meaningfully.
“I guess I didn't really think it would work out that way. Come in. We have a lot to talk about,” she said, suddenly dreading the conversation she knew that they needed to have.
“I know,” he said and if she didn’t know better, she might have thought that he did know about the baby.
“Oh, you couldn't possibly,” she said with an indulgent laugh.
“I see that you have added on to the cabin,” he said gesturing to the new room connecting the cabins.
“Oh yes, we have had a few additions around here. Come on inside,” she said, trying to find the words to tell him about the most important addition to her life.
“So, it's true then. I heard talk when I got back this morning,” he said without shock or even surprise on his face.
“Yes, I've had a child,” she said, glad to be able to come out with it plainly instead of having to introduce the topic herself.
“It's mine,” he said with confidence and a smile that put her at ease.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes welling up a bit at the emotion of the moment.
“I'm sorry that I wasn't here,” he said, pulling her tight against him and resting his chin atop her head, surrounding her with his protection.
“It's alright. You couldn't have known,” she said, snuggling against his chest. They had only spent one night together, yet his presence was oddly comforting to her. Standing there, with his arms around her, she felt as though she were home.
“I wish it had happened differently for you. What made you decide to stay here?” he asked solemnly.
“Shannon talked me in to it,” she said with a smile. “She was right. People have had babies here for a thousand years. Plus, his life will never be dull, growing up this way.”
“He?” he asked, his eyes lighting up.
“Yes, his name is Luke. Would you like to meet him?” she asked, suddenly realizing that she had not introduced him to his son.
“Very much,” he said solemnly.
“I'll be right back,” she said, getting up and going to the nursery. There, she found their son wide awake in his crib, cooing as he smiled up at her. She lifted him up and looked in to his eyes. This, she realized, was one of the key moments in their lives. Taking a deep breath, she carried him in to her room and hoped for the best.
“Dylan, this is your son.” The look on his face was one of awe. His gentle gaze went back and forth between her face and their son.
What he finally spoke, he said only, “A fine boy.” His face seemed to be full of so many emotions that he could not articulate.
“I certainly think so,” she said, handing him the child to hold.
“He is a healthy babe?” he asked, as though he suddenly realized all of the dangers that face a baby, especially one born in the wilds of Africa.
“He came early,” she explained. “But my midwife got us through it. He was healthier than I could ever have hoped, given the circumstances.”
“Is she a local woman, your midwife?” he asked with a bit of concern in his voice.
“Yes,” she said, a bit confused.
“And she treated you well?” he asked. The only reason that she could think of for such questions was that he was trying to take in every moment of what she had been through during her pregnancy.
“Very well!” she exclaimed. “She was full of old folktales but she meant well enough with them.”
“What sort of tales?” he questioned.
Grace could tell that he was trying very hard to control the expression on his face, but she could see the turmoil behind his eyes.
“Oh, tales about the lions and the tribe and their history,” she said honestly. Perhaps one day she would tell him that Aria thought he was a werelion whose sole purpose was to get her with child and abandon her, but this didn’t seem the time for that sort of conversation.
“Ah,” he said, not looking at all satisfied with her answer.
“They were actually pretty interesting. I think I
“I guess I didn't really think it would work out that way. Come in. We have a lot to talk about,” she said, suddenly dreading the conversation she knew that they needed to have.
“I know,” he said and if she didn’t know better, she might have thought that he did know about the baby.
“Oh, you couldn't possibly,” she said with an indulgent laugh.
“I see that you have added on to the cabin,” he said gesturing to the new room connecting the cabins.
“Oh yes, we have had a few additions around here. Come on inside,” she said, trying to find the words to tell him about the most important addition to her life.
“So, it's true then. I heard talk when I got back this morning,” he said without shock or even surprise on his face.
“Yes, I've had a child,” she said, glad to be able to come out with it plainly instead of having to introduce the topic herself.
“It's mine,” he said with confidence and a smile that put her at ease.
“Yes,” she said, her eyes welling up a bit at the emotion of the moment.
“I'm sorry that I wasn't here,” he said, pulling her tight against him and resting his chin atop her head, surrounding her with his protection.
“It's alright. You couldn't have known,” she said, snuggling against his chest. They had only spent one night together, yet his presence was oddly comforting to her. Standing there, with his arms around her, she felt as though she were home.
“I wish it had happened differently for you. What made you decide to stay here?” he asked solemnly.
“Shannon talked me in to it,” she said with a smile. “She was right. People have had babies here for a thousand years. Plus, his life will never be dull, growing up this way.”
“He?” he asked, his eyes lighting up.
“Yes, his name is Luke. Would you like to meet him?” she asked, suddenly realizing that she had not introduced him to his son.
“Very much,” he said solemnly.
“I'll be right back,” she said, getting up and going to the nursery. There, she found their son wide awake in his crib, cooing as he smiled up at her. She lifted him up and looked in to his eyes. This, she realized, was one of the key moments in their lives. Taking a deep breath, she carried him in to her room and hoped for the best.
“Dylan, this is your son.” The look on his face was one of awe. His gentle gaze went back and forth between her face and their son.
What he finally spoke, he said only, “A fine boy.” His face seemed to be full of so many emotions that he could not articulate.
“I certainly think so,” she said, handing him the child to hold.
“He is a healthy babe?” he asked, as though he suddenly realized all of the dangers that face a baby, especially one born in the wilds of Africa.
“He came early,” she explained. “But my midwife got us through it. He was healthier than I could ever have hoped, given the circumstances.”
“Is she a local woman, your midwife?” he asked with a bit of concern in his voice.
“Yes,” she said, a bit confused.
“And she treated you well?” he asked. The only reason that she could think of for such questions was that he was trying to take in every moment of what she had been through during her pregnancy.
“Very well!” she exclaimed. “She was full of old folktales but she meant well enough with them.”
“What sort of tales?” he questioned.
Grace could tell that he was trying very hard to control the expression on his face, but she could see the turmoil behind his eyes.
“Oh, tales about the lions and the tribe and their history,” she said honestly. Perhaps one day she would tell him that Aria thought he was a werelion whose sole purpose was to get her with child and abandon her, but this didn’t seem the time for that sort of conversation.
“Ah,” he said, not looking at all satisfied with her answer.
“They were actually pretty interesting. I think I
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