Page 112 of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason
“Good luck with that,” Daniel told her. “We helped them install several new security measures only last week.”
“Excellent,” Ned said, lifting Evangeline onto his hip and bouncing her a little, sharing a grin with her as she giggled. “I love a challenge, don’t I, Evie Angel?”
“You love Evie,” she answered, patting his face, and Daniel tried not to smirk at the sight of the pirate’s smile melting as his daughter outcharmed him.
Everyone departed, and Alice slipped away to prepare for bed. Daniel stood by the sitting room window for a long, quiet while, rocking William to sleep and watching first Alex’s old Irish cottage and then Puck House lift into the sky and fly off. The sky settled, full of stories made of stars. The world softened around him. Finally, Alice reappeared, all clean and fresh in a nightgown, smelling like roses from St. Therese. She put her arm around him, resting her head against his shoulder as she smiled down at their child.
“All right?” she asked.
“Perfect,” he said, looking at their reflection in the dark window, falling in love with the whole of them. And then falling in love again. And again. Counting his breath now not by numbers but by each beautiful moment he got to exist with his family. “Do you have any plans for tomorrow?” he asked, just for something to say.
“None,” she said. “You?”
“None. What shall we do?”
She smiled, setting her hand to his heart.
“Anything wewant.”
