Nine months later
Kate carried a birthday cake to the kitchen table where Jamie and Chase sat. “I know you’re having a party tomorrow and will have another cake there, Jamie, but I wanted to celebrate your birthday with just the family tonight. You need to make a wish and blow these out.”
With his wide eyes glued to the treat, Jamie stood up in his chair, leaned into the table and blew his two candles out. Grinning, he clapped his hands. “Me did it.”
“Yes, you did, partner.” Chase raised his hand for a high five, and Jamie slapped his palm against Chase’s.
Jamie grabbed a fistful of cake and presented it to Chase. “For Dad-dy.”
With her son at the end of the table, Kate sat across from her husband, cherishing the bond Jamie and Chase had. Although they hadn’t even been married two months, her son already called Chase “Daddy.”
He laughed and took a nibble. “Your mommy outdid herself with this cake.” Chase’s look captured Kate, and for a few seconds his love wrapped her in a cocoon of happiness.
Until her son tossed the rest of the cake still in his hand at her. His giggles resonated through the room. The chocolate that plonked onto the table after hitting her chest didn’t bother her one bit. Jamie practiced his throwing anytime he could. He bent forward and stretched toward the platter again.
Kate quickly rose and picked the dessert up. “I’ll cut the cake and take care of this.” She gestured toward the bits of chocolate still clinging to her gray sweatshirt. “Will you clean him up?”
Chase picked Jamie up and carried him to the sink then gave Kate a wet washcloth for her sweatshirt.
Their son wiggled and pointed at Mac who had moseyed into the kitchen. “Down.”
Chase set him on the floor, and Jamie toddled to Mac, plopped down next to him and laid his head against his side.
Kate put her arms around Chase’s neck. “Good thing I married you when I did. Shuffling Mac between my house and yours was getting tiresome.”
Chase laughed. “So that’s why you agreed to marry me.”
“Nope. This is why.” Kate kissed her husband, pouring all her love into it.
* * * * *