Our family grew by four or maybe five, some people would say it was a coincidence that I called Ms. Clark but I have a sneaking suspicion someone up there is looking out for the children. Or one more challenge to prove we can live up to it. To quote Stan Lee, who paraphrased Luke, “To who is given much, much is expected.”
I don’t see Crystal as a challenge. I truly see Crystal is a reward. She’s a beautiful little girl, and I can tell already she’s full of love. All that night she didn’t leave Kathryn or my side, only on occasion Sam would pull her away for a moment. It didn’t surprise me at all when Sam led her into our bedroom, and both girls crawl onto my chest snuggle close to each other and Sam took the outside with Crystal between her and Kathryn.
Only about twenty seconds after Crystal put her head down it popped back up, with wide eyes Crystal says, “Sam you’re right. Daddy’s heart does say love you over and over.”
I chuckle and say, “Crystal, it couldn’t say anything else hearts can’t lie. They also don’t have a really big vocabulary.”
Kathryn giggles at that before she says, “If JJ’s heart had a bigger vocabulary, with every beat it would say, I love you Crystal, I love you Sam, I love you…”
I cut Kathryn off, saying, “Amanda, I love you Kathryn, I love you Crystal, I love you Sam and over and over.”
Kathryn gives me a kiss, and then says, “When you said Amanda she jumped.”
I smile broadly, and gives Sam and Crystal a kiss on the forehead and begin gently rubbing Crystal’s back first given her a few circles then moving to Sam’s back and give her a few circles them back to Crystal’s back. It doesn’t take very long before both girls are breathing slow and steady, and I think their sound asleep.
Kathryn whispers to me, “When this year started I had you all to myself. The day we got married, we got Sam, I don’t regret that. I don’t miss having a honeymoon with you. It felt like that from the day I first moved in with you. I really enjoy being Sam’s mother. I know I will enjoy being Crystal’s mother too.”
I whisper back, “I love you and I love being their Dad.”
I thought the two were sound asleep but they both say, “I love you Mommy, I love you Daddy.” In less than a second I feel the first tear on my shoulder from Kathryn. I feel so much joy from her it brings tears to my own eyes. I continue my gentle caress of the girls after wishing them a good night. They wish us a good night in return. Kathryn wishes them a good night and sweet dreams.
Sam says, “Mommy all my dreams have come true, I got you and Daddy and now Crystal, soon I’ll have Amanda too. What more could I ever dream of?”
With a soft chuckle I say, “If you close your eyes and go to sleep you might find the answer to that.”
Sam wishes me a good night again and relaxes on my chest. Kathryn says, “Sam all my dreams are coming true too. I know how you feel my beautiful little Princess.”
Crystals head pops up and she asks, “Can I be your Princess too?”
Kathryn answers quickly, “Of course you’re our Princess, and you’re my beautiful little Princess too.”
Both girls finally relax and go to sleep. I can feel how happy they are, even in their sleep a smile is on their faces. I realize why Sam loves sleeping on my chest. She loves hearing my heartbeat; it’s reassuring to her that she is loved. Isn’t that something that we all want, feeling that intense emotion of love no matter what? Hearing my heartbeat, as it says to her love you, Sam feels that and now Crystal. I do love them as my daughters and always will.
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