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And for the first time since I’d known him, I saw tears in my Ethan’s eyes

14th February

Soet you dressed, and then I’ll take you to Mu--and let et this silly thing on you It’s co voice "So we’ll just wrap you up in a blanket instead Yes ill…"

The ht made me hold my breath so I could hear every whispered word, every baby sound, every rustle of the diaper changing, and the frustrating struggle of hi to worm her into a fresh sleeper Ethan did all of it because he wanted to, because he e in his life With complete attention, loyalty, and dedication to those he loved

I’d discovered sohter in the short tiirl, just like me Ethan’s voice comforted her when she was fussy, and lulled her off to sleep when she was tired He was the Laurel-whisperer all right, and it made me hope my dad could see her, or know about her, somehoherever he was in the vast universe

"Ahh, you’re awake," he said as he li our baby against his chest My beautiful lory--all six foot three inches of hi a tiny bundle like it was the most precious treasure on earth I wanted a picture of theether

Thankfully I kept my camera on the bedside table, so I picked it up and snapped a photograph

"That’s going to be perfect" I sing her forhimself back into bed beside us Ethan had helped me so much in the first days when I came home from the hospital The incision from my C-section still hurt and the painup and bringing her to ht He waited until she was finished, and then put her back in the bassinet again So of things, he was really good at handling her, with one exception His big hands and fingers didn’t work too ith putting her into tiny outfits with mini snaps and closures

"So you had trouble with the sleeper again?" I said, as I opened the flap on the nursing bra I noore around the clock Wearing it was better than waking up in a puddle of et her arms into the sleeves"

"I know I heard you" As soon as Laurel s for my nipple Her little bow lips latched on and she started to suckle, her tiny hand fisting aboveto her, too"

"Shit," heto have to work on that with her Sorry My mouth is filth"

"I love your el will copy everything you say and do She’s her daddy’s girl"

He looked happy atup in a smile "You think so?" he asked softly

"I know so, baby"

"I love you both so much," he said slowly, his siht his lips to ly, and then he leaned back into the pillows and watched over us both

DAWN was breaking as I woke I was alone in our bedroom When I saw the lavender roses, I remembered the day and smiled Valentine’s Day Our first one, in fact I looked at what had been left out for me by my romantic husband