as often as she wanted.
To say they were both overjoyed when Anna found out she was pregnant was an understatement. Tears sprung to my eyes when she described Jack’s reaction. He fell to his knees before her, hands shaking, and simply stared at her belly with tears falling down his face. Just from reading the words on the pages, I knew it was a beautiful and touching moment for them both.
Jack surprised both me and Anna. Apparently, the excuse Jack gave her about why he was there the night he rescued her from the schoolboys was a lie. His initial excuse was he happened to be strolling by when he heard the boys taunting someone and came to investigate. He was actually there on purpose. Anna wasn’t the only one who grew fascinated the first day they saw each other in town. Anna intrigued him enough that he followed her home. He explained he had a mysterious sudden urge to protect and care for her. That day started his vigilance of following her around when he could so he could keep an eye on her. Thank goodness he did, because he was there that night and saved her from a horrifying fate.
With a smile still on my face, I get back to reading.
Jack Jr. and Isabelle.
A flutter of warmth hits my midsection at the name Isabelle. That’s my middle name. I feel honored to share that name with Jack and Anna’s daughter.
Those are the names we chose. Or rather, Jack chose Isabelle and I chose Jack Jr. Jack hated the idea of his son carrying his name at first, claiming that it had only ever brought him shame. But after I told him he had nothing to be ashamed of, that had his life been any different, including something so simple as his name, there was a chance we would have never met. I never cared that Jack came from a poor family and lived on the streets after his parents died. The only thing I ever wanted from him was his love, and to me, that was invaluable. These two little beings, who are a part of both me and Jack, are so incredible. I find myself constantly watching them, like I still can’t believe they are real. It’s been two weeks since I delivered them. Until Jack, I never knew such a love existed. Now with our two babies, sometimes I wonder if my chest will burst with the amount of love I have for my small family. That feeling grows when I watch my husband with our two little ones. He’s so attentive and careful with them. And the love that shines in his eyes when he looks at them is my favorite expression of his. How is it possible to be this happy? How did I ever get so lucky to have this wonderful life? I ask God that often, and when I don’t get a response, I always thank him for blessing me.
The entry ends, so I flip to the next page. I pick at my nails as I continue to read.
The babies are a month old, and it seems like they’ve already grown so much. I woke up the other night to a noise. I didn’t know what it was at first. When I reached for Jack, he wasn’t in bed, and for a moment, panic hit me. But then I heard the noise again. It was coming from the nursery in the next room, and I knew what it was. I got up and tiptoed to the door leading to the babies’ room. I wanted to be as quiet as I could, so I didn’t disturb them. Thankfully, the door was already cracked enough for me to see inside, and what I saw made my heart melt. Jack was sitting in the rocking chair, Jack Jr. in one arm and Isabelle in the other. He was humming a soft tune as he looked from one baby to the next, over and over. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught him with our children like this. Jack revealed to me one night while I was still pregnant that he worried he wouldn’t be a good father because his own father was a tyrant. Of course, I told him he had nothing to worry about. I never doubted his abilities to be a good father, and each time I see him with our babies, I know I wasn’t wrong.
I look up from the journal, my