Part 18 (1/2)

”Yes, all down,” Jakob said, smiling at her adoringly. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

”Daddy, s...o...b..r.” Isabella giggled again and then jumped up and ran over to me, her chubby little legs moving as quickly as they could. ”Mummy, Daddy, s...o...b..r.” She fell down next to me, and I pulled her into my arms.

”Only because he loves you.” I kissed the top of her head, and Jakob walked over to us with a huge smile on his face.

”Daddy loves me, and Daddy loves Mommy,” Isabella said as she pulled away from me. ”And Daddy loves baby Mickey.” She reached down and rubbed my belly.

”We're not calling him Mickey, Isabella.” I laughed, and Jakob and I gazed into each other's eyes.

”Yes, Mickey,” she said with a small pout, and then looked up at Jakob. ”Daddy, please?”

”How can I say no to that face?” he asked me with a smile as he sat and put his arm around me.

”You'll have to learn to soon.” I smiled and leaned back into him. We gazed out at the aquamarine ocean, both of us silent as we sat there with Isabella lying comfortably in my arms.

”What are you thinking about?” he asked me softly, his fingers twining in my hair.

”That first night on the island with you,” I said, and looked at him. ”How dangerous and magical it felt and how confused I was by my attraction to you.”

”Do you wish I'd taken you there instead of here?”

”No, Miami Beach is fine.” I looked to the right and stared at the bright red lifeguard hut and the sunbathers a couple of yards beyond it. ”I'm not sure I would have wanted to have gone back there with Izzy.” I reached over and touched his arm. ”It's still raw, and as glad as I am to have the whole truth finally come out, it still makes me feel uncomfortable at times to relive the memories.”

”I understand.” He nodded, and his eyes searched mine. ”You feel safe now though?”

”Yes, I feel safe and loved and at peace.” I sighed in contentment. ”This is the life I've always wanted.”

”You don't regret not still writing your scintillating movie reviews?” He laughed as I made a face at him.

”I don't miss writing them, and I'm sure no one misses reading them.” I giggled, and Jakob's eyes searched mine.

”I miss reading them,” he said with a small smile. ”I miss trying to guess what you really thought about the movie.”

”I still can't believe you used to read them.” I shook my head. ”It boggles me that you were actually attracted to me before we even met.”

”I guess some part of me has always known that you were the one for me. Maybe it was our destiny to be together.”

”You don't believe in destiny.” I rolled my eyes at him and gasped as I felt the baby kicking. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my stomach. ”He's kicking again,” I said as I lay back and Jakob rubbed my stomach.

”Mickey kicking?” Isabella started talking animatedly, and I gave Jakob a look.

”Darling, your brother's name is going to be Nicholas, not Mickey,” he said, and looked at me. I nodded, my throat suddenly constricted with emotion.

”Like Granddad?” Isabella asked, and I nodded, my heart overflowing with love and happiness toward my family.

”Yes, just like Granddad.”

”Okay,” she said, and jumped up. ”Daddy, I wanna build a sand castle.”

”Another one?” He groaned, and I laughed.

”Yes, Daddy.” She smiled happily and tugged on his hand. ”Come and help me.”

”Fine.” He jumped up and looked down at me. ”Are you sure you want to go back to get your PhD? I'm more than happy for you to be a housewife.”

”You wish.” I smiled at him. ”Besides, I'm only going to school part-time, and I'm going to be a.s.sisting one of Blake's cla.s.ses.”

”It's a good thing I trust you,” Jakob said lightly as he stared down at me.

”Or what?”

”Or maybe I wouldn't be so understanding that your best friend is a man.”

”You're my best friend, Jakob.”