Part 34 (1/2)

”She most definitely does.” Rena snagged a pink rose from a vase as J.T. carried her toward the bed and inhaled the flowery scent. ”Who says you can't have kids and romance? Thank you.”

”My pleasure.” And he wasn't done yet.

Carefully, he placed her onto the mattress against the piles of pillows, pulled her shoes off. J.T. stretched on the other side of the bed, while they watched their baby as they'd done in years past with Nikki and Chris.

His wife cooed and conversed with their newborn son, adjusting his lightweight blanket, tickling his toes and glowing even more than she had while pregnant. She would enjoy these next couple of months off before going back to work part-time.

Rena tugged the loose tail on J.T.'s Hawaiian s.h.i.+rt. ”I think Jamie likes the crazy colors.”

”Seems so.” J.T. reached into his back pocket for the small box tucked away and hidden beneath the loose over-s.h.i.+rt. ”Remember how Nikki and Chris used to track things with their eyes early on?”

”I sure do.”

Behind his back, he flicked open the box and pulled free the gift. He brought his hand forward and let the

chain slowly slide loose, pendant swaying. ”What do you think of this, little man? Will your mom like it, too?”

Her eyes glinted with tears. ”Just when I think my heart can't get any fuller, it stretches even more.”

J.T. winked at his son. ”I think that's a yes.” The jeweled charm continued its pendulum swing above the

entranced baby. ”I saw this while I was TDY to Spain a couple of months ago. The stones aren't as big as I would have wanted to get to celebrate something so d.a.m.n awesome. But I actually put some sensitive-guy thought into it. Thank goodness the kid was born on time so I didn't have to change the birthstone.”