Page 135 of Last Man Standing
“Yeah,” she said.
That was all the confirmation he needed.Emily asked for her doll and went to play in the smaller bedroom, as if intuitively aware it would be her space.They could hear her chatting to Libby about Wilbur and the goats.Paul felt his throat close up again, so he hugged Vanessa tight until the feeling passed.
“It’s not much,” he said.
“It’s perfect.”
He cupped his hands around her face.“You’re perfect.”
For some reason, her pretty brown eyes filled with tears.“Hardly.”
He kissed her with everything he had inside him, all of the passion and tenderness, joy and uncertainty.He was overwhelmed by the moment, unable to believe his luck in securing this woman as his own.
“What if she’s like Emily?”Vanessa murmured as they broke apart.
“Who?”
“The future baby.”
He blinked in surprise.They’d been careful about using protection.“Are you…”
“No.I’m just asking.”
“You’re worried that if we have a child, she’ll turn out like Emily?Creative, spirited, smart, and strong-willed?”
“You didn’t meet her when she was two.”
Paul laughed, delighted by the thought of an even more irascible Emily.“If we have a baby, I hope she’s exactly like Emily.Either way you’ll have my help and my support.No matter what happens I’ll be right there beside you.”
“Do you promise?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The tears spilled down her cheeks.“I love you.”
“I know.”
“You’re a good man.”
“I try.”
“You’re the best time I’ve ever had.”
“Still?”
“Always.”
He kissed her again, lifting her off her feet in a dizzying circle, and they both laughed, because the best was yet to come.
The End
