uterus, which blocked the oxygen and nutrients Gemma needed. The act caused massive blood loss for me and almost took the life of our baby. Luckily, I was so close to my delivery date that Dr. Becker thought it was best I go ahead and deliver her.
“How’s my beauty?” he asks, smiling down at a grinning Gemma.
Lincoln has adopted to calling our daughter his beauty. He kept his word all those years ago when he said I would be the only person he would call “his girl.” Of course, I wouldn’t have minded at all if he called Gemma his girl, but I think it’s precious he chose a different name specifically for her.
“I’m good. I’ve got all my dolls on the new shelf you made for me. They look real pretty. You and Momma gotta come see it after dinner.”
“You got it.” He kisses the tip of her nose and sets her on her feet.
I turn back to the sink to finish the few dishes that are left when I’m tugged away by my belt loop.
“Leave those,” Lincoln says, turning me to face him again. “I’ll finish them after dinner.”
“It’s only a few more and it’ll take just a minute.”
“Well, then I won’t have much to do after dinner.” He pats my butt. “Now grab those biscuits and go sit. We can bring everything else to the table.”
I smile and lean up to peck his lips. “Thank you.”
He lets me go, and I grab the plate of biscuits. When I turn to take them to the table, my stupid feet get tangled together somehow, and I trip. Before I can catch it, the plate tumbles to the floor. It shatters and biscuits and glass fly everywhere.
“Crap,” I mutter.
Before I can squat to gather the bigger pieces, I’m lifted off my feet into a pair of strong arms. Instinctually, I snuggle against Lincoln’s warm chest. Isn’t it always swoon-worthy when your man picks you up and cradles you like you’re the most precious thing? That’s exactly how I feel right now.
He sets me down in one of the chairs. “Stay.” He points to my bare feet. “I don’t want you cutting your feet.” He looks to Gray. “Go grab the dustpan from the pantry, will you?”
Gray gets up and walks out of the kitchen, away from the glass, and comes back a moment later with the dustpan, handing it to his dad. I sit and watch as Lincoln sweeps up the mess.
“I was really looking forward to those biscuits too,” I complain pensively as Lincoln dumps the golden goodness mixed with glass into the trashcan.
“That’s okay, Momma,” Gemma says, patting my hand. “I’ll help you make more tomorrow.”
How I got so lucky to have such a sweet daughter, amazing son, and loving husband, I’ll never know, but I thank my lucky stars every day for them.
Once Lincoln is done cleaning up the mess, he and Gray carry the rest of the food to the table, and we sit as a family and enjoy our meal.
Chapter Two
LINCOLN
“Gimme a kiss.”
Small, soft hands grab my ears, then little lips press against my cheek before moving to the other one, each kiss finished off with a loud smack. I rub my beard over Gemma’s neck, and receive exactly what I was aiming for; her sweet girlish giggle.
I press a kiss to her forehead. “Love you.”
Little arms wrap around my neck and squeeze tight. “I love you too, Daddy.”
I set her down on her feet, and she moves to her mother.
I grip Gray by his shoulder. “You watch after your sister, you hear?”
He nods, taking his role of big brother seriously, just like I taught him. “I will, Dad.”
After Molly smothers Gemma in kisses, she moves to Gray. Our son is at the age where showing affection is becoming a no-no. I laugh as she grabs him by his head and forces it forward so she can kiss his cheeks. He grumbles but doesn’t try to pull away. He knows better than to try to stop his mother when she’s set on showing him affection. He may not outwardly show it, but I think he secretly likes the attention. We’ve always been affectionate with our kids, especially Molly.
“You’ve got our numbers if you need anything,” I remind the elderly lady standing by watching the exchange with fondness in her eyes.
Mrs. Bagley and her husband, Harold, have lived in the same house on the lake since before I was born. She used to watch me a