AND BABY MAKES THREE

Before seeking his own room, Trevor decided to look in on Ashley. As he opened the door to her room, he saw the glow of a candle. Abside the bed, Caitlyn looked up as he entered.

They stood in companionable silence gazing at the angelic countenance of their child asleep. Trevor could not resist reaching to touch an errant blonde curl.

“She is so beautiful,” he whispered. Profoundly moved, he turned to Caitlyn and made no effort to hide his emotions. “Thank you. Thank you for giving me this child.”

Her response was a soft, nervous laugh. “Perhaps I should thank you. Ashley is quite simply the best thing that ever happened to me.” Her eyes shone brightly in the candlelight.

Not knowing what to say, he reached for her hand and locked his fingers tightly with hers. They stood in quietness for a few moments, each lost in thought; then she gently disengaged her hand. She extinguished the candle as they left Ashley’s room and descended the stairs to their own chambers. Reacting to the shared moment, Trevor felt a wave of desire, not just to possess Caitlyn’s body, but to erase her concern, to protect and cherish . . .