nodded at AJ and extended a glass, “I thought you might be thirsty.” He glanced out to the yard, “How are the troops holding up?”

AJ motioned his eyes toward a group of boys and girls, “I think the female of the species is about to teach us males a lesson, again.”
Harm looked on puzzled as Sophie approached an older boy. “Who’s that with Sophie?”

AJ grinned, “Some neighborhood boys came over to play soccer with Jimmy. I’d guess by the looks of it, they must be 7…8 years old. Sophie asked if she and the girls could play too. The ring leader over there,” AJ pointed at a tall, thin blonde-haired kid, “…doesn’t think that girls can play soccer. I’m just waiting for Sophie to wipe her boot with him.”

Harm laughed, “It’s easy to underestimate my Princess, when she’s all dressed up like that.” He watched Sophie circle closer to the boy, sizing him up. Despite the age difference, she was just about the same height. Harm shook his head, “He’d better watch it; she’s got her mother’s fiery personality and attitude. She’s a force to be reckoned with when you challenge her just like Mac. Unless you’ve got the goods, it’s best to back away. Trust me, I speak from experience.”

Sophie looked every bit the part of a feminine girl; she’d insisted on wearing a pink ruffled skirt with a white eyelet blouse. Her hair was pulled back in a ribbon with long dark curls cascading down her back. The outfit was topped off with white closed-toed sandals and her ever-present pink glittery nail polish and sparkling rosebud earrings. The earrings had been a present from her Daddy, a subtle reminder of where the Rabb family story had begun.

Harm shook his head, “Uh oh, wrong move buddy.”

“He’s done it now…here it comes,” laughed AJ, as he heard the voices rise in volume.

“Girls can too play soccer,” Sophie scowled back.

“No they can’t…they don’t know how to handle the ball,” sneered the kid.

Jimmy Roberts tried to intervene, “Come on, Max…let’em play…Sophie’s pretty good.”

“No way…I’m not playing soccer with a bunch of girls,” threw back the kid.

Sophie crossed her arms over her chest and glared, “Girls can do anything boys can do!”

Max laughed, “No way, there’s lots of things girls can’t do!”

Sophie huffed, “Name one thing a girl can’t do!”

Max rolled his eyes thinking and pointed, “My Dad’s in the Navy…girl’s can’t be in the Navy.”

Sophie took a step closer, “Can too…I’m gonna be a Marine!”

Max laughed, “No way…you can’t be a Marine.”

Sophie stepped closer and poked a finger into his chest, “I can too!”
“I never saw no girl marines, so you can’t be a Marine.”

Sophie snorted, “ASSUME FATS NOT EVENT!”

“What?”

Sophie sneered with arms akimbo, “I said Assume Fats Not Event. That’s what a lawyer says when you say something stupid…something that’s not true.”

The kid countered, “Girls can’t be lawyers, either!”

“Can too!”

“Prove it!”

Sophie threw her head to the side and pointed to her chest, “That’s easy…my Mama’s a Lawyer and a Marine…and I’m gonna be just like her!”

Max shook his head with a grin, “No way, besides my Dad’s a Lieutenant.”

Sophie smirked, “Well, my Mama’s a Colonel and she can order your Dad around.”

Max scoffed, “No way.”

Sophie nodded, “Yes way…a Colonel outranks a Lieutenant. So my Mama can tell him what to do. She even tells my Daddy what to do…and he’s a Captain.”

AJ looked at Harm and grinned, “Out of the mouth of babes.”

Harm huffed, “Mac doesn’t tell me what to do.”

AJ chuckled, “Huh uh…where does Sophie get this stuff anyways?”

Harm shook his head with a grin, “I think it was from me. Mac and I were messing around in the kitchen the other night.” AJ raised a knowing brow. Harm blushed and quickly amended, “Not that kind of messing around. We were bantering over who stuck their finger in an apple pie. It was Sophie!” he threw in. “Anyway, I was throwing out legal jargon to divert attention away from Sophie…before I THREW myself on the mercy of the court…and that WAS literal,” Harm smirked. “Sophie overheard the statement, ‘assumes facts not in evidence.’ Mac had to explain what it meant, later.”

AJ looked back at the kids, “Ah Harm, maybe we should intervene before this gets out of hand.”

Harm walked over to the fighting pair, “Hey kids, I think that’s enough. How about you shoot it out instead. Both Max and Sophie get a chance to kick a goal against the other.”

Max smirked, “Good idea…I’m the goalie for my team. You don’t have a chance, Girl!”

Sophie tilted her head and chimed, “We’ll see.”

Harm rolled his eyes at the two, “Who’s first?”

“She can go first,” Max threw out as he backed toward the soccer goal.

Sophie smiled, pointed at the goal and shot. “Score!!! Girl’s Rule!!!”

Max shook his head, “No way…my turn.” He backed up and ran at the ball, kicking it right into Sophie’s waiting hands. He sighed and whined, “Ah, that didn’t count.”

Sophie yelled, “Yes it did!”

Harm intervened again, “Let’s try something a little different. I’ll drop the ball in a face off; 2 out of 3 goals wins.” He threw the ball up in the air. Sophie intercepted it as soon as it hit the ground, and using fancy footwork, was around Max and in the goal in seconds. The second face off resulted in Max claiming the ball; but he was quickly out-maneuvered by Sophie, who once again quickly scored.

Max hung his head dejectedly, “Alright, I guess the girls can play too.” He glanced toward Jimmy, “I get Sophie on my team; you can have Nicki and Hailey on yours.”

Sophie threw her head back and grinned mischievously, “I don’t want to play anymore…come on Nicki and Hailey, let’s go play Barbies.” She then sauntered away from a shocked Max, swinging her hips from side-to-side. Once on the porch, she yelled back over her shoulder, “See you later, boys.”

Nicki leaned over, “Do you really want to play Barbies?”

Sophie smirked, “Heck no…I’m just showing them who’s in charge. Girl’s Rule!”

Charlie followed the girls a short distance behind. Jimmy called out to him, “Hey Charlie, I thought you wanted to play soccer?”

“Nah, I’m going with Sophie,” was said with a look of awe-struck appreciation in his eyes.

Max yelled, “You want to play with the girls?”

Charlie grinned back, “She’s my best friend…and…she beat you!”

Max kicked the ground and muttered, “Stupid girls.”
Harm walked back toward AJ, “Yep, she’s her mother’s daughter…my looks…her brains.”

***

Later that evening, Harm, Mac and AJ sat talking in the family room. Sammy quietly flipped through his picture book of ‘Good Dog Carl’, contentedly ensconced in his father’s lap. They had enjoyed a peaceful dinner after the mayhem at the Roberts’ home.

Sophie skipped into the room, with Maggie in tow, not to be left out of the goings on. “What are you doing?”

Mac looked up, “Sophie did you clean up your room?”

Sophie pouted, “No, Daddy didn’t make me.”

Mac quickly looked toward Harm, but he intercepted, “Don’t blame it on me. You knew you were supposed to clean it up when you got home.”

Mac sighed, “Sophie, we had a deal…you could watch cartoons this morning with Sammy, if you cleaned up her room when you got home from Hailey’s house.”

Sophie whined, “But Mama…I can’t do it by myself.”

Mac responded, “That’s enough young lady. You made the mess; you clean it up. Now get up to your room, now.”

“But Mama…”

Mac commanded back, “Sophie, I don’t want to hear another word. You wanted to wait until this evening to finish your chores. Now, what’s the rule?”

Sophie sighed and rolled her eyes, “I have to live with my decisions.”

Mac tried to hide a smile, “Exactly! Now what’s the second rule?”

Sophie sighed again, “When Mama says something, she means it…Mama never changes her mind.” Sophie cocked her head and grinned mischievously, “But Daddy does.”

Harm barked back, “Sophia Elizabeth Rabb!”

She giggled, “I’m going…I’m going…but Daddy does change his mind.” With one last glance to her father, she laughed and ran out of the room.

Harm glanced toward Mac, “Don’t start…I’m not a pushover with her.”
Mac smiled back, “Yeah, yeah…tell it someone who believes it. All she has to do is bat those eyes at you and you fold. Harm you have to follow through…I can’t be the only enforcer.”

Harm sighed, “I know that…and most of the time I do follow through, but Mac, sometimes our kids scare the heck out me. You should have seen Sophie this afternoon. She went head on with a boy 2 years older than her and won.”

Mac looked concerned, “What do you mean, she went head on?”

Harm shook his head, “Not like that. The boy wouldn’t let her play soccer, because she’s a girl. Let’s just say, she wiped the floor with him in wits and talent. I was proud of her; she used words and skill, not violence. I swear she’s going to make a great attorney one day.”

AJ grinned, “She was pretty impressive, Mac. The kid didn’t know what hit him.”

Harm proceeded to fill Mac in on the events of the afternoon. By the time the story was finished, Mac was wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. “That’s my Bunny.”

Harm smirked, “Yeah, I just have one final comment. After Sophie won the challenge, the boy wanted her to play on his team. She turned to him and told him she didn’t want to play anymore then proceeded to sashay her little six into the house. She even yelled back over her shoulder that ‘Girl’s Rule.’ He stood there looking completely dejected, and later came to me, wanting to know if Sophie could come back out and play. He had this look of total wonder and amazement on his face…you know the way Charlie looks at her, all the time. She had those boys wrapped around her little finger. I just want to know, do they teach you females, this from birth or is it an inherited genetic thing…because us males of the species don’t have a chance!”

Mac winked, “Yeah Harm, they start lessons in the newborn nursery and give advanced classes in preschool.” She shook her head, “Now, why don’t you go up stairs and make sure your daughter is cleaning her room.”

He shook his head, “No way…not me.”

“Harm!”

He sighed, “Fine! Sammy, you want to go with Daddy to check on your sister?” Sammy looked up wide-eyed and shook his head, no. Harm smirked, “Chicken…you’re just as afraid of her as I am. How about us boys sticking together?”

Sammy’s eyes widened further as he pointed at this mother. “Mama.”

“Fine, go see your Mama while I take care of your sister.” Harm passed off Sammy before heading upstairs.
Thirty minutes later, Harm came back downstairs exhausted. “Did AJ go home?”

“Yeah, he left a few minutes ago. Did Sophie get everything done?”

He nodded, “Yeah, mission accomplished…I helped her finish.”

Mac smiled, “Thanks…you really are a good Dad. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise…it’s just sometimes, she knows how to push your buttons.”

He rolled his eyes, “I know…I can’t say no to either of the females in my life.” He looked around, “Where’s Sammy?” Mac glanced down with her eyes. He sighed, “Mac, don’t you think he’s getting kinda old for that?”

Mac picked up Sammy’s hand and placed a kiss on his palm. “Harm, he only nurses before bedtime, now. I told you…I want him to decide when he’s ready to quit. He won’t be 2 for a couple more months…most kids stop by then.”

“Mac, if you let him decide, he may never quit.” He smirked, “He’s my son after all.”

She frowned, “Harm, why are you so hung up on this?”

“Because Mac, he needs to grow-up some…toughen up a little.”

Mac scooted down the sofa, “Come here, Sailor.” He sighed and sat down behind her. “Harm, I’m proud that our daughter is strong and independent. That attitude is what got her through the months in the NICU. Sammy’s not the same…he has a quieter, gentler spirit. He’s kind…and loving…and intelligent…and strong, in his own way. I don’t want to toughen him up…I want him to be who he is. He out-maneuvers his big sister on a regular basis, but he does it with intelligence and quiet strength. He’s more like you than then you think. I know you can be outgoing,” she grinned, “…and cocky. But in here,” she touched his chest, “…where it really counts…you’re kind and loving…a gentle, tender soul just like Sammy. I couldn’t think of anything better than for my son to grow up to be like his father.”

Harm leaned over and stroked his son’s cheek then kissed his wife. “Thanks, Mac. I guess I’m just waiting for the day when I get my wife back.”

Mac looked puzzled, “What do you mean back? I’ve not gone anywhere.”

Harm continued to run his finger over Sammy cheek, “It’s just that our entire married life as been about getting pregnant…staying pregnant…worrying about sick babies…or taking care of babies. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change a thing…I love my kids, but I’m looking forward to the day when you and I can get away for a night without worrying about feedings and diapers. You know, spend time just concentrating on the two of us for a day or two.”

Mac reached back to caress his cheek, “I understand…we danced around each other for so long, that by the time we finally got it right…we didn’t have the luxury of time to spend just being an us. We jumped from dating to engaged to impending parenthood in a manner of months. I want time for us too,” she looked down at her son and smiled, “…but I don’t want to rush any of these moments, either.”

He lifted his hand, and placed it over hers, intertwining their fingers. “I know, sweetheart…I don’t want to miss out on these memories anymore than you.” He turned his head to place a kiss on the inside of her wrist then grinned, he really did love that place on her wrist. It was soft and smooth and smelled of her unique fragrance.

At that moment, Sammy lifted his fingers to his father’s lips. Harm placed a gentle kiss to the tips and smiled, “I understand, Mac…this really is a magical time when you get to bond with our children.” The trio sat in the quiet peace of the fading evening light. When Sammy had fallen asleep, Harm lifted him into his arms, “I’ll put him to bed, Mac.” As he carried him up the stairs, the child nuzzled into the warmth of his neck, “Daddy’s got you…I love you, Sammy Bear.”

***