Page 133 of Gabriel & Skye

“We wuv the stars, Daddy!”

I wrap my arm around the both of them, as Daisy bobs her head up between us all and we laugh. “And I love you girls. Do you know that? All three of you.”

“I wuv you Daddy! I wuv you Skye-blue! And I wuv you Daiseeee!”

We laugh at her enthusiasm. This kid. She still hasn’t gotten out of adding blue to Skye’s name when the fancy takes her.

“And I love you and your daddy, too,” Skye says. Her enchanting smile reflects a million words. I lean across to quickly peck her.

“And Daisy?” Trin asks. “Do you wuv Daisy too?”

“Yes, I love Daisy too.”

“Then it’s settled,” I joke. “Since we’re all in agreement, who wants first look at Daddy’s telescope?”

“Me!” Skye and Trin both say in unison.

“Well, then, I’d better put it together, hadn’t I?” We climb out and the girls wait patiently while I put it together. It doesn’t take me as long as I thought it would, and soon I have it in position next to the car. I take a quick peek when the girls are getting the picnic ready in the back.

I have a flashlight in the corner so we can see what we’re doing.

I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’m not sure it could get any better than this.

“This is by far the best present I’ve ever gotten,” I tell Skye, holding her in my arms when Trin and Daisy eventually both fall asleep next to us.

I held my little girl up to the telescope and she couldn’t believe her eyes. Lord only knows the stories she’s going to come out with when she goes to school on Monday about our expeditions. She’s a smart kid, so I’ve no doubt she’ll retain some of it as time goes on. I love telling her what I know about constellations.

Skye looks at me with such adoration that a tightness builds in my chest.“I’m so happy you like it.”

“Thank you, baby.” We kiss long and slow, both pulling back as we pant.

“Not in front of the kids,” she giggles, shaking her head.

“You bet I’m gonna be giving you something to dream about when we get home,” I say. “That’s a promise.”

“I have everything I want right here,” she says. “You’re also not so grumpy anymore.”

I kiss her again, chuckling at her comment. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” I smile. “The truth is, I thank God for you every morning when I open my eyes. You mean so much to me — to us.”

She doesn’t know this yet, but I plan to propose at Christmas. I figure, why wait? We know we’re going to be together. We’re practically living together, and she can’t stay at her grandparents’ caseta for the rest of time.

“And I’m here to stay for as long as you’ll have me.”

“How does forever sound?” I keep kissing her hair, holding her close. We both have to ignore what’s going on in my sweatpants, at least until we get home.

“That sounds perfect.” She sighs contentedly as Trin stirs for a moment.

Watching her brings a rush of warmth flooding through me. We’ve been through a lot. Finally, we both get our happily ever after. Trin settles back down and I park my ass against the truck bed, pulling Skye toward me as I stare into her green depths.

It’s everything a man could ask for to have all the girls I love here with me, sharing this beautiful still night with a million stars at our disposal, and the most peaceful place in the world — what else could a man want? There’s no place else I want to be.

Forever sounds pretty good to me.